User:Paulz12/Australian Rocketry Association

Australian Rocketry Association INC brief history

The Australian Rocketry Association (ARA) originally formed back in 1994 by 2 rocketry enthusiasts Maurice Laffin and Stewart Clarke both from SA - the home of Rocketry back then. The ARA was an off shoot of the Marion Model Rocketry Club Inc. The first Committee consisted of President - Stewart Clarke, Vice President -Michael Gerlach, Secretary - Maurice Laffin and Treasurer - Ashley McGovern.

The ARA incorporated on 06/07/94 and then went through the process to obtain an ARBN to allow the ARA to operate nationally which was approved 20/03/95. The ARA was formed to address regulartory change, this was the main driving force behind the club at the time.

The very first official launch for the ARA was at Lake Finness in 1995 and the ARA continued with steady membership growth until 2000 when it peaked with over 150 members Australia wide. Due to events overseas and on home soil and the rising costs of liability insurance forced the ARA to make a hard decision to run all of its operations on a skeletal Directorship in 2002 until such time it was viable to expand the national organization once again.

2007 saw a change in the insurance enviroment in Australia and with a small group of dedicated rocketry enthusiasts discussions started about expanding the ARA operations once again. November 2007 it was official the ARA had a new committee at the helm was one of the orginal founding members who took the role as President -Maurice Laffin, Vice President - Roy -Clermont, Secretary - Phillip Moore and Treasurer - Paul Collier.

This group then went into every ARA document, safety codes, certification process, constitution and the "blue book" to update the ARA and bring it into 2008. It was a hard task that slowly but surely one by one they all accomplished the task at hand. To provide Australian rocketeers with a workable national club that would save the local state clubs money on insurance and be able to have a voice with government departments across Australia.

Currently the ARA membership numbers in the hundreds with rocketry still growing across the country.

Without the hard work from these individuals back in 1994 I dont think rocketry would even be around in Australia so the ARA thanks you for your time and effort in bringing rocketry to us all.

The Australian Rocketry Association (ARA) is managed solely by volunteers who are willing to spend their own time furthering rocketry in Australia. We exist to serve the needs of every Australian rocket enthusiast whether you enjoy flying small, model or high powered rockets. The ARA cater for all rocketry levels and interests.

The ARA promotes model rocketry and is a major organizing body for high power rocketry in Australia and is the largest high power rocketry organization in Australia

As you go through the ARA website you will find useful links, education and contacts to various ARA clubs/sections. It is our aim to provide this information freely to Australians so you can enjoy your rocketry experience. We have even provided a forum where ideas are shared, build projects, general information and current news and events from Australia and around the world.

In Australia the Australian Rocketry Association INC is the largest and only national rocketry club in Australia the ARA spans the whole of Australia and offers Launch sites in all states.

[edit] External links All the clubs listed below are members of the Australian Rocketry Association INC

Australian Rocketry Association INC

Adelaide Advanced Rocketry Club INC

CAKARA Camillo, Armadale, Kelmscott ARA

SARA Sale VIC ARA

Perth Advanced Rocketry Club INC

Queensland Rocketry Association ARA

SRC Spalding Rocket Club ARA

Eyre Peninsula Rocketry ARA

Canberra Rocket Group ARA

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