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 records stand as of March 2018. If anyone thinks these are not correct or incomplete please contact the APF Office.

Current 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.

The following is an extract of current APF records.

Competition

Accuracy Landing (2cm Disc)

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

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

Freefall Style

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

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

Formation Skydiving

FS 4 Way Women "Bellatrix" 28.03.2016 Australian Nationals, 23 points. Team members were: Ann-Marie Jarzebowski, Kate Vaughan, Karen Hardy, Nerrissa (Riss) anderson, Steve Tonson (v)

FS 4 Way Open "Rotor Out" 06.01.2015 Australian Nationals, 29 points. Team members were: Craig Vaughan, Stephanie Vaughan, Rob Thompson, Simon Di Sciascio, Dan Rossi (v)

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

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

NOTE: 4 Way Intermediate records were completed in the same round

FS 4 Way Open “Rotor Out” 2012. WPC Dubai, 28 points, Team members were, Stephanie Vaughan (formerly Bensley), Gary Nemirovsky, Craig Vaughan, George Attard, Patrick Nygren (v)

FS 4 Way Women, Snatch Force, 18.03.08 2008 Australian Nationals, 21 points. Picton NSW Team members were Caitlin Collin, Carley Young, Stephanie Bensley, Tanya Cale, Nigel Johnston (v)

FS 4 Way Intermediate “Ayr Monkeys” 2012 Australian Nationals, Toogoolawah QLD, 18 points, Team members were Alan Moss, Andrew Fabbro, Paul Beahan, Oliver Fong and Lisa Perdichizzi

NOTE: Previous record (20) retired due to 2008 Sporting Code Changes.

8 Way Open, “XLR8”, 1999 World Championship, Corowa, Australia, 20 points. Team members were Paul McMullan, Don Cross, Dom Padden, Jeremy Hunt, Jason Cooke, Michael Strickland, Dana Hort, Rob Thompson, Simon Chaberka (v)

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

16 Way “It’ll Happen”, 1998 World Cup, Ampuriabrava, Spain, 1 October 1998 16 points (World Record at the time). Team members were 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 Nationals, Mangalore,Vic, 10.59 secs. Team members were 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, 13.09.2016 2016 FAI World Parachuting Championships, Chicago.  "Focus", 24 points. Team members were: Kieren James, Scott Hiscoe, Nathan Smith, Kyle Chick, Dan Smith (v) 

VFS 4 Way Open, 26.03.2016 Australian National Championships "Focus", 15 points. Team members were: Kieren James, Scott Hiscoe, Nathan Smith, Kyle Chick, Dan Smith (v)

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

VFS 4 way Open "The Addicted", 2014 FAI World Parachuting Championships, Prostejov Czech Republic. Round 3 - 13 points. Team members were Kim Hopwood, Tim Golsby-Smith, Catherine Comyns, Lucas Georgiou and Scott Hiscoe (v). 

VFS 4 way Open "The Addicted", 2012 Australian Nationals, Toogoolawah, QLD, 6 April 2012. 11 points. Team members were Kim Hopwood, Tim Golsby-Smith, Catherine Comyns, Lucas Georgiou and Scott Hiscoe (v). 

VFS 4 Way Intermediate “The Addicted”, 2010 Australian Nationals, Picton NSW, 12 points. Team members were Kim Hopwood, Tim Golsby-Smith, James Hensman, Lucas Georgiou and Mark Gazley (v).

Top of Page

Canopy Formation

2 Way Sequential Australian Team "Ookoonono", August 2014, Banja Luka World Parachuting Championships, Round 3 - 31 points. Team members were Julia McConnel, Michael Vaughan, Craig Benett (v).

4 Way Sequential Australian team “K4”, August 2014, Banja Luka World Parachuting Championships, Round 5 - 7 points. Team members were Scott Brown, Richie Dronow, Julia McConnel, Michael Vaughan, Craig Bennett (v).

2 Way Sequential Australian Team "Ookoonono", April 2014, York, West Aust. Australian National Championships, Round 2 - 28 points. April 2014, Round 7 - 29 points. Team members were Julia McConnel, Michael Vaughan, Craig Benett (v).

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

4 Way Sequential “K4”, April 2014, York, West Aust. Australian National Championships, Round 2 - 6 points. Team members were Scott Brown, Richie Dronow, Julia McConnel, Michael Vaughan, Craig Bennett (v).

8 Way Speed Formation “Xtermin8”, June 1996, 6th World Championships, Indonesia, 42.61 seconds Team members were 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, Australian Record completed at the CP Polish Open, Wroclaw, Poland. 17 July 2017. 179.45 M

Max distance Andrew Woolf, Oceanian Record, 2017 World Air Games - Wroclaw, Poland. 23rd July, 2017. 164.62 M

Carved Speed (70 M) Robert McMillan, Oceanian Record, 2017 World Air Games - Wroclaw, Poland. 21st July, 2017. 2.106 sec

Intermediate Speed Gabriel Phillips, Australian Nationals, York - WA, 16th April 2016, 2.114 sec

Open Speed Keven Walters, 5th FAI World Canopy Piloting Championships, Zephyrhills, 4th November, 2014. 2.225 sec.

Open Distance Andrew Woolf, 5th FAI World Canopy Piloting Championships, Zephyrhills, 4th November, 2014. 161.37 M

Open Speed Record Ben Lewis, WA State Championships, York, 28th September, 2014. 2.346 sec.

Open Speed Record Andrew Woolf, WA State Championships, York, 28th September, 2014. 2.35 sec.

Open Speed Record Michael Howell, World Cup Canopy Piloting, Carletonville, South Africa, 5th December, 2009. 2.373 seconds.  

Open Female Speed Record Karen Sheekey, 2nd World Parachuting Championship CP, South Africa, 17-23 November 2008, 2.729 seconds over a 70m course

Intermediate Speed Record Andrew Stewart 07.10.12, Australian Nationals, Picton, NSW, of 2.265 seconds over a 56m course

Intermediate Female Speed Record Jules McConnel 23.02.07, Australian Nationals, Picton, NSW, of 3.506 seconds over a 56m course

Open Distance Record Andrew Woolf, 03.12.12, WPC Dubai, distance of 149.84m

Open Distance Record Matthew Harris, Australian National Championships, Picton, NSW, 16-20 February 2011, distance of 150.89cm (retired after 2012 Sporting Code changes)

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

Intermediate Distance Record Max Manow, 07.10.12, Australian Nationals, Picton, NSW, distance of 116.63m

Intermediate Female Distance Record Jules McConnel, 23.02.07 Australian Nationals, Picton, NSW of 64.23m 

Wingsuiting

Wingsuit Performance - Greatest Distance, Luke Rogers. 2018 Australian Nationals Championships - Nagambie. 17/03/2018 - 4.877 km

Wingsuit Performance - Greatest Distance (Inter), Ben Cove. 2018 Australian Nationals Championships - Nagambie. 17/03/2018 - 2.495 km

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Time, Luke Rogers. 2018 Australian Nationals Championships - Nagambie. 17/03/2018 - 87.9 sec

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Speed (Inter), Sudhir Rao. 2018 Australian Nationals Championships - Nagambie. 17/03/2018 - 222.8 km/h

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Speed, Chris Byrnes. 2017 Australian Nationals Championships - York. 22/03/2017 - 318.6 km/h

Wingsuit Performance - Greatest Distance, Luke Rogers. 2017 Australian Nationals Championships - York. 22/03/2017 - 4.708 km 

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Time (Intermediate), Graeme Cook. 2017 Australian Nationals Championships - York. 22/03/2017 - 54.3 sec 

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Speed (Intermediate), Graeme Cook. 2017 Australian Nationals Championships - York. 22/03/2017 - 253.9 km/h 

Wingsuit Performance - Greatest Distance, Chris Byrnes. 1st World Championships of WS Performance Flying, Zephyrhills - U.S.A (Oceanian Record), 04/11/2016 - 4.272 km 

Wingsuit Performance - Highest Time, Chris Byrnes. 1st World Championships of WS Performance Flying, Zephyrhills - U.S.A (Oceanian Record), 04/11/2016 - 92.5 sec

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Time (intermediate) Robert McEntee. Goulburn, 20/02/2016 Australian Nationals (Test Event) - 53.9 sec 

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Speed (intermediate) Andrew Wright. Goulburn, 21/02/2016 Australian Nationals (Test Event) - 210 km/h

Wingsuit Performance - Longest Distance (intermediate) Andrew Wright. Goulburn, 20/02/2016 Australian Nationals (Test Event) - 2.385 km

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Speed, Steven Holden. 1st FAI WC of Wingsuit Performance - Netheravon (UK), 28/05/2015 - 300.5 km

Wingsuit Performance - Fastest Time, Chris Byrnes. 1st FAI WC of Wingsuit Performance - Netheravon (UK), 27/05/2015 - 84.4 Sec.

Wingsuit Performance - Longest Distance, Chris Byrnes. 1st FAI WC of Wingsuit Performance - Netheravon (UK), 27/05/2015 - 4.051 km

Wingsuit Performance - Longest Distance, Steven Holden. 1st FAI WC of Wingsuit Performance - Netheravon (UK), 26/05/2015 - 3.457 km 

Speed Skydiving

Fastest Speed, Leigh McCormack. 2018 Australian National Parachuting Championships - Nagambie. 17/3/2018 - 476.6 km/h 

Fastest Speed (Female), Bella Smart. 2018 Australian National Parachuting Championships - Nagambie. 17/3/2018 0 437.8 km/h

Fastest Speed, Tim Kolln. 2107 Australian Nationals Championships - York. 23/03/2017 - 457.8 km/h

Fastest Speed, 13.09.2016 FAI World Parachuting Championships (Mondiale), Chicago. Mason Corby - 389.89 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

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

119-way. 31/05/2015. Perris California, USA. Approx 1600 hours. Aircraft – 3 x Skyvans, 4 x Twin Otters

Holly Atteridge, Steve Baker, David Bakkers, Ian Baldwin, Mark Band, Andrew Barker, Martin Barkley, Tracey Basman, Alison Bawden, Tomislav Begic, Catherine Bennetts-Cash, Leon Black, Kelly Brennan, Matt Chambers, Calder Chernoff, Paul Chivers, Amber Clarke, Joseph Clarke, Shirley Cowcher, Steve Cusato, Jason Cyran, Thomas Davies, Dale Findlay, Tom Fletcher, Laurence Garceau, Jonell Goss, llan Gray, Cullen Habel, Greg Hamilton, William Harris, Melissa Harvie, Janine Hayes, Mark Gerard Higgins, Ken Hills, Deborah Hobbs, Allen Hodge, Matthew Holmes, Peta Holmes, Chris Howard, Gregory Jack, Ralf Jaeger, Ryan Jenkin, Ian Johnson, Asher Jones, Warwick Jones, Ove Jorgensen, Antony Kaine, Taran Laval, Graham Lee, Heather Little, Adrian Lloyd, David Loncasty, Helen Mahony, Richard Mallet, Kaylene Mattner, Peter McKenzie, Joel McMahon, Craig McNee, Andrew Mulholland, Dougal Munford, Derek Murphy, Terence Murphy, Jan Nejedly, Grant Nichol, Ben Nordkamp, Jonathan Orr, Debbie Palmer, Adam Pemble, Christian Peric, Martin Perrins, Shane Pieschel, Kenneth Richards, Pam Riggs, Jenette Savage, Ozan Seckiner, Steve Smedley, Nicole Smith, Ricky Smith, Mark Szulmayer, Guy Taylor, Marilyn Tomlinson, Stephen Tonson, Elise Vale, Priit Vosu, Stephen Wade, Allister Ware, Stuart Ware, Richard Wilkinson, John Winkler, Dale Wirtanen. Including Friends of Australia (FOA): Rosa Alva, Robert Bonitz, Jeanine Bonvin, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, Mark Brown, Beth Bryan, Paul Cooley, Cathy Coon, Carsten Cooper-Jensen, Rich Delgado, Charles Edwards, Marcia Farkouh, Doug Forth, Lesley Gale, Jens Gronemeyer, Yukari Hashimoto, Larry Henderson, Thomas Jenkins, Patrick Lehner, Celine Pelletier, Jennifer Pierce, Navanugraha Piya, Erik Prime, Christopher Rock, Robert Stumm, Brent Findlay, Yijun Huang, Merlin Saareste, Andres Villemson. Camera - Norman Kent, Craig O'Brien, Lucianio Bacque, George Katsoulis

Photo by George Katsoulis

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 Freefall Sequential

3 point 32 way Formation Skydive. Skydive Oz, Moruya, NSW. 24 November from 18' AMSL  2 x 208 Cessna Caravans Craig William McNee,Karen Fuller, Gregory Kenneth Jack, Shana Harris, Maurice Mathey, Christian Peric, Peter McKenzie, Antony Kaine, Ivan Kljajic, Allan Gray, Craig Morris, Daniel Gray, Maybritt Elisabet Prahl, William Kenneth Harris, Dawn Lisa Tratt, Vivian Claire Merz, Ove Jorgensen, Kristofor Sieczkowski, Adam Phillips, Guy Taylor, Helen Mahony, Andrew John Barker, Mark Gerard Higgins, Kerry Hook, Yaakov Bokay, Holly Atteridge, Tracey Basman, Amanda Lavis, Alexander  Cattaneo, Deborah Hobbs, Helen Jayne Perry, William Gordon Bor. Videographers: Anna van der Vlugt and Stephen Tonson

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.

  Top of Page

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 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)

Women's Largest 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    

Notable Events

16 Way Wingsuit formation flight - Sth Qld

09/08/2015, Toogoolawah, Queensland

Kirsten Moriarty, Hayden Galvin, Jacob Elms, Brendan Saunders, Chris Byrnes, Kyle Johnson, Ellie Pretorius, Royce Wilson, Lisa McCready, Wade Carroll, Guy Hanby, Matt Ernesti, Benoit Fu, Jasmine Melville, Russell Blacklock, Alex Woodward. Fenix Searle - Camera

7 way Head Up Formation Skydive

11/4/2015, Sydney Skydivers - Picton, Australia. Cessna Caravan, exit hieght: FL 130

Brad Pokroy, Tommer Vardi, Kim Hopwood, Tim Golsby-Smith, Sonnica Pokroy, Jenny Gordon, Blake Hooper

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.

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

Laurence (Truck) Sams hit 18 consecutive Dead Centres in the Accuracy Event held at the 1981 Australian National Championships.

On the 13th January 2012, Julie 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.

Top of Page

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 ??

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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