RAAF Association Tasmania

Australian Flying Corps and

Royal Australian Air Force Association (Tasmania Division) Inc. 

Patron: Her Excellency, Professor the Hon Kate Warner AC

Governor of Tasmania

Wing Commander Geoff O'Hara, State President of the RAAF Association, Tasmania Division

Welcome to the Web Site of the Royal Australian Air Force Asociation - Tasmania Division.  This site is designed to keep all members and other interested persons abreast of Association happenings in the State of Tasmania.  We hope the information contained in this site will be of benefit to all members and we urge them to peruse the site frequently as it is up-dated on a regular basis so that all information is current and accurate.

Yours sincerely,

GEOFF O'HARA

Wing Commander RAAF (Ret)

State President

The RAAF Association was founded in 1920 as the Australian Flying Corps Association and  shortly after the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force in 1921 it changed  its name to include  'Air Force Assoociation'.  In the late 1980s the name was again changed to include 'The Royal Australian Air Force Association'

There is a Division, with Branches, in each State of Australia.

The Tasmania Division was formed in  1944 and initially was one state wide group of members. In the early 1950s Branches began to be formed in Hobart, Launceston, the West Coast and the North West and finally, the WAAAFs formed their Branch in the late 1950s. Regrettably, the WAAAF Branch closed down in March 2014 due to ageing and diminsihed membership.

The RAAF Memorial Centre at 61 Davey Street Hobart, was purchased by public subscription soon after WWll  (a public appeal was launched in 1946), and assisted by member fund raising, the building  at No 61 Davey Street, Hobart was purchsased and now belongs to all the Division members. The RAAF Memorial Centre is managed by the State Executive of the Tasmania Division

One of the major activities organised by the Divsion is the annual Battle of Britain commemoration. The Battle of Britain was the first occasion when the aeroplane was used in a battle solely as a weapon in its own right. This was the birth of modern Air Power as we know it today and this commemoration of its birth is an important icon in the history of military aviation. The annual functions are a Memorial Church Service, held at St David's Cathedral Hobart, a formal dinner run along traditional military lines, a commemorative Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Hobart Cenotaph and a BBQ luncheon at the RAAF Memorial Centre Hobart to close the weekend activities.

The activities are well supported by the RAAF. The Chief of Air Force is a frequent attendee as are other senior RAAF  leaders.  The Defence Attaches from those allied nations that fought in the Battle of Britain (UK, France, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the US) are also invited and  they most often attend. The activities are held over the weekend closest to the 15 September which was the day the Battle of Britain reached its zenith in 1940.

Operation Life: SafeTALK

1/2 day workshop – Hobart

Thursday 28^th February

 SafeTALK helps people to identify others who may be having thoughts of suicide and provides methods to help connect those people with life-saving first aid resources.

Doing Anger Differently

 2 hr sessions, 6 weeks – Hobart

Fridays – 08^th March to 12^th April

This program will help participants understand anger and how to manage it more effectively, so that it doesn’t have a negative impact on their lives, or others’ lives.

Understanding Anxiety

2 Day Program – Northern Tasmania

Monday 18^th & Tuesday 19^th March

This program will help people to understand anxiety, and teach them strategies and skills to reduce anxiety and manage the associated stress.

Stepping Out

2 day workshop – Hobart

Monday 15^th & Tuesday 16^th April

The Stepping Out program will give ADF personnel (and their partners) information and skills to manage and adjust to their transition from the ADF to civilian life.

Managing your Pain

2 hr sessions, 6 weeks – Hobart

Mondays – 29^th April to 03^rd June

This program will help participants learn about pain and how to incorporate strategies and skills for effective pain management into their lives.

Operation Life: ASIST

2 day Workshop – Hobart

Tuesday 07^th & Wednesday 08^th May

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) teaches people to carry out life-saving interventions for people at risk of suicide.

Recovery from Trauma

2 hr sessions, 6 weeks - Hobart

Thursdays – 23^rd May to 27^th June

This program will help people to understand the possible impact of trauma, and teach them strategies and skills to help them manage its impact on them and their family.

Can’t find a program at a time or date that suits? Complete an expression of interest form at OpenArms.gov.au

To register for a program call 1800 011 046 or visit OpenArms.gov.au

Please note: This schedule is subject to change, please refer to the Open Arms website for the latest program schedule or contact the local Open Arms office.