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. Jump in your car and take the short drive out to our field. We'd love to see you!

Golden Jubilee Celebration

During 2024, we are celebrating our golden jubilee - TARMAC's 50th anniversary. For five decades, our club has been a hub for model aviation enthusiasts, bringing together like-minded individuals who share a fervor for flight. Join us in commemorating this milestone as we reflect on the countless memories, adrenaline-fueled flights, and the vibrant community that has defined TARMAC over the years. Here's to 50 years of tearing up the sky!

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 us 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

The Official Club Meetings are scheduled for the first Sunday of every other month, specifically in February, April, June, August, October, and December each year. Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is conducted during the August meeting. All meetings commence at 10:00 am at our field. Members are encouraged to fly before and after the meeting.

Events - 2024

September 15th - Join us for our Spring Fun Fly

What an incredible day at our Spring Fun-Fly event! A massive thank you to everyone who made it possible—whether you were planning, setting up, prepping the field, grilling up some delicious food, or serving refreshments. Every role was vital in creating a perfect day filled with fun and flying! We can’t wait to do it all over again at our next event. Stay tuned!

TARMAC Committee

The TARMAC Executive Committee consists of the following positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of Grounds, Chief Flying Instructor, and Publicity Officer. All positions are elected by the membership during the club's Annual General Meeting, which takes place each 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

Our club is open to members every day, with powered model flights allowed from 8:00 am onwards. Members frequently gather on Wednesdays and Sundays, weather permitting, to enjoy flying their models. We warmly invite you to visit our field and experience the excitement.

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.