History of  South Coast Model Aerosport Club (Inc)

Origins

South Coast Model Aerosport Club (SCMAC) probably had it origins with a few Radio Control pilots accidentally discovering each other at a local oval situated at Port Elliot about 1990. From there, a willing Cattle farmer situated on Waterport Road, near the junction of the Victor Harbor – Adelaide Road, granted this growing group of Radio Control Model Aircraft pilots, the use of a paddock to fly from.

SCMAC becomes a Club and Incorporated body

By 2001 it was realised that this group, now 20 plus strong, ought to be properly organised as a Club. A meeting was called and met at the Middleton Hotel to discuss how to become a Club.

 During these discussions, pilots from other Clubs explained how necessary it was to be fully insured, in what is a potentially dangerous undertaking. It was discovered at this meeting, that a Club ought to be associated with the State and Federal Bodies of this sport and hobby.

A Chairman was elected (Terry Hann), Secretary (Terry Tarrant) and Treasurer (Graham Bartholomew). This executive was charged to contact the State governing body, Model Aerosport SA Inc., to enquire how to become members and obtain Personal and Third Party Insurance for SCMAC members.

By July 2002 SCMAC were fully affiliated with MASA (Inc) and the Federal body, MAAA (Inc). It was becoming evident that a housing development was rapidly approaching the boundary of the flying field and that an attempt should be made to find another site before problems arose regarding noise pollution etc.

Approaches were made to other local farmers and the local Council, Alexandrina Council, was formally approached by February 2003. Suitable land was ultimately offered to the Club later that year. It was necessary for SCMAC to contact MASA and  CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) to gain the Insurers consent and CASA’s Instrument of Approval before Alexandrina Council would release the land to SCMAC.

Many months passed with CASA holding up a decision despite approaches from MASA and SCMAC. By March 2005 the Club eventually moved onto the Kessell Road, Goolwa, site. Recognition was given to Mr and Mrs Lindholm the owners of the cattle farm, for their generosity and use of their land.

SCMAC’s tenure of this new field, was short lived because on Friday 22^nd July 2005, upon a complaint from the owner of the Goolwa Airfield to Alexandrina Council, about the concerns expressed by visiting student full size aircraft pilots, the Club was advised to stop using the field until further notice. The Club ultimately agreed that to try and continue using this field would be impractical and advised Alexandrina Council accordingly.

Fortunately, Club Life Member Tom Hart was able to introduce the Club to Mr Trevor and Mrs Robyn Maul the owners of a large Cattle property at Currency Creek, on Monday 1^st August 2005, some 6 km from Goolwa. The Club immediately moved onto the property and have flown successfully from there every week since.

Trevor Maul offered the use of a disused Mill building as a Club house. Speedily the Club members renovated the building and installed working toilets.

In 2006 seven members qualify for the Bronze Wing, bring the total pilots so qualified to ten. President Bob Fischer holds the Gold Wing qualification. Several Bronze Wing Pilots are practicing to gain the Gold Wing early in 2007. A very successful Club flying function was held at the field on Saturday, 21^st October 2006 with visiting Club Adelaide Control line Club.