National Congress Of Saaf
Some 75 delegates and members from all 18 branches of SAAF in the country gathered at the weekend in George for the annual National Congress headed by the president of the National Executive Council, Philip Weyers.
Inset: Ola Grinaker and Lt Genl Carlo Gagiano, head of the SA Air Force.
The Chief of the Air Force, Lt General C Gagiano and Brigadier General H Paine were the guests of honour. Several retired Air Force generals were also amongst the guests that attended. It was a great pleasure to have all of them here.
The Association consists mainly of retired Air Force personnel but with a number of Aviation personalities as associated members as well. The aim of the Association is not only to foster friendship, comradeship and good fellowship amongst all members but also to assist in the establishing of grants to provide for the maintenance and general well-being of the members and ex-members of the Air Force and their dependants.
The main objective of the congress this year was just that; to find ways of improving the well-being of the members, especially those who have fallen on hard times.
The Association will always remember and honour those members of the Defence Force who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for South Africa, and a memorial service was held Sunday morning at the Moth Hall, where wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph.
Another objective this year, which might however not have been strictly according to the SAAFA Constitution, was to show the folks from out of town, the beauty and the splendour of our surroundings, and hereby not only promoting the city of George, but the whole of the Garden Route.
As usual, when George is called to task and to perform, the city does. The weather during the conference was superb.
Delegates, their wives and local members enjoyed a train ride with the Choo-Tjoe on Thursday to Mossel Bay and back, with a lunch break at the harbour in Mossel Bay.
On Friday the Congress started in earnest and while delegates were working at the temporary head quarters established at Pine Lodge, their partners and some local members were taken on a ‘mystery tour’ that took them to Victoria Bay, on a conducted horticultural tour at Radermachers and ended at George Bowling Club where wine tasting was enjoyed.
On Friday night, a dinner with loads of fun and entertainment arranged by the George Arts Society was enjoyed. Saturday morning the ladies went up the Quteniqua Mountains in the Power Van. All the participants declared afterwards that they wanted to come back to visit the Garden Route.
The Congress culminated in a banquet on Saturday night where several presentations were made and President of the National Executive Council Philip Weyers awarded several nominees with SAAFA awards.
The memorial service at the Moth Hall on Sunday in honour of fallen comrades was a parade attended in full SAAFA uniforms with medals. The Executive Council and local branch laid wreaths.
The Chairman of the Outeniqua Branch of the South African Air Force Assocation, Colonel Al Colesky and his team must be congratulated for a Congress well orga-nised.
by KARL SEMBACH
