The Geelong Miniature Aircraft Association (GMAA), as we are now known, has been operating in Geelong for almost 50
years. During that time we have had a name change, flying field moves and expansions and seen generations of locals join up and fly with the club.

 

It all began back in 1965 & 1966 when a number of local modelers began seeking each other out to help one other learn to fly their (at the time) single channel radio controlled and control line aircraft and to share knowledge and discuss the latest news in their hobby. Proportional radio sets came into vogue, and with them came more locals interested in radio controlled flight.

 

Towards the end of 1966 and early 1967, a number of individuals began to congregate and fly their aircraft on the Belmont Common. Most flew trainers, but some of the more adventurous flew aerobatic capable aircraft. It soon became apparent that these like-minded flyers should form a club in order to have rules, control over frequencies and an official flying site on the Belmont Common.

 

The first ever meeting of the then named Geelong Aero Guidance Society "GAGS" was held in June/July, 1967 in founding member Barry Angus' garage. The South Barwon Shire gave the newly formed club permission to use the common and soon after a steel clubhouse/storage shed erected. At a later date, thanks to a local government grant, a larger concrete brick building was erected. This served, among other things, as a shelter in inclement weather and a canteen on competition and open days. Early meetings were held in the "Camera Club" shed on the Belmont Common (near where the Belmont Sunday Market is now held) as well as in the "Airforce Hall" in Little Malop Street. In later years meetings were shifted to the old migrant hostel near the Ford factory on Melbourne Road, using one of the mission huts there.

 

Many enjoyable years were spent flying on the Belmont Common, the Nationals held there in 1972 being one of the more memorable highlights. However the club's time there was limited as suburban progress slowly made flying more difficult and dangerous, with the fear of interference and flying over busy roads becoming unacceptable. The decision was made in late 1976 to search for another flying site, but it was not until late 1978 or early 1979 that the move to a new field in Dog Rock's Road, Fyansford was made. This field is still in use today.

 

Since those early days of the club, the club has gone from strength to strength. Along the way we changed our name to Geelong Model Aircraft Association (GMAA), and still have a solid membership base. The club also takes part in static displays at fairs and functions help to generate interest in the hobby and the club itself.  From 2004 - 2011 the GMAA had a second flying field at Mannerim, but due to the geographical location of each field, members would tend to fly at only one field or the other. Each field also entertained different types of model aircraft and disciplines from the other. After much discussion, a special general meeting was held on the 14th of December 2010. At this meeting a vote was put forward to divide the GMAA into two separate clubs, and the Bellarine Model Aero Club (BMAC) was created. It was decided the BMAC would continue to operate from the Mannerim field, and the GMAA would base itself at its most popular and well known field at Dog Rocks.

 

We are now entering yet another new chapter, with our current Dog Rocks location being sold we found ourselves without a field until 2017 when we were approved to relocate our field to Teesdale.  Once again we had to start over, preparing gravel access roads, a car park and a new flying strip. In December 2018 our new club room was erected at the field.

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The GMAA has a long history, one which we are proud of, and we hope to continue to grow in the years to come and to promote this great hobby of ours!

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