Awards and Records

Award Guidelines & Information

The Australian Parachute Federation has several awards available to recognize our highest achieving members. Whether it's in the sky, on the DZ, or at administrative level, we believe that those that make the most outstanding contributions to the sport should be honoured for their efforts.

Nominations for APF Service and Master of Sport Parachuting Awards and Honorary Life Memberships, must be received before the APF office closes in December for consideration in following year’s awards night.

The APF Service Award

Recognizes outstanding contribution in the service of sport parachuting.

Nomination Form - APF service Award

The APF Master of Sport Parachuting

Is the APF's highest honor, awarded in recognition of great personal achievement in any field of sport parachuting. It may only be awarded by a unanimous decision of the Board.

Nomination Form - Master of Sport Parachuting

Honorary Life Membership of the APF

Recognizes exemplary and outstanding service in any capacity.

Nomination Form - Honorary Life Membership

*Nominations for the three awards listed above are assessed by the Awards Committee and then considered by the APF Board. Most of the information listed on this site relates to these three awards.

APF Achievement Award

Recognizes outstanding personal achievement by an APF member in:

1. Skydiving performance - as:

1. a holder of a national or international record, or
2. a medal recipient at an *FAI First Category Event, or
3. a worthy achievement approved by the APF Board

*These are generally World Cups or World Championship events.

2.     Judging - as an APF Judge selected to judge at an FAI First Category Event (Note: These are generally World Cup or World Championship Events). Nominations are presented to the Board via a report from the Director Judging or Director Competitions.

3.     Other - as a member who has made a valuable and significant contribution to the Federation (Note: This award may apply for a single significant achievement, unlike the Service Award which tends to reflect sustained service). Nominations are presented to the Board via a report from the APF President or any Technical Director.

Achievement Awards are subject to the formal approval of the Board, taking into account the criteria and nomination procedures listed above.

Tim Bates Award for the Outstanding Skydiver of the Year

Created initially by Tim's family, the annual award recognizes an outstanding APF member for their passion, ability, input, excellence and contribution. Nominations are sought from members at large. All nominations are assessed and a recipient is determined by a committee comprising the Bates family, the Awards Committee and the previous year's winner.

Click here for more information

Nomination Form - Tim Bates Award for the Outstanding Skydiver of the Year

Non APF Awards

The APF encourages Area Councils to establish their own award programs. We also urge members to nominate our high achievers for non APF awards, such as those offered by state or local governments.

For national awards, like the Australia Day Honors, the Awards Committee can help with preparation of your nomination. We’d also do this for an FAI or IPC nomination if we believe it’s appropriate. If you want the APF to be the official nominator for such an award, you’d need to bring it to the Awards Committee and allow us plenty of time to assess it.

About the awards process

This is a Confidential Process - The information in nominations and referee reports may only be used to help the Awards Committee consider the merits of the nomination. The nominee should not be approached for information or advised of the nomination at any stage. If a nomination isn’t accepted, the reason will not be divulged, except to the Board in confidence. The nominator or council should be notified of the decision but not the details.

Who can be nominated for the service types of awards?

Any individual APF member can be nominated, along with any club or organisation that has supported parachuting activities.

It's important to bear in mind that, if an award is granted, it's made on behalf of all the members. Nominees should be of good standing and character. Controversy should be avoided. The APF should not be embarrassed and the value of the award should not be undermined.

Members preparing a nomination must note all the Awards Committee assessment guidelines listed below, to ensure the nominee is a worthy recipient.

Who can make an award nomination?

Any individual APF member, APF club, or APF Area Council can make a nomination. Where possible, award nominations should be supported by an Area Council. If you don’t have a council’s support, the Awards Committee is likely to send it back to appropriate officers of the council for assessment. Councils must respect the confidential nature of nominations and should be tactful in soliciting opinion.

How do you prepare a nomination?

Complete the online nomination form, including: 

• Summary of nominee’s experience and contribution to the APF and/or Parachuting in Australia
• Outline why the nominee’s contribution is above and beyond what would normally be expected for their role
• Include email and phone numbers for 4-6 suitable referees that we could contact to get further information about the nominee

The Awards Committee will NOT consider incomplete nominations. 

No matter how well known the nominee is, do not assume that Awards Committee members are aware of their background.

This is deliberately a formal process, to ensure quality nominations and worthy recipients.

The Awards Committee may recommend the nominee for a different award to the award proposed by the nominator.

Nomination Form - Master of Sport Parachuting

Nomination Form - Honorary Life Membership

Nomination Form - APF service Award

Nomination Form - Tim Bates Award

What is the Awards Committee?

The Awards Committee is appointed by the Board to assess nominations for APF awards and some non-APF awards. The Awards Committee is responsible for:

• Reviewing assessment guidelines
• Communicating awards information to members.
• Ensuring the APF Office maintains an updated register of awards

Details of the Awards Committee members can be found in the APF Zone, in the list of Appointees and Committees. (CLICK HERE)

The Awards Committee will provide a confidential, written recommendation to the board, and, where its decision is not unanimous, that fact will also be revealed to the board.

The information in nominations and referee reports may only be used to help the Awards Committee consider the merits of the nomination. The nominee should not be approached for information or advised of the nomination at any stage.

If a nomination isn’t accepted, the reason will not be divulged, except to the Board in confidence. The nominator or council should be notified of the decision but not the details.

How long does the process take?

It may take up to 3 months for the Awards Committee to contact referees, assess a nomination and make a recommendation to the APF Board. Realistically, you'll need to allow for at least 4 months before a scheduled Board meeting.

Awards Assessment Guidelines

Within these guidelines, the Awards Committee has a degree of discretion. However, it must avoid using such discretion in a way that would 'lower the bar' for APF awards.

1. Genuine voluntary work is generally regarded higher than paid contributions.
2. Sustained or long term commitment is usually of greater value than a short term contribution. It's highly unlikely that a single event would warrant a service award.
3. The quality of the contribution is more important than the time served in a role. The nominee’s input should be demonstrably higher than what’s normally expected for a particular role.
4. Avoid Controversy. For example, allegations of criminal activity or drug use may jeopardise the nomination, even if it has nothing to do with the nominee's role in the sport.
5. Award recipients should be of good standing with the APF, not owing any debts to the Federation.
6. To be consistent in its evaluations, the Awards Committee makes comparisons with previous assessments.
7. In special cases, the Awards Committee may initiate a nomination itself. If so, it should seek opinion more widely to allow for fact that a council has not considered the nomination. This fact must be revealed to the Board.
8. The Awards Committee and APF Board are extremely reluctant to consider service awards for serving Board members, employees, or others in appointed APF positions. A nomination would only be considered if it is for a contribution well in excess of what’s normally expected for the role.

Register of Awards

Register of APF Awards

Australian Sports Medal - Parachuting

Category 1 - Icons

These are skydiving's sports heroes who have all won medals in World Championships or significant World Cups. They also include members of the Australian team that competed at the Canada Cup in 1983 who, at the request of the Government, competed in Canada in lieu of traveling to the World Championships, which at that time were in South Africa.

Category 2

A broad church of those who have been or are currently:-

• Registered competitors or players
• Members of the support base (including but not limited to ):-
  • Coaches
  • Sports scientists
  • Office holders and administrators (excluding the principal officer, taken to be President, of the sports body).
  • Logisticians
  • Facilities managers
  • Advisers
  • Benefactors
  • Fund raisers
  • Others (not spectators)

Awards Committee

Australian Parachute Federation Records Register

This is how we believe the current records stand as of June 2019. If anyone thinks these are not correct or incomplete please contact the APF Office. An archive of all previous records is maintained at the APF Office.

Current/Standing Records

The APF maintains a register of parachuting records. Three major categories apply:

• Competition Records
• Performance Records
• Events occasionally occur which fall outside these categories. These are recorded as Notable Events.

Competition Records

Accuracy (Classic) (2cm Disc)

Individual men - Tibor Glesk, 2010 Australian National Championships, 1 - 4 May 2010, Bullcock Beach, Caloundra, QLD, 12cm (10 rounds)

Individual women - Janine Hayes, 2012 Australian National Championships, 6-9 April 2012, Ramblers Parachute Centre, Toogoolawah, Qld. 30cm (10 rounds)

Freefall Style

Men - Tibor Glesk, Mar 1999 Australian National Championships, Cessnock NSW, 7.31 secs

Women - Jonny Goss, 1986/87 Australian National Championships, Toogoolawah QLD,7.70 secs

Formation Skydiving

FS 4 Way Female "Boomerang Betty" 2018. 23rd FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships, Gold Coast Australia, 32 points, 12.10.2018. Team members: Ann-Marie Jarzebowski, Kate Vaughan, Melissa Harvie, Nerissa (Riss) Anderson, Dan Rossi (v)

FS 4 Way Open "Rotor Out" 2018. 23rd FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships, Gold Coast Australia, 32 points, 12.10.2018. Team members: Craig Vaughan, Steven Smith, George Attard, Tanya Cale, Patrick Nygren (v)

FS 4 Way Intermediate "Impulse" 2015. Australian National Championships, 25 points, 06.01.2015. Team members: Alan Deadman, Asher Jones, Dale Findlay, Grant Christie, Luke Oliver (v)

FS 4 Way Intermediate "Pullout"  2015. Australian National Championships, 25 points, 06.01.2015. Team members: Natasha Dingle, Gary Nemirovsky, Travis Wood, Mariska Folley, Ben Nordkamp (v)

(NOTE: The two 4-Way Intermediate records above were completed in the same round)

FS 8 Way Open, “JYR8”, 2018. 23rd FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships, Gold Coast Australia, 21 points. Team members: Robert Thompson, Andrew Barker, Russell Blackman, Simon Di Sciascio, Gary Nemirovsky, Michael Strickland, Ann-Marie Jarzebowski, Tanya Cale, Peter Anderson (v)

FS 8 Way Intermediate, “Stray Cats”, 2007 Australian National Championships, Picton, NSW, 15 points. Team members: Dave Loncasty, Nicole Hannan, Naomi Scott, Glenn Hoyes, Glen Wilson, Tracey Basman, Andrew Gellatly, Darren Pearson, Scott Neander (vid)

FS 16 Way “It’ll Happen”, 1998. 1st 16-way World Cup, Ampuriabrava, Spain, 1 October 1998, 16 points (World Record at the time). Team members: Tim Stevens, Grant Nichol, Julie Nichol, Orla Bannan, Dee Bowring, Gavin Dell’Oro, Stephen Hickson, Kim Hardwick, Scott Lee, Gregory Mackintosh, Alan Moss, Gavin Norsworthy, Richard Pym, David Redfern, John Stewart, Kevin Taylor, Terry Wafer (v) Coach: Pete Bambach

10 Way Speed Star “Yellow Peril” 1988 -89, Australian National Championships, Mangalore,Vic, 10.59 secs. Team members: Tim Stevens, David Graham, John Stewart, Ray Palmer, Dave Parsons, Tom Piras, Jon McWilliam, Maggie Willgoose, Anthony Patterson, Ken Hills

Vertical Formation Skydiving

VFS 4 Way Open, "Focus", 2016. 22nd FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships, Chicago, USA.  , 24 points. Team members: Kieren James, Scott Hiscoe, Nathan Smith, Kyle Chick, Dan Smith (v) 

VFS 4 Way Advanced (formerly Intermediate), "iFly Downunder". 2015 Australian National Championships, 22 points, 08.01.2015. Team members: Frazer Smith, Timothy Edwards, Kurmet Jaaldla, Tim Golsby - Smith, Mark Gazley (v)

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Canopy Formation

2 Way Sequential Australian. "Ookoonono". 2014. 16th FAI World Canopy Formation Championships, Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina.  Round 3 - 31 points, August 2014. Team members: Julia McConnel, Michael Vaughan, Craig Bennett (v).

4 Way Sequential Australian. “K4”. 2018. Australian National Championships., Round 4 - 9 points, March 2018.  Team members: Scott Brown, Richie Dronow, Julia McConnel, Craig Bennett,  Stephen Tonson(v).

4 Way Rotations "Crimson Mist". 2004. 11th FAI World Championships in Canopy Formation, Rijeka, Croatia. 17 points, 22.09.04. Team members: Ralph Hamilton-Presgrave, Tom Begic, Cameron Cooper, Matt Berens, Mitch McMartin (v)

8 Way Speed Formation “Xtermin8”. 1996. 6th FAI World Championships in Canopy Formation, Indonesia. 42.61 seconds, June 1996. Team members: Greg Hays, Andrew Whitten, Paul Cohen, Tony Smith, Ben Nordkamp Jon McWilliam, Tom Begic, Steve Jones , Brett Higgins (v)

Canopy Piloting

Max Distance - Andrew Woolf. 2017 CP Polish Open Championships, Wroclaw, Poland, 17 July 2017 - 179.45m

Open Drag-Distance - Andrew Woolf. 2014 5th FAI World Canopy Piloting Championships, Zephyrhills, USA, 4 November 2014 - 161.37m

Open Carved Speed - Robert McMillan. 2017 World Games, Wroclaw, Poland, 21 July 2017 - 2.106 seconds

Open Female Speed - Karen Sheekey. 2008 2nd World Parachuting Championships, South Africa, 17-23 November 2008 - 2.729 seconds

Open Female Distance - Karen Sheekey. 2010 Australian National Championships, Picton, NSW, 19 February 2010 - 120.19m

Intermediate Speed - Gabriel Phillips. 2016 Australian National Championships, York, WA, 16 April 2016 - 2.114 sec 

Intermediate Female Speed - Jules McConnel. 2007 Australian National Championships, Picton, NSW, 23 February 2007 - 3.506 seconds

Intermediate Distance - Max Manow. 2012 Australian National Championships, Picton, NSW, 7 October 2012 - 116.63m

Intermediate Female Distance - Jules McConnel. 2007 Australian National Championships, Picton, NSW 23.02.07 - 64.23m 

Wingsuiting

OPEN Wingsuit Performance - Greatest Distance, Chris Byrnes. 2019 Australian National Championships, Moruya, NSW, 12 March 2019 - 4.977 km

OPEN Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Speed, Chris Byrnes. 2017 Australian National Championships, York, WA, 22 March 2017 - 318.6 km/h

OPEN Wingsuit Performance - Highest Time, Chris Byrnes. 2019 Australian National Championships, Moruya, NSW, 12 March 2019 - 96.3 seconds

INTERMEDIATE Wingsuit Performance - Greatest Distance, John McKay. 2019 Australian National Championships, Moruya, NSW, 12 March 2018 - 2.809 km

INTERMEDIATE Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Speed, Graeme Cook. 2017 Australian National Championships, York, WA, 22 March 2017 - 253.9 km/h 

INTERMEDIATE Wingsuit Performance - Highest Time, Sudhir Rao. 2019 Australian National Championships, Moruya, NSW, 15 March 2019 - 55.1 seconds 

Speed Skydiving

Records under new rules using GPS Speed Measuring Devices (SMDs):

Fastest Speed, Shane Turner. 2019 Australian National Championships, Moruya, NSW, 15 March 2019 - 490.32 km/h

Fastest Speed (Female), Jessica Johnston. 2019 Australian National Championships, Moruya, NSW, 15 March 2019 - 375.12 km/h

Fastest Speed (Junior Female), OliviaScholten. 2019 Australian National Championships, Moruya, NSW, 16 March, 2019 - 272.16 km/h

Previous records using barometric SMDs:

Fastest Speed, Shane Turner.  2018 FAI World Parachuting Championships, Gold Coast, Australia, 10 October 2018 - 524.62 km/h 

Fastest Speed (Female), Bella Smart. 2018 Australian National Parachuting Championships, Nagambie, VIC, 17 March 2018 - 437.8 km/h

Performance Records

Accuracy Landing (2cm Disc)

Andy Mulholland 3 dead centres followed by 3cm, 2009 Australian Nationals, 7-10 March 2009, Latrobe Valley Victoria

Most Consecutive Dead Centres

Laurence (Truck) Sams hit 18 consecutive Dead Centres (10cm disc) in the Accuracy Event held at the 1981 Australian National Championships. At the time a Competition record of at 10 dead centres, was achieved by both Laurie and "Dickie ?". The two then battled it out, Dickie stopping at 14, and Laurie continuing until he achieved 18. 

High Altitude (delayed opening)

Group men - 32,250 feet on 26/2/72, Pakenham, from a Piper Navajo. Graham Wain, Dennis Curran, Ojars Silins, William Kenny, Dave Millard.

Women - Gail Mercer 23/6/1998, Toogoolawah from Cessna Caravan VH – MMV exit at 28,000 feet, opening at 4,000’, freefall time 2:05..

Largest Freefall Formation

130-way. 2/06/2019. Perris California, USA. Approx 1850 hours. Aircraft – 4 x Skyvans, 3 x Twin Otters

Nigel Ackroyd, Steve Baker, David Bakkers, Andrew Barker, Martin Barkley, Alison Bawden, Leon Black, Brian Bleazard, Gustavo Boisson, Marcus Bourget, Nigel Brennan, Stacey Brosnan, Brendan Buell, Will Cass, Alexander Cattaneo, Calder Chernoff, Joseph Clarke, Shirley Cowcher, Steve Cusato, Rebecca Dengate, Kevin Dodd, Jim Doyle, Mike Dyer, Adrian Ferguson, Laurence Garceau, John Garnett, Dave Girvin, Carlos Gomez Hernandez, Jonell Goss, Dave Gough, Allan Gray, Daniel Gray, Paul Gresser, Greg Hamilton, William Harris, Melissa Harvie, Janine Hayes, Kristina Hicks, Mark Higgins, Matt Hill, Kerry Hook, Chris Howard, Tim Hurford, Gregory Jack, Warwick Jones, Ove Jorgensen, Martin Klapper, Artour Kolesnikov, Taran Laval, John Leach, Heather Little, Chuang Liu, David Loncasty, James Longworth,  Helen Mahony, Maurice Mathey, Jarrod Matthews, Joel Matthews, Kaylene Mattner, Peter McKenzie, Craig McNee, Jonathon McWilliam, Vivian Merz, Craig Morris, Alan Moss, Andrew Mulholland, Dougal Munford, Derek Murphy, Paul Murphy, Jan Nejedly, Mary Nguyen, Grant Nichol, Sandra Nieuwenhoven, Michael Paris, Adam Pemble, Andrej Percic, Ross Shaw, Brandon Shortland, Kristofor Sieczkowski, Garry Smith, Ricky Smith, Mildred Spinoza, Mark Szulmayer, George Tang, Guy Taylor, Kieran Tomlinson, Marilyn Tomlinson, Brad Trevena, Brandon van Niekirk, Sean Walsh, Allister Ware, Graeme White, Richard Wilkinson, John Winkler, Dale Wirtanen, Donald Woodland, Anthony Zaman, Vlastimil Zamecik. Including Friends of Australia (FOA): Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, Carsten Cooper-Jensen, Kate Cooper-Jensen, Rich Delgado, Robert Domeier, Jennifer Domenico, David Dow, Dave Eisele, Diane Evans, Christopher Farina, Keith Fay, Doug Forth, Mark Fosbury, Craig Girard, Yukari Hashimoto, Larry Henderson, Terry Irving, Kevin Kierce, Warder Latinis, Marty Lloyd, Alexander Marten, Jim McCormick, Celine Pelletier, Jennifer Pierce, Douglas Pryor, David Schrager, Robert Stumm, Jean Szkaradek, Jon Thorvaldsson, Shaun Vineyard, Lawrence Wobker, Ikuko Yoda. Camera - Norman Kent, Craig O'Brien, Stephen Tonson, Lucianio Bacque, George Katsoulis, Terry Weatherford.

Photo by Stephen Tonson

Largest Freefall Formation (Women)

Women's 47 Way, Rambler's Parachute Centre, Toogoolawah. Photo by Archie Jamieson. 1600 hours 21 April 2005 Leigh Ainsworth, Torill Anderson, Sally Baker, Jodie Ball, Amelia Barrett, Prue Beams, Suzanne Bourke, Sonja Bruss, Cheri Bullen, Dianne Campbell, Caitlin Collin, Chris Collins, Elaine Cox, Annika Cronert, Cassandra Dale, Katie Fluin, Marlies Friese, Kim Hardwick, Yakari Hashimoto, Janine Hayes, Kim Hedley, Angela Hiesler, Cindi Hemmila, Peta Holmes, Elly Kirkman, Heather Little, Lisa McDonald, Debby Marshall, Fiona McEachern, Susie McEvoy, Karen McEvoy, Julie Nichol, Lisa Perdichizzi, Maybritt Prahl, Claire Ringland, Cheryl Robertson, Elise Rogers, Naomi Ross, Deborah Sanderson, Tracey Sgroi, Krishna Strickland, Donna Turner, Amy von Novak, Lynette Warn, Kim Williamson, Kate Wills, Carley Young Camera: Archie Jamieson, Jeff Lahey & Wayne McLachlan.

Largest Star Formation Women's 12 Way

Women's 12 Way Star Formation, Amberley Airbase, Queensland. 24 November from an Airforce Globemaster C17

Amanda Lavis, Amber Clarke, Dana Tomaszewicz, Danielle Bevins-Sundvall, Heather Little, Jodie Leigh Mayo, Kate Vaughan, Katherine Papastratos, Kelly Brennan, Kristine Hicks, Ruth Connors, Shirley Cowcher, Jessica Johnston (V)

Largest Freefall Formation (Night)

24 Way formation, Manbulloo airstrip near Katherine, NT 2040 hours on 10 May 1990

Lee Hunt, Max Wallace, Thomas Frey, Monica Green, Paul Osborne, Jeff Barbone, Duncan Brown, John Cook, Mark Kenning, Rick Weisse, Ray Perry, Steve Haines, Richard Drieu, Ed White, Peter Keegan, Sally Bushell, Peter Vaughan, Steve Whalan, Ralph Ford, John McMahon, Brad Turner, Mick Larkin, John James, Greg Wright. Aircraft was a Twin Otter , VH-KZP

Largest Formation Sequential

2 point 45 way Formation Skydive. Skydive Ramblers, Toogoolawah, QLD. 3 October 2018 from 18' AMSL  3 x 208 Cessna Caravans. Note: The 2 point 45 was successfully achieved three times in the same calendar day. The following participants are recognised as being on at least one of each of the three record sequential skydives. Nigel Ackroyd, Ian Baldwin, Tracey Basman, Gustavo Boisson, Leon Black, Brian Bleazard, Kelly Brennan, Stephen Brett, Stacey Brosnan, Alex Cattaneo, Calder Chernoff, Joseph Clarke, Gregory Coman, Steven Cusato, Natisha Dingle, Kevin Dodd, James Doyle, Mike Dyer, Adrian Ferguson, Natsuko Fukuda, Karen Fuller, Laurence Garceau, John Garnett, David Girvin, Jonell Goss, Madeleine Gouge, Dave Gough, Daniel Gray, Brenton Green, Paul Gresser, Cullen Habel, Michael Hardy, Garth Harley, Yukari Hashimoto, Emily Hatfield, Janine Hayes, Larry Henderson, Kristina Hicks, Mark Higgins, Matthew Hill, Kerry Hook, Greg Jack, Ian Johnson, Antony Kaine, Skye Kalms, Davd Kelly, Martin Klapper, Artour Kolesnikov, Kathryn Leszyk, Joshua Leussink, Leanna Lewis, Dave Loncasty, Helen Mahony, Maurice Mathey, Anthony Maurer, Robert McCulloch, Peter McKenzie, Craig McNee, Craig Morris, Andrew Mulholland, Sandy Nieuwenhoven, Bernardus Nordkamp, Michael Paris, Andrej Percic, Christian Peric, Andrew Preston, Douglas Pryor, Ross Shaw, Brandon Shortland, Kristofor Sieczkowski, Stephen Smedley, Mildred Spinoza, Mark Szulmayer, Guy Taylor, Trish Vogels, Graeme White, John Winkler, Dale Wirtanen, Lawrence Wobker, Donald Woodland. Videographers: Paul Barker, David Brown, Steve Dines, Steve Fitchett. Photo by Steve Fitchett.

Canopy Formation

Largest Canopy Formation (Day)

44 Way, Skydive Nagambie, Nagambie, Vic, 30 October, 2015 (The record was made twice on 30/11/2015 at: 0742 am and 1158 am). Paul Baker, Dean Barrowcliffe, Tomislav Begic, Craig Bennett, Matthew Berens, Scott Brown, Brendan Buell, Michael Collins, Cameron Cooper, Andrew (Danny) Daniels, Stami Donovan, Ashley Davis,  Richie Dronow, Mark Edwards, Allan Gray, Ralph Hamilton-Presgrave, Guy Hanby, Greg Hays, Mike Howell, Simon Kube, Martin Letch, Pete Lonnon, Julia McConnel, Robert McMillan, Sam Mehan, Jan Nejedly, Bernardus Nordkamp, Sandra Northey, Andrew Preston, Kenneth Richards, Jaak Saega, Louie Schena, Tracey Sgroi, Shane Sparkes, George Chi ho Tang, Mike Tibbitts, Brad Turner, Tommaso Liccioli Watson, Rod White, Vlastimil Zamecnik, Derec Davies, Christopher Gay, Yijun Huang, Gerrit Lambert, Henk Lunshof, Brian Pangburn, Yuliya Pangburn, Chris Warnock Camera: Steve Fitchett, Steve Dines, Brett Higgins, Stephen Tonson, Lucas "Smiley" Yeo

44 Way CF, Skydive Nagambie.

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Largest Canopy Formation (Women)

8 Way, Ramblers Parachute Centre, Toogoolawah, Qld, 28th April 2011. Aircraft: Cessna Caravan. Exit height: 14,000ft

Jules McConnel, Jill Grantham, Nerissa Anderson, Tracey Basman, Amy McDermott, Charlotte Van Den Berg, Kathryn Mettler, Wendy Smith.

Steve Fitchett and Norman Kent on camera.

Largest Canopy Formation (Night)

13 Way, Cairns Airport, Cairns, QLD, 1950 hours on 8 September 1984.

Nick Hagarty, Lindy Corbould, Rod Whyte, Cecil Bartholomew, Mirko Beric, Stewart McPherson, George Simmons, Stan Newsome, Kevin Cowie, John Gurn, Steven Pashley, Greg Ernst, Rod Ernst.

Largest Freefly Formation - Head Down Orientation

44 Way, Skydive Oz, Moruya, NSW. 28 October 2017. Exit height 18,000 ASL

Spencer Barnes, Matt Boags, Nathan Brown, Brent Chandler, Kyle Chick, Cath Comyns, Richie Convery, Jimmy Cooper, Dan Croft, Jonny Dewet, Dimitri Didenko, Maria Dmitrienko, Heini Elo, James Evered, Tayne Farrant, Hayden Galvin, James Garnaut, , Lucas Georgiou, Tim Golsby Smith, Rhys Haggarty, Jared Harris, Scott Hiscoe, Liam Hoffman, Blake Hooper, Kim Hopwood, Dave Hyndman, Kieren James, Wayne Jones, Jason Lane, Leigh McCormack, Barbara Meister, Sam Millington, Shane Onis, Klas Ramsay, Bruno Reis, Jason Russell, Larissa Scanagatta, Shannon Seyb, Brett Sheridan, Dan Smith, Nathan Smith, Erica Tadakoro, Clayton Werner, Royce Wilson, Mark Gazley (camera)

Largest Freefly Formation - Head Up Orientation

16 way, Skydive Oz, Moruya, NSW. 27 January 2019. Exit height 15,000 ASL

Nathan Brown, Kyle Chick, Cath Comyns, Jimmy Cooper, Ben Cuttler, Lucas Georgiou, Tim Golsby-Smith, Scott Hiscoe, Jenny Hopwood, Kim Hopwood, Leigh McCormack, Justin Mooney, Jacob Mulder, Bella Smart, Sonnica Van Zijl, Greg Whitehead, Royce Wilson, Mark Gazley (camera).

Women's Largest Freefly Formation - Head Down Orientation

10 Way, Sydney Skydivers, Picton, 06 June 2015. Exit height: 13,500, Aircraft: Caravan (Drop Zone Picton - 500ft ASL)

Cath Comyns, Jenny Gordon, Barbara Meister, Jill Grantham, Erica Tadokoro, Tina Muddle, Issy Dore. Shelly Delaney, Sonnica Pokroy, Holly Kilham Camera: Dan Smith, Brad Pokroy    

Largest Wingsuit Formation

23 Way, York, Western Australia, 05 November 2015. Exit height: 14,000, Aircraft: 2 X Cessna 208 (Drop Zone - 500ft ASL)

Scott Paterson, Mia Angus, Jack Rolliston, Jacob Muscat, Jenette Savage, Josh Richards, Craig Cook, Johannes Debler, Stephen Arkwright, Benoit Foulon, Jeremy Bourne, Clint Dadson, Jose Calderon, Tamsyn Snyman, Ryan Scarlett, Luke Wickliffe, Elodie Pretorius, Shaun MacLoughney, Ben Dummett, Adam Fiannaca, Alex Mazza, Craig Romero, Wes Burrows. Willy Boeykens (v) 

Notable Events

3 Point 54 way Sequential Formation Skydive

10/6/2012. Perris, California, USA. 2 Skyvans and 1 Twin Otter. 

Abad Wladimir (FOA), Clay Anderson, Nerissa Anderson, Steve Baker, Ian Baldwin, Kelly Brennan, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld (FOA), Mark Brown (FOA), Matt Chambers, Calder Chernoff, Scott Clark, Kate Cooper-Jensen (FOA), Shirley Cowcher, Jim Czerwinski, Terry Dauplaise (FOA), Tony Domenico (FOA), Mike Dyer, Bart Edwards, John Friswell, Allan Gray, William Harris, Janine Hayes, Larry Henderson (FOA), Michael Hill, Gregory Jack, Ralf Jaeger, Ryan Jenkin, Chris Jones, Warwick Jones, Ove Jorgensen, Antony Kaine, Nicole Kearns, Graham Lee, Adrian Lloyd, Helen Mahony, Tony Maurer, Jan Nejedly, Adam Pemble, Kenneth Richards, Andy Rowan, Tracey Sgroi, Leigh Shepherd, Ricky Smith, Mildred Spinoza, Mark Szulmayer, Maxine Tate (FOA), Guy Taylor, Kieran Tomlinson, Marilyn Tomlinson, Priit Vosu, Stephen Wade, Stuart Ware, Janine Wassens, Alan White.

Note: This skydive was completed before large formation sequential rules were written into the FAI Sporting Code in 2013, and then accepted into the APF Sporting Code in 2016. It is therefore recognised as an APF Notable Event, rather than an APF Performance Record.

10 Way Speed Star

“38 SQUADRON” 23 August 1979, Chateroux, France, 5.89 secs. This was done by the Australian 8 way FS team during practice jumps prior to commencement of the World Championships. They asked if they could be judged with the aim of setting a new 10 way record. It was a linked exit opened into a star. Team members were Ian Swinbourne, Annie Swinbourne, Greg Graham, Peter Eadie, Kathy Silvestri, Rod Whyte, Ross Loughton, Paddy McHugh, Doug Knowles and Alan Stephens

On the 13th January 2012, Julia McConnel and Michael Vaughan made 150 skydives each at Skydive Oz's Moruya NSW DZ, starting at 5.20am and clocking off at 4.28pm. The achievement was made with the support of 40 volunteers, including 10 packers and three aircraft (Cessna 180. 185 and 182)

Packing unassisted Tim Stevens made 100 jumps at Bairnsdale airfield commencing at 12:07 pm on 6 February 1993. The jumps and packing were completed in 22 hours and 34 minutes. Tim personally packed the parachute for each jump. Six sets of gear were used by Tim.
Steve Boekel jumped with Tim Stevens, also completing 100 jumps within 24 hours. Steve had people packing parachutes for him.
The aircraft used was Cessna 182 VH-CKZ.

Skydive Perris Valley, California, USA. 7 June 2012, 42 Way. Participants were Wladimir Abad (USPA), Clay Anderson, Steve Baker, Kelly Brennan, Nigel Brennan, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld (USPA), Mark Brown (USPA), Matt Chambers, Scott Clark, Kate Cooper-Jensen (USPA), Shirley Cowcher, Jim Czerwinski, Tony Domenico (USPA), Mike Dyer, John Friswell, Allan Gray, William Harris, Janine Hayes, Mark Higgins, Michael Hill, Gregory Jack, Ralf Jaeger, Warwick Jones, Ove Jorgensen, Antony Kaine, Graham Lee, Adrian Lloyd, Helen Mahony, Tony Maurer, Jan Nejedly, Adam Pemble, Ian Robertson, Andy Rowan (USPA), Leigh Shepherd, Steve Smedley, Ricky Smith, Mildred Spinoza, Mark Szulmayer, Maxine Tate (USPA), Guy Taylor, Janine Wassens, & Alan White.

FS Women's Largest POPS 

Rambler’s Parachute Centre, Toogoolawah Qld, April 2007, 17 Way. Participants included: Maybritt Prahl, Heather Little, Lesley Gale, Lea Rickwood, Kim Hedley, Susan Bostock, Michelle Kosmer, Janine Whitten, Karen McEvoy, Elise Hill, Fiona McEachern, Kelly Graham, Cheryl Robertson, Elaine Cox, Wendy Smith, Conny Van Setten, Jan Jones. Camera: Steve Fitchett. 

FS Largest SOS (Skydivers over Sixty)

	2 August 2013, 17 way formation over Batchelor DZ, Darwin, NT. Ian Robbertson, John Kinton, Peter Hannaford, Martin Pandelus, Geoff Gordon, Gordon Turner, Les Facer, Mel Ferrier, Roger Clifton, Elvon King, Ross Stockings, Stephen Pandelus, David Betts, Don Biggins, Nigel Brennan, Dave McEvoy and Jonathon Orr.
SOS record 17 way, 2013

1st Australian POPS 8 way claim

Tyagarah, NSW, Exit altitude 10,000'. 31 December 1989, 6.30 pm,

Bill Host, Dave Nesbitt, Ray Logue, Ian McGregor, Mike Liggins, Gene Bermingham, Occa Stevenson, Dave Hobbs.

Drop Zones in one day

On 13 January 1990, a Cessna 182 with 5 jumpers on board jumped at 8 Student training Drop Zones in one day. The jumpers were:-

George Creecy, Paul Thomson, Bjorn Hugaas, Neil Cheney, Sean Lehane.

Drop Zones jumped at were:-

Corowa, Burrumbuttock, Benambra, Bairnsdale, Pakenham, Meredith, Puckapunyal, Violet Town

Oldest person in a 5 way formation

Henk Rutgers has claimed a record of being the oldest skydiver in a 5 way formation on 21 April 1990

He was 73. Other participants were:- Steve Whalan, Phil Onis, Grahame Hill, Nick Hagarty, Peter Brierley (camera)

Oldest Skydivers

Oldest Skydiver Irene O'Shea, aged 102 and 193 days, DoB 30/05/2016, made her 3rd jump at 'SA Skydiving' at Langhorne Creek South Australia on December 9th 2018. The Tandem Master was Jed Smith. Photo by. Bryce Sellick

Oldest male Skydiver Frank Moody, aged 101, made a tandem jump at Skydive Cairns in June 2004. The Tandem Master was Karl Eitrich and the event was filmed by Wayne Donovan & Jason Cryan.

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Youngest skydiver

	Finn Goennemann (D.O.B. 13/01/2003) made his first tandem jump on the 14/06/2010 to celebrate his 7th birthday. The jump was made at Picton DZ, NSW through APF club, Sydney Skydivers. Tandem Master was Finn's father, Jens . Approval was given for this jump under the powers of APF Operational Regulation 8.7.1 and CASA instrument 380/08
Photo by Jim Smith

Youngest female skydiver

 

	Bronte Lonnon (D.O.B. 16/06/2007) made her first tandem jump on the 05/06/2015 aged 7 years, just before her 8th birthday. The jump was made at Jurien Bay DZ, WA through APF club, Skydive Jurien Bay. Tandem Master was her father Pete Lonnon. APF Permission was given for this jump under the powers of APF Operational Regulation 2.2.3.
Photo by ??

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First baton pass in Australia

April 1961 between Andy Keech and Laurie Trotter, over Deniliquin in NSW.

First female baton pass in Australia

24th March 1962 between Kathy Henderson and Ted Harrison, over Pakenham, Victoria.

Largest Balloon jump

22 way simultaneous exit from a single hot air balloon was made on Thursday the 07\01\2010. They climbed to 10,500 feet and lowered the balloon at fast rate to 7100 feet where the 22 jumpers exited at the same time. The team from Melbourne Skydive Centre and Go Wild Ballooning: Paul Murphy, Dan Barker, Kerry Lewis, Stephanie Chin, Gints Leja, Chris Barnett, Ben Lappin, Alex Mitrjaikin, Mcmahon Will, Tania Cale, Jill Grantham, Steve Baich, Rima El-masri, Brad Patfield, Mark Fraser, Sam Parker, Matthew Cleave, Sven Peter, Alex Skala, Nir Davidson and Ossie Khan - LDO/Organiser. Pilot 1: Chris Duehurst – Go Wild Ballooning

22 Way Mass Balloon Exit Oz Record Jan 2010 (Notable Event) photo by Ossie Khan

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18 jumps on 18th Birthday

Joe Bergic at Corowa on 7 March 2001. 17 jumps on Corowa airport and one into the Ettamogah Pub near Albury.

"Largest Lingerie Load"

12 May 2002, 12 May 2002, at Nagambie, Victoria, 12 female skydivers attempted to create a record for the “Largest Lingerie Load”. This was attempted wearing only lingerie and rigs and was an Anti-Cancer Council fund-raising event on Mothers’ Day. Twelve represents the likelihood of one in 12 women dying of breast cancer

12 person star participants were Kath Hoffman, Theresa Malin, Kate Rose, Bec Kerr, Carley Young, Naomi “Nomes” Ross, Kristy Heron, Lisa Perdichizzi, Lisa Dell’Oro, Stacey Connell, Michaela “Chicky” Bell, Jude Freeman.

Winners and Medals