We’re on the downward slope to summer! Can you believe it! With the Whitianga rally done and dusted for 2018, we can look forward to a busy 2019!!! This is my first time coming to you as president. I’d like to start by offering a HUGE thank you to Julie for all her hard work over the last couple of years. She is a powerhouse of organization and hardwork, and has left me with big shoes to fill.

Thanks to all of you who were able to come to Joan Campbell’s funeral in Te Aroha recently – it was great to be able to form a guard of honour of NZAWA members. We are all going to miss Joan, who has been an absolute fixture at our Rallies, for many years. Our condolences to our Honorary Member, Malcolm and we will expect to see you in Whitianga and future Rallies. As I spoke at the funeral, I have included my speech in a separate article.

I trust you have all had a chance to relax over Christmas and New Year, and that you have been able to make the most of some fabulous flying weather. It is always really special catching up with the family. I have had some very exciting news from Dee Bond to say that Jan McKenzie, the International President of Ninety Nines, is coming to NZ to attend Warbirds Over Wanaka (WOW) at Easter.

There is so much to report I’m not sure where to start, so I will start with all the good news.
It was great to talk to Rhona Fraser recently as she was just home from hospital and in very good spirits. Rhona wanted me to pass on her thanks for all your lovely messages and cards. It was also good to hear that Faye Blainey from Australia, is also out of hospital and home now. We hope you are both feeling much better.

Warm regards to you all from the beautiful tropical island of Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania. We are having an exhilarating, exhausting and exciting time in Africa. There are so many highlights especially the wildlife, including watching a group of elephants play with a hose on the front lawn of our little thatched roof cottage and getting out of our tent at night to watch 30 zebras compete to drink at a water hole. We have seen two lions attack buffalo and the big 5 at very close range.

Firstly, some exciting news – CONGRATULATIONS to Dee Bond for being a winner at the 2017 Air Race Classic in the States. We at NZAWA are incredibly proud of your efforts and skill Dee, and look forward to hearing all the details soon.

Firstly – Get Well Wishes to our Patroness Rhona Fraser, who has been feeling under the weather lately. We hope you recover soon and that you will be well enough to come to the Wanaka Rally.