Gliding Club of Victoria

Gliding Club of Victoria

Formation	1929
Headquarters	Benalla
Membership	240+
Website	https://www.glidingclub.org.au

The Gliding Club of Victoria was founded in 1929. Since 1953, it has been located at Benalla Airport.

History

The Gliding Club of Victoria was founded on 27 September 1929 by six members of the Citizen Air Force. It is considered the oldest gliding club in Australia. ^[1]

The club operated from Essendon Airport and Coode Island during the 1930s, ^[1] but following a search for permanent grounds, ^[2] moved to Benalla Airport in 1953. ^{[3] [4]}

The first glider owned by the club was a Zoegling named The Falcon, ^[5] which was launched in August 1930. ^[1]

During the 1940s, the Gliding Club of Victoria petitioned The Aero Club Federation of Australia for certification of their pilots. This finally occurred in 1947 and Leo Bernard Dowling was awarded the first glider pilot certificate in Australia. ^[6]

By 1991, the club owned 18 gliders, ^[7] had more than 300 active pilots, and approximately 550 members. ^[7]

The club hosted the World Gliding Championships at Benalla in 1987 and 2017. ^{[8] [9]}

Notable members

• Vivienne Drew, who served as club president (1999-2001) and vice president (1994, 1996-1998, 2002-2003), was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to gliding in 2024. ^[10]
• Pat Bourke, the South Melbourne footballer was member number 200. ^[1]
• Grace Roberts, the first female club member who began piloting gliders in 1943. ^[11]
• Sir Raymond William Garrett, AFC, AE, the clubs first president. ^[12]

Gallery

• 
  Leo Dowling in a Primary Glider at Belmont Common Victoria 13 October 1940
• 
  Primary Glider being launched at Mordialloc, Victoria
• 
  Merlin glider 1943
• 
  Gliding Club of Victoria c1945
• 
  Gliding Club of Victoria Benalla 1948

References

1. Preston, James (29 January 1949). "They Fy Silently and High". The Argus Weekend Magazine . p. 4.
2. "Glider Drome Sought". The Age . 27 February 1947. p. 5.
3. "BENALLA WILL BE THE HOME OF GLIDING - Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954) - 15 Jan 1953". Trove. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
4. "Gliding Club Gives Flights - Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954) - 7 Jan 1954". Trove. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
5. Dorning, Robert (September 2012). "60th ANNIVERSARY OF GCV At BENALLA" (PDF). Gliding Australia (8): 10.
6. "First Australian Gliding Certificate". ArchivesWiki. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
7. "Courses For Everyone - Soar with confidence". The Age . 23 August 1991. p. 43.
8. Burns, Robbie (December 1999). "Gliding Club of Victoria 70th Anniversary" (PDF). Australian Gliding : 8.
9. "Benalla on high after securing gliding champs". ABC News. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
10. "Vivienne Drew receives the Medal of the Order of Australia in Australia Day Honours 2024". Gliding Australia Magazine. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
11. "Woman Glider Pilot". The Argus . 18 August 1945. p. 14.
12. "MAKING COMMUNITY AIRMINDED - Gliding Club's Aims - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) - 19 Nov 1929". Trove. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

External links

• Gliding Club of Victoria Archived 7 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
• Photographs From The Private Collections Of Leo, Rob & Frank Dowling