SAFA Skysailor Magazine

7 November | December 2021 SKY SAILOR SAFA AGM Members will now be aware that the 2021 AGM is scheduled for Wednesday, 3 November at 8pm AEDT. This is an opportunity for all current SAFA members to attend and/or participate in our annual member event and I encourage members to take advantage of it. We’d also like to thank those members who have proposed motions for member con- sideration at the meeting – this is one of the important mechanisms that help us remain a member driven sport. Land/Site Acquisition In the previous edition of SkySailor, I high- lighted the pressing need we have for building a sustainable future for our sport; one that gives us control over our own future and lessens the dependence we continue to have on the goodwill of public and private landowners for access to sites. Queensland’s Canungra club saw the need for this many years ago and started taking steps to secure their future. Long-time HG CFI Ken Hill provides some insight into the steps the club took to address the issue. “It really started around 1996/97. The club wanted to secure its tenure in the area and successfully negotiated a 30-year lease on the Mt Tamborine launch site. The negotiation took place between the club, the Qld State Government and the Beaudesert Council.” Canungra then borrowed funds to purchase approximately one hectare of land that was to be used for a bomb-out. They set membership fees that included a component for a site acquisition fund. This fund was instrumental, along with further borrowed funds, in enabling the purchase of the Beechmont launch. Over the years, they have developed the Mt Tamborine bomb-out to include a clubhouse, an equipment shed, housing such things as their remote controlled mower, and they have established a bore on the property which provides plenty of water. The clubhouse gener- ates some income from such activities as yoga classes. The foresight shown by the Canungra club has resulted in them owning assets of significant value and they have a very strong bank balance. In essence, their process was very simple: They saw what was needed both in the short and longer term, they saved, borrowed and purchased the required assets. They ensured their cashflow remained strong to meet their commitments and they’ve maintained an annual member fee arrangement that sees a large component dedicated to site acquisition funding. This fund continues to grow and they are in a very strong position to add to their asset base as/when needed. Their land assets have appreciated over time and will continue to do so. And they have no debt. Some may observe that the Canungra club ‘got in’ at a good time. My response is that if one takes a long term view there isn’t a ‘good time’ – there’s only a time . It becomes a case of starting somewhere and taking that first step. Our sport needs to keep having this conver- sation if we are to control our own destiny. Safe flying.