By Kevin Hillier
Stand by for the stampede to Avalon Airport this weekend for the biennial International Air Show. Yes, the highway will be a nightmare from Friday through to Sunday and all hotels and motels will be booked out – and hopefully so will our restaurants and pubs.
Avalon Airport chief executive Justin Giddings said 201,000 people attended the last event and this year might be even bigger.
The air show does bring some challenges as Justin explained:
“It is getting more difficult as the airport gets busy, but I believe the air show will be here (Avalon) for a long time to come.
“It is the perfect location for an air show – 45 minutes from the Melbourne CBD and just 20 minutes from Wyndham and Geelong. It is an event that puts us on the map right around the world.”
The key for us in Wyndham is to leverage exposure, awareness and, ultimately, an economic boost every two years. So what if the traffic is heavy for a few days? It’s not like we are not accustomed to sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. For Point Cook residents, that is a way of life.
People are going to the air show to see planes, so attempts to sell our region in that space would need to be memorable.
With temperatures forecast to be in the 30s, what about Wyndham or Werribee water bottles? It seems a waste (no pun intended) to have so many people virtually in our backyard and not let them know about our gems. I will bet Geelong will be doing it.
The passing of Eric Johnston is the end of an era. The former World War II Changi prisoner was 100 when he died. What a man he was. I vividly remember his visit to the Werribee Football Club Anzac Day President’s Lunch several years ago. The memories he shared were as raw and emotive as anything I have heard. Eric was, and is, one of the true heroes of our country. His passing deserves our acknowledgment and his sacrifice our deepest respect and thanks. R.I.P.
