Welcome to the Toowoomba Amateur Radio Model Aero Club

The Toowoomba Amateur Radio Model Aero Club (TARMAC) is a well established club with a friendly atmosphere made up of members with a passion for flight and a broad range of aviation interests. Why not hop in the car and take the short drive to our field? We’d love to meet you and share the joy of flying!

Golden Jubilee Celebration

In 2024, we proudly celebrated TARMAC's golden jubilee - 50 incredible years of model aviation! For half a century, our club has been a gathering place for enthusiasts who share a passion for flight, fostering camaraderie and unforgettable experiences. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the year to honor this milestone. Together, we reflected on the thrilling flights, cherished memories, and the strong sense of community that have shaped TARMAC's legacy. Here's to 50 years of soaring high and many more to come!

A brief look at our history

In the early 1960’s, aeronautical model enthusiasts were using a large tract of unimproved land on the corner of North & Tor Streets, Toowoomba, to engage in their sport. For many reasons, including the safety aspect and the encroachment of suburbia, this location, later to be developed into a sport ground and called the “Rockville Oval “, gradually became unsuitable. A new site was needed and in 1963, John Stacey, a private pilot and keen free flight and remote control aircraft buff, noticed an area just off the New England Highway at Hodgson Vale which had excellent potential. After meeting with the land owner, Mrs Ivy James, an agreement was reached which allowed for models to be flown at this new location. Since that time and with much help from many members, TARMAC has developed into a thriving club with wonderful facilities, friendly members and a vast array of models.

In 1998, MAAA purchased the property and granted a long-term lease to TARMAC through the MAAQ, thus ensuring our clubs home, well into the future. Our members will always be grateful to Ivy James for allowing our club to use a section of her property, to John Stacey, Merve Williams, Brian West and Rod Borne for their foresight and persistence in forming TARMAC and to Dr. Jeffrey Phillps for his dedication and resolve in pursuing and obtaining a long-term tenure of the TARMAC site.

Meetings

TARMAC club meetings are held bi-monthly on the first Sunday of February, April, June, August, October, and December. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place during the August meeting. Meetings commence promptly at 10:00 AM at our club field. Members are welcome to enjoy flying both before and after the meeting.

Events - 2025

January 24th - 27th - Join us for Helis Over Toowoomba
Click here for directions

February 8th & 9th - Join us for Jets Over Toowoomba
Click here for directions

April 25th - Join us for our Annual ANZAC Day Fun Fly
Click here for directions

TARMAC Committee

The TARMAC Executive Committee comprises the following positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of Grounds, Chief Flying Instructor, and Publicity Officer. These roles are filled through elections conducted during the club's Annual General Meeting, held annually in August.

2024/2025 Committee

• President: Doug Woodcock
• Vice President: Ray Baines
• Secretary: John Fergusson
• Treasurer: Graham Norris
• Chair of Grounds: Dennis Cheshire
• Chief Flying Instructor: Trevor Theodore

Flight times

The club is open to members daily, with powered model flights permitted starting at 8:00 AM. Regular gatherings typically occur on Wednesdays and Sundays, weather permitting, providing an excellent opportunity for members to enjoy flying their models. We warmly welcome visitors to our field to experience the thrill of model aviation firsthand.

Membership

Whether you're just beginning in this great sport, a seasoned pilot or anywhere in between, you are always welcome at our club. Check the Membership page for all the information you need to join us at TARMAC.