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this year’s highly successful World
Championships in Perth in May.
Serendipity played a part in Joan
being able to combine her two
passions of aeromodelling and
travel.
“During the early years, I would
usually assist others by holding the
model, getting fuel all over me or
generally helping out,” she said.
“One day at Kuring-gai, I saw a very
experienced woman, Jenni Reeves,
judging a competition and I was
inspired.
“That’s when I took aeromodelling
to a new level and got my wings
and I flew (into judging). I never
expected the role to go further
than the club level but I am
delighted that it includes world
travel,” she said.
Her love of judging and travel
meant she was willing to wear the
out-of-pocket expenses to attend
world and European championship
events.
But the Model Aeronautical
Association of Australia
contributed hugely and paid a
portion of the travel costs – giving
Australian judges a greater chance
of being selected for international
competitions.
“The MAAA has been wonderful
and its financial contribution has
meant Australian judges are on a
more equal footing with those from
Europe,” Joan said.
Her only regret? She’s never been
lucky enough to judge a world
competition in France. But there’s
always next year.
Aerobatic control line judging has taken joan to
places such as Barcelona (below left & right) and
Muncie in the US (below centre)
Above: Joan at the European championships in
Hungary in 2013
NOVEMBER
WING
SPAN
MAAALogo.