RAAF Association Victorian Division


Proud sponsors Mobil Aviation, together with The Royal Victorian Aero Club, The Foundation of the RAAF Association Victorian Division and The 460 Bomber Squadron Scholarship Trust are jointly encouraging young Australians to take up careers or long term recreational participation in aviation. The Scholarship Fund will provide pilot training for three young Australians. Applications are available, go to The Royal Victorian Aero Club at http://www.rvac.com.au/flying-scholarships Applications are now being sought from resident Australians for one of three flying training scholarships offered by the Royal Victorian Aero Club in conjunction with the Royal Australian Air Force Association Victorian Division Foundation. The scholarships, now in their ninth year, are sponsored predominantly by Mobil Aviation with support from the Foundation of the RAAF Association, Victorian Division, Royal Victorian Aero Club and the 460 Bomber Squadron Scholarship Trust. The scholarships take the successful candidates through to the GFPT stage of the Private Pilots Licence and are valued at approximately $6,500 each. The scholarships recognize the contribution that young Australian aircrew have made in the defence and development of Australia and the spirit, determination and values shown by these young airmen in the past. The scholarships are an ideal way to kick start either a long term career or simply begin a recreational participation in Aviation. Application forms must be picked up personally at either Royal Victorian Aero Club at Moorabbin Airport or Coldstream Airfield, and again must be personally delivered back to either of those sites by 03 August 2007. Some of the previous successful candidates are now well into their flying careers and others enjoying privately the freedom that flight provides.
Previous awardees were Jeremy Kirkham and Daniel Vigilante Jeremy Kirkham was 16 years of age, undertaking year eleven at Eltham College specialising in maths, physics, chemistry, English and International studies. He lives in Diamond Creek, is a member of the Air Force Cadets, plays competition tennis and has had just 20 minutes of flying training to convince him this was his passion. He has his sights set on military aviation as a pilot or professional engineer with high hopes of his own air charter firm: high sights indeed. Above all, he is a determined young man and was focused to complete his training before he commenced year 12 in 2005. His eyes are a little dark through sleep deprivation in anticipation of his first lesson.


Daniel Vigilante also 16 years of age at the time, undertaking year eleven at Mazenod College studying maths methods, physics, specialist maths and Italian. He is very athletic enjoying football, hockey, athletics and cross country. He relaxes fishing and water skiing. If nothing else, Daniel was singularly focused on a career as an airline pilot. Whilst exercising his piloting skills, Daniel seeked to hone his leadership talents with his crew and his passengers. He saw piloting an aircraft as a most responsible task but understood that the competition to get there is fierce. Daniel believed that he was most privileged to be awarded a Mobil Flying Scholarship for Young Australians, 2004.