THE HISTORY OF V.A.R.M.S The Annual Diary 1990 - 2009

Nov. 6 & 7 - VARMS EXPO at Waverley Secondary College (8th & poss. last).
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Nov. 14 - F3J at Leakes Rd. - Results :-
Qualifiers 1. Peter White Final 1. Max Kroger
2. Rob Benton 2. Terry Pasalaqua
3. Terry Pasalaqua 3. Des Bayliss
4. Max Kroger 4. Rob Benton
5. Des Bayliss 5. Peter White
6. Marcus Stent 6. Marcus Stent
47th 1993/94 Nationals at Wagga Wagga, NSW.:
Thermal 1. Scott Lennon 2. Peter Abell 3. Alan Mayhew
F3B 1. Peter Abell 2. Phil Bird 3. Andrew Goddard
Review of Best of Camperdown - ASP 254/Feb94
March 1994 VMAA Newsletter reports the induction of Brian Laging (Deceased) into the
M.A.A.A. Hall of Fame (One time holder of R/C Sailplane Duration World Record 1979).
Mar. '94 - Institution of 60" Slope Pylon - Glenn Salisbury.
9th March. 1994 - Martin Briggs passed away - H. S. R. site re-named Brigg's Field, Martin elected
as a Life Member of VARMS, also instituted, a Martin Briggs Perpetual Trophy to be held March
yearly - first held May '94.
A Tribute To Martin Briggs by Charlie Lambeth
(Aspectivity 256 - April 1994)
It is with regret that we learned of the death of Vale James Martin Briggs after a long battle
with cancer. As you are no doubt aware, he was an active member of VARMS and an ex President.
He was a model builder from childhood and of course used his building talents to construct the
shelter at our High Street Road site.
Martin started his full sized flying with a licence in Yorkshire, England in 1947. He came to
Australia, married and raised a family. After attending a talk on gliding by well known pilot Alan
Patching in the 50's he subsequently joined the Victorian Motorless Flight Group and flew gliders
from 1960. He quickly rose to instructor and became VMFG President. When the club moved to
Bacchus Marsh and started aero towing in earnest he became a tug pilot and in 1974 tugged at the
World Championships at Waikerie. He was a glider engineer, part owner of a Libelle and won his
gold C and two Diamonds.
I next caught up with Martin when he was building a Model D11 aeroplane and I had the job
of carrying out inspections on it. Very frustrating as you can imagine as it was a job to find
anything wrong with his work. He had self imposed quality standards of a high level. He went from
there to building ultra light projects. I know that his wife Barbara, sons Peter, Paul & Keith along
with daughters Karen & Susan & his extended family will miss him as we shall. Sons Peter & Paul
carry on the gliding traditions and all the boys apprenticed to Martin as he was to his father and he
to Martin's grandfather. Not bad continuation of trade qualification and what can we say about his
human qualities? A real top and talented bloke.