Never heard of it you say. No wonder, as it was most likely the shortest lived gliding club in Australian history, with the fewest members, but for its size was probably the best equipped. At its peak it had two Janus, one ASK 13, one Puchacz, one Super Cub tug, one Pawnee tug, a hanger and eight members.

It all started one Sunday morning in mid July when the phone rang in the clubhouse and was answered by Wayne Mackley, "Hey Kevin you do some of this publicity stuff can you talk to this guy, he is from some TV show". I take the phone and introduce myself and the response is "Hi my name is Stephen and I am from Halifax FP, the TV series, we have a storyline involving gliding coming up and thought you may be able to help." So we arrange to meet at the clubhouse the following week.

On Tuesday Stephen, Peter the director and Russell his assistant arrive followed shortly after by four of their art department staff. I am given a quick rundown of their requirements and am assured that it is to be a positive view of gliding with no crashes or ambulances so I agree to provide whatever we can to make it work.

A quick trip to the hangers to see what aircraft could be used and around the airfield to get a view of the layout and the Halifax crew head off home. A few days later a fax arrives requesting the use of two Janus (Janii?) both from VMFG, an ASK 13, a Puchacz and a Super Cub tug all belonging to Geelong. A couple of phone calls to the presidents of the two clubs and we all agree on a hire charge for both ground and flight use and arrange for the help of three members from each of the two clubs involved. As usual these club members would give up their own time for a day to help promote our clubs and the sport. Little did we realise!

The next week a bus load of Halifax crew come to Bacchus. This time production people were looking at places to set up their equipment and the actual places that would be used for filming and the overall logistics of how they would film the segments.

Over the next few weeks I had many phone calls asking things like, do you wear a uniform and do you wear crash helmets? etc. and we fine tune what they require on the day. It was then arranged that filming would commence on September 2nd with the flying shots done a couple of weeks later by the second unit. We are asked to have our aircraft "on set" for a 0800 start.

Wednesday September 2nd dawns calm but overcast as we get our four gliders and tug out and onto the grass ready for filming. The star Rebecca Gibney, and "pilot" actor Simon Westaway arrive and are given a quick introduction on the way in and out of a Janus by which time Simon, insists that "I have to have a flight in this".

About this time we are all called in for breakfast of bacon, eggs, cereal, toast and all the usual trimmings. Hey this working on movies could be fun. As we gliding people enter the meal tent someone from Halifax grabs us all and shoves a handful of forms to each of us to sign. We all stare in disbelief as amongst others there is a tax form, an application to join Actors Equity and another applying for the position of extra. "Holy Toledo Batman, we are gunna be movie stars". Well maybe not quite but we were all put in the background tinkering and washing gliders whilst the stars were getting ready to fly.

About this time they spot our Pawnee sitting outside the hanger where it had been moved to allow us to get the Cub out and asked if it could be moved into the background with the three gliders, and as it was not part of the budgeted aircraft they insisted that a slab of beer for us would be the way of payment. Of course we said no its OK don't worry, a slab of VB arrived at lunch time and was divvyed up amongst the glider crew to take home.

We have all heard stories of how long it takes to film just a few seconds of a film and believe me they are true. Each scene involves several rehearsals with checks by lighting, sound as well as camera, before filming the real shot several times and often from three or four different angles before, being satisfied.

From the start of shooting at about 9-30 am until lunch break at 2-15 they shot three different scenes which will take up about three minutes on screen.

During filming of one scene which required the tug to pull the Janus along for 50-60 metres, there was a ten minute discussion as Halifax and their safety officers did not want to have both Rebecca and Simon in the glider but wanted Simon replaced by a "real glider pilot" as the tow release had to be used, despite the fact that at all times the glider was only at walking pace, with one of us on the wing tip, and Simon had been given, and totally understood, a briefing as to how the tow release and wheel brake, were to be correctly operated, at the right time. Finally Simon, using some good old Australian language and a little anglo-saxon for good measure, convinced them that he was smart enough to release the tow rope at the right time and the scene was shot without incident.

As they stopped for lunch Simon Westaway was strapped into our Puchacz and launched into the wild blue much to the consternation of the Halifax people. The rest of us went and had lunch, again provided by the company caterers. As we were finishing our desert Simon and our real pilot, in the guise of Ian Hardy, arrived back. "That was the most amazing flight, unbelievable, better than motor bikes" was all Simon could say. It would appear that he was so impressed that he may even take up the sport so watch out Sydney area clubs.

After lunch both Rebecca and Simon joined us for a group photo in front of the Janus after which the gliders were put away and the scenes of Jane Halifax arriving at the gliding club were shot both inside and out of our hangar. This involved numerous takes of Rebecca driving up in her Saab, stopping, getting out and walking into the hangar. This scene was shot from three different angles and took an hour for what will probably be ten seconds of the show. It was then inside to film her entrance into the hangar, again filmed from the side, behind and head on to cover all angles.

"That's it, afternoon tea" called the directors assistant, it was now 6 PM, all of the regular crew made a dash for the food area as there was the usual tea and coffee along with hot dogs, sandwiches and a huge platter of boston buns. As the rush died down we mere extra's got in for our share. As the crew packed up all of the equipment and we tidied up the hangar we were encouraged to take any of the left over food as it would only be thrown out. So ended day one at Wonga Gliding Club.

Thursday September 17th and we are back at Wonga to film the flying sequences. After much planning between tug and glider pilots, the pilot of a Cessna 182 film platform and Halifax as to their requirements Max Callingham of V.M.F.G. dressed as Simon Westaway and a Rebecca Gibney look alike are launched in the Janus. The Gibney look alike, who is fresh out of stunt school and never flown in a glider before, said after the flight that it was only when doing the wing overs that she started to feel queasy but had enjoyed the flight. To her credit the day was extremely rough with a 25 knot nor-wester howling over the field.

The cameraman was then "taped" into the front seat of the Puchacz and filmed the launch and release along with some views from the glider. A filmed take off and landing of the Janus with the star substitutes on board followed by another launch of the Puchacz which Rebecca and Simon will be looking at prior to their flight in the show.

That completed our participation in Halifax and they all headed back home to complete the rest of the recording, it also signalled the demise of Wonga Gliding Club. The members of the "club" were Alan Patching, Geoff Newland, John Illet and Max Callingham who are also members of the Victorian Motorless Flight Group and Ian Hardy, Peter White and Kevin McGowan who are members of the Geelong Gliding Club and of course Simon Westaway and Rebecca Gibney.

It appears that it could take up to a year before this episode is shown on TV so keep an eye open and don't be too critical of the gliding as we could not let realism get in the way of a good story. The episode is called "With this ring".

Finally keep a look out for the cap worn by Rebecca and eat your heart out fella's.