ABOUT

OUR MISSION

Simply put, we want to get more people into our great sport of flying, whilst helping them get better and safer at flying. We do this by providing funding assistance to training courses.

“The NSWHPA will implement policies and programs defined by the Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) (formerly HGFA) and to promote the sport through competitions, fly-ins, participation rallies and training facilities to benefit NSW pilots in accordance with the SAFA Operations Manual and with the approval of the relevant State and Federal instrumentalities and land owners. 

The NSWHPA also aims to encourage more pilots to take up the sport through marketing, publicity and public exhibitions.”

  • NSWHPA will financially support NSW based clubs to help those clubs meet the requirements of improved pilot safety through training programs, access to flying sites and other pilot related programs.

  • NSWHPA will support competitions which allow pilots to improve their flying skills and learn from more experienced pilots.

  • NSWHPA will support NSW clubs to grow the sport across all disciplines, improve safety and pilot education.

  • NSWHPA will support NSW clubs to encourage community awareness and participation in the sport

HOW WE DO IT

How we are making NSW a better place to fly

Nine pilots comprising the NSW Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association executive committee meet monthly to go over projects that are helping to make NSW a better place to fly for all. 

This might be administering funds to a club who need financial help in maintaining a flying site. It might be helping create a flying and landing rights agreement with a landowner and club. Or it could be looking at ways to develop news sites or improve on existing ones with a local flying club. Not to mention applying for funding grants and helping to promote the sport just to name a few.

Our committee volunteer their precious time not just at these committee meetings but throughout the month in enabling all of these tasks and projects come to fruition.

Our activities include:

  • Funding flying site maintenance

  • Funding flying site improvements

  • Funding new flying site developments

  • Applying for state government grants

  • Developing and administering funding guidelines for NSW pilots

  • Developing flying/ landing right of use agreements

  • Lodging and acquiring NSW National park consents

  • Assessing and funding appropriate flying safety programs for NSW pilots

  • Assessing and funding competitions for NSW pilots

  • Assisting NSW clubs become affiliated with the SAFA and meet the NSW Department of Fair Trading requirements for an Incorporated Association

  • Assisting NSW clubs govern and administer themselves

NSWHPA has currently adopted the Model Constitution under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 as issued by the NSW Department of Fair Trading. As part of our current governance audit, the CoM is considering putting to the membership some changes to our constitution which better reflect our operating processes and our relationship with the SAFA.  Keep a lookout for these developments.

To access  the latest Annual General Meeting minutes, the NSWHPA constitution, or our Funding guidelines simply click on the relevant box to find out more or to acquire a download.

2023/2024 NSWHPA committee

We are here to help, so if you need to get in contact with any of the committee, please get in contact with one of the team and we’ll do our best to help out.

We usually meet on the third Thursday of every month – while occasionally at  an RSL at 7:00pm more recent meetings have been conducted using a teleconferencing system to save time and money.

President - Catherine McMillan

Ph: 0431 227 261
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SAFA Liaison Officer - Philip de la Hunty

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Weather Station Officer, Club Liaison Officer - Ralf Gittfried

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Vice President / Club Liaison Officer - Tom McDonald

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Secretary - Barbara Meister

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Club Liaison Officer - Michael Stott

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Treasurer / Grants Coordinator - Matt Haes

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Marketing & Comms Officer / Club Liaison Officer - Tim Sabre

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Club Liaison Officer - Claire Dickinson

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NSWHPA Club Liaisons

Club Club Liaison Officer
Blue Mountains Hang Gliding Claire Dickinson
Central Coast Sky Surfers Ralf Gittfried
Flatlands Towing Club Claire Dickinson
FlyStanwell Inc Tom McDonald
Illawarra Gliding Club Tom McDonald
Manilla Sky Sailors Tom McDonald
Mid North Coast Flyers Ralf Gittfried
Newcastle Hang Gliding Club Tom McDonald
Newcastle Paragliding Club Claire Dickinson
Northern Rivers HG & PG Club Tim Sabre
PICO Club Tom McDonald
Sydney Hang Gliding Club Tom McDonald
Sydney Paragliding and Hang Gliding Club Michael Stott
Women With Wings Cath McMillan

Presidents’ Report 2022/23

The President, Michael Stott presented the 2022 / 23 Presidents’ Report at the NSWHPA AGM in September 2023.
The report can be accessed by clicking on the button below.