SAFA Skysailor Magazine

37 May | June 2022 SKY SAILOR “Take off was smooth and we flew for about 40 minutes. It was wonderful to experience flight again as I’d been living on wonderful memories and YouTube videos for the last six years,” Rod said. “I’ve lost my speech, so I arranged some hand signals with Geoff before launching, including one that meant I need to land ASAP,” Rod explained in the article. The pair flew tandem for about one kilo- metre south along the coastline to Forresters Beach, even sighting whales along the way. “This final flying experience for Rod was very special for both of us and to see the look of excitement on his face as we flew along the coast, was priceless,” Geoff remembers. Rod has always had a keen interest in all types of flying from paragliding to launching model gliders from parks around the Central Coast. He paraglided for over a decade and started with an old Apco Vista he would enjoy flying both inland and along coastal areas. MND is a debilitating condition that affects the brain and nerves, which causes weakness and loss of control over time. There is current- ly no cure for the disease. Rod passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Memories of Rod: With his wife on launch (opposite), flying, at the 2014 State of Origin, with Geoff after the 2021 tandem and (above) Rod and Geoff standing on west launch of Mt Borah