SAFA Skysailor Magazine

10 SKY SAILOR July | August 2022 by John Harriott – President NSWHPA The NSW Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (NSWHPA) hosted a first of its kind and well attended two-day Future of Flight event from 4 to 5 June, with members of our SAFA board Phil de la Hunty and Paul Green in attendance. The event was funded by a Communication and Business Improvement Grant thanks to a long term relationship with the NSW Office of Sport and Minister Stuart Ayres, and repre- sented 1103 NSW pilots. Our goal was to increase the communica- tions between our clubs and the NSWHPA team, as well as delivering professional devel- opment training for Club Executives. We also took the opportunity to identify key initiatives that could be awarded immediate funding support to drive safety and grow our amazing sport. NSWHPA’s key objectives are to drive safety and grow the sport through supporting clubs by: NSW hosts successful Future of Flight event 1. Retaining and developing existing pilots 2. Re-engaging inactive pilots 3. Attracting new entrants 4. Supporting and growing the instructor community 5. Developing demand for manufacturers, distributors of equipment All NSW clubs were invited to the event and organisers were pleased that most were in attendance. They were given the opportunity to provide feedback on a proposed agenda, which helped the event run smoothly. The two-day event started in the Hunter Valley with the Club President and other Executives sharing their members’ valuable ideas and suggestions for improvement. Club representatives presented on the opportu- nities, achievements and key projects they would like supported, and the NSWHPA team delivered updates on focus areas of safety and growth, available funding and recent or current initiatives. During the event, NSWHPA presented the requested professional development content topics embracing Corporate Governance, how to secure and retain sites/deal with landown- ers, how to run a club meeting and how to attract and incentivise volunteers. Guest speakers included a representative from the Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service and recently returned Ken Hutt via Zoom, fresh from his amazing effort to free-fly from Mt Everest to fundraise for Polio eradication. Several significant initiatives and funding allocations were committed to on the second