History of the Bacchus Marsh Model Aircraft Association (BMMAA), now the Mt Wallace Model Aircraft Association
Article by Founding Members, Mr Mark Peterson
Date: 11 March 2020
During early 1992 several modellers had been flying from the top of Main Street at what is now called “top of the town” estate. In fact, Burbidge Drive was the pit area and runway. Initially, this was just a few flyers from different clubs on weekends and very random as there where several different sites that people flew from including Masons Lane Reserve and Darley Oval.
Word got around, and more flyers began to turn up at Burbidge Drive, and as the flyers got to know each other, the discussion moved to the need to have a local club. An ad was placed in the local paper and a meeting took place at the Border Inn (now Flanagan’s). A handful of people did attend, but those willing to take the plunge and form a club was limited.
Those that did take the plunge and become the founding members were:
As the numbers fell short of the minimum six needed to register a club with the VMAA, two partners joined to make the minimum numbers, and they were Annmaree Peterson, and Marise Ansell.
So, the first committee for the club was:
President – Bruce Mclaughlin;
Secretary - Peter Van Alkemade;
Treasurer - Annmaree Peterson; and
Safety Officer - Mark Peterson
Annmaree was the Treasurer and went on to become a competent pilot regularly flying at Parwan and also slope soaring off Bald Hill. Marise and Karl ended up moving interstate not long after Parwan became active.
The Bacchus Marsh Aeromodellers Club (BMAC) was reformed and affiliated after a 6-year gap. Club meetings were held at members’ homes until the numbers grew where the Border Inn became the meeting site for many years. Initially, the reformed club continued to fly at the top of Main Street for the next 12 or so months.
It was during this time that Joe Buttigieg and Garry Thiele both members of Melton Club, unbeknown to each other went on the hunt for a local flying field location using their Shire contacts. Joe Buttigieg persistence with the council eventually proved successfully after several attempts in securing a suitable site.
The first option was the top of Bald Hill but given its proximity to Radio towers and remote location was rejected. The next proposal was the Parwan Sewerage farm, with trial flights conducted off the main entrance road. With the help of the then Bacchus Marsh Shire the North-West corner of the complex was offered. Bruce McLaughlin, with the help of Pauline Madden (Solicitor), set about arranging the lease agreement which was very favourable and thankfully very cheap.
With the arrival of a dedicated field, several Melton and Werribee club members became affiliate members and more local flyers also joined. The then-current members decided that the Club needed to be incorporated to protect members. After changing its name to Bacchus Marsh Model Aircraft Association (BMMAA) due to corporate affairs rules of the name similarity to Bacchus Marsh Aero Club, the club became incorporated in June 1994.
Affiliation to the VMAA/MAAA occurred on 01 July 1993 (27 years a continuous member) as the Bacchus Marsh Model Aircraft Association (BMMAA).
The first location of the pits at the Parwan complex was in the northeast corner of the block allocated under the big She Oaktree; there were 2 “shield” trees with indigenous protection in the flight path with the result of many models being claimed during the early days. Eventually, Peter Van Alkermade and Mark Peterson measured out the lease and with the full boundaries now marked the decision was made to move the pits and runway to the location at Parwan when closed in April 2019. This move allowed for negotiation with Western Water who had taken ownership after all councils disbanded in the mid-’90's
The result of this was an extended lease arrangement with options that lasted until 2011, thus giving the club surety around its tenure on the sewerage complex. The conveyor belt runway was sourced and trucked down to Bacchus Marsh from the Murray River region thanks to club members. The runway was prepared by Gillespie’s before the conveyor belt was laid. The runways served the club successfully for many years. Further short-term leases saw the club maintain its residency until the move to Mt Wallace in April 2019.
On the 27 October 2016, BMMAA become the host club of new MAAA site at 26A Brisbane Ranges Road, Mount Wallace and continues to develop the site as a State Field with a initial leasing arrangement for 15 years.
Date: 11 March 2020
During early 1992 several modellers had been flying from the top of Main Street at what is now called “top of the town” estate. In fact, Burbidge Drive was the pit area and runway. Initially, this was just a few flyers from different clubs on weekends and very random as there where several different sites that people flew from including Masons Lane Reserve and Darley Oval.
Word got around, and more flyers began to turn up at Burbidge Drive, and as the flyers got to know each other, the discussion moved to the need to have a local club. An ad was placed in the local paper and a meeting took place at the Border Inn (now Flanagan’s). A handful of people did attend, but those willing to take the plunge and form a club was limited.
Those that did take the plunge and become the founding members were:
- Bruce Mclaughlin
- Peter Van Alkemade
- Karl Ansell
- Mark Peterson
As the numbers fell short of the minimum six needed to register a club with the VMAA, two partners joined to make the minimum numbers, and they were Annmaree Peterson, and Marise Ansell.
So, the first committee for the club was:
President – Bruce Mclaughlin;
Secretary - Peter Van Alkemade;
Treasurer - Annmaree Peterson; and
Safety Officer - Mark Peterson
Annmaree was the Treasurer and went on to become a competent pilot regularly flying at Parwan and also slope soaring off Bald Hill. Marise and Karl ended up moving interstate not long after Parwan became active.
The Bacchus Marsh Aeromodellers Club (BMAC) was reformed and affiliated after a 6-year gap. Club meetings were held at members’ homes until the numbers grew where the Border Inn became the meeting site for many years. Initially, the reformed club continued to fly at the top of Main Street for the next 12 or so months.
It was during this time that Joe Buttigieg and Garry Thiele both members of Melton Club, unbeknown to each other went on the hunt for a local flying field location using their Shire contacts. Joe Buttigieg persistence with the council eventually proved successfully after several attempts in securing a suitable site.
The first option was the top of Bald Hill but given its proximity to Radio towers and remote location was rejected. The next proposal was the Parwan Sewerage farm, with trial flights conducted off the main entrance road. With the help of the then Bacchus Marsh Shire the North-West corner of the complex was offered. Bruce McLaughlin, with the help of Pauline Madden (Solicitor), set about arranging the lease agreement which was very favourable and thankfully very cheap.
With the arrival of a dedicated field, several Melton and Werribee club members became affiliate members and more local flyers also joined. The then-current members decided that the Club needed to be incorporated to protect members. After changing its name to Bacchus Marsh Model Aircraft Association (BMMAA) due to corporate affairs rules of the name similarity to Bacchus Marsh Aero Club, the club became incorporated in June 1994.
Affiliation to the VMAA/MAAA occurred on 01 July 1993 (27 years a continuous member) as the Bacchus Marsh Model Aircraft Association (BMMAA).
The first location of the pits at the Parwan complex was in the northeast corner of the block allocated under the big She Oaktree; there were 2 “shield” trees with indigenous protection in the flight path with the result of many models being claimed during the early days. Eventually, Peter Van Alkermade and Mark Peterson measured out the lease and with the full boundaries now marked the decision was made to move the pits and runway to the location at Parwan when closed in April 2019. This move allowed for negotiation with Western Water who had taken ownership after all councils disbanded in the mid-’90's
The result of this was an extended lease arrangement with options that lasted until 2011, thus giving the club surety around its tenure on the sewerage complex. The conveyor belt runway was sourced and trucked down to Bacchus Marsh from the Murray River region thanks to club members. The runway was prepared by Gillespie’s before the conveyor belt was laid. The runways served the club successfully for many years. Further short-term leases saw the club maintain its residency until the move to Mt Wallace in April 2019.
On the 27 October 2016, BMMAA become the host club of new MAAA site at 26A Brisbane Ranges Road, Mount Wallace and continues to develop the site as a State Field with a initial leasing arrangement for 15 years.
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