January this year saw local Venturer Kieran Debenham (Welcome Bay Scout Group) attend the annual Walsh Memorial Flying School where he undertook a 2 week intensive course learning to fly and at the end of it made his first solo flight at 16 years of age. He joined 65 other students in attending this very popular two-week long training camp at Matamata.
The annual event has been run by the Scout Association of New Zealand since 1967, providing the highest quality aviation training in the country for budding young pilots both male and female aged 16-19. The Walsh has many past students with successful careers in aviation.
This school is named after Vivian Claude Walsh (1888-1950) who was an engineer and his elder brother Leo Austin Walsh (1881-1951) who were pioneers of New Zealand aviation. The Auckland Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, concerned to preserve the memory of the brothers' contribution, formed the Walsh Memorial Air Pageant Organisation. Several events raised significant monies for educational purposes - now administered via the New Zealand Aeronautical Trusts Ltd.
The School is supported by the Royal New Zealand Airforce, Air New Zealand, Air Nelson, Air BP, Airways New Zealand, Civil Aviation Authority, New Zealand Met Service, Aviation Services Limited, Royal Aeronautical Society, Rotary International and Fuji Xerox.
Various other planes of interest also visited during the school giving the students chance to see 'up close and personal' which they wouldn't be able to do otherwise, including a Beechcraft 1900D (Eagle Air), Strikemaster, Spitfire, Albatross, MASH Helicopter, Chipmunk & CT4 Airtrainer