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Master of Ceremonies - Archie Jamieson |
John LeBlanc - Vice President & Lead Canopy Designer, Performance Designs (PD)
With 6,000 jumps and 35 years in the sport, John is the Vice President of Performance Designs and is their lead
canopy designer. John holds a degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has some interesting test jumps under his bellyband.
John calls Skydive DeLand home and can at times be spotted flying his bi-plane around the area.
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Jim Cowan - Complete Parachute Solutions
General Manager / Tactical Training Facility
Jim Cowan began working at his parents sport parachute center packing T-10 main canopies and 28 foot C-9 reserve parachutes at age 10. He made his first parachute jump at age 16 and has been an active and current parachutist since 1978. Beginning in the early 1990s, together he and his brother opened and operated their own large sport parachute center for 15 years prior to his taking a position with the Navy Parachutist Course as an Instructor and Rigger in 2003.
During 2004 through 2005, he also worked as the Safety Officer for the Navy Parachute Team in San Diego, CA. He was hired by Complete Parachute Solutions as an Instructor in October 2005 and took his current position as the General Manager of the Tactical Training Facility in June of 2006.
Jim has over 13,000 jumps, holds an FAA Pilot Certificate, Senior Riggers Certificate and P3 Paragliding License. Additionally, he is a United States Parachute Association Safety and Training Advisor, Accelerated Freefall Instructor, Tandem Freefall Instructor Examiner, Static Line Instructor Examiner and Professional Exhibition Jump Rating holder.
Feature Guest Speakers
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Allana Corbin - Adventurer, Aviationist, Inspirational Speaker
Allana Corbin’s aviation career began in 1988 when she began working for Balloon Aloft as ground crew and tourism marketing. Alana also began fixed-wing training and skydiving at this time.
On 22nd December 1990, Allana was a crew member on a Search and Rescue mission from Camden Airport dispatched to locate a missing training aircraft. The plane Allana was in, a Cessna 210, suffered a catastrophic engine failure and crashed.
Allana’s comeback has been described as miraculous – not only has she taught herself to walk again but in 1995, she gained her commercial helicopter licence and in 1997 became the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo in a helicopter. |
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Dr Clive Jones - Sport Psychologist
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Kim Hopwood - Managing Director, “Pusher” Digital Creative AgencyAs Managing Director of “Pusher” Digital Creative Agency, Kim helps client brands connect with their customers through social media, creative campaigns, and engaging digital platforms. Kim has managed projects for Diageo Australia, MTV, Snack Brands Australia, CC’s Corn Chips and Queensland Cricket to name a few. Kim is also a highly experienced skydiver - he has over 3000 jumps and is a skilled vertical formation skydiver. Hewas integral to the successful Australia’s Largest VFS Record Attempt late last year and recently set a new record at the 2012 Australian National Championships held in April with his team “The Addicted” in the VFS 4-Way Open event. |
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Bill Proud - Senior Lecturer of Marketing & Integrated Marketing Communications, QUT Business School
Bill currently lectures in Integrated Marketing Communications, Marketing and related Marketing subjects. His career in marketing spans 40 years and stretches from Senior Marketing positions in fast moving consumer goods companies, such as Fosters, Danone and Campbell's Soups, to running his own Marketing Consultancy and Advertising Agency for around 20 years. Bill has consulted to local, national and international companies on Marketing and Advertising issues and directed campaigns in both the public and private sectors. Bill is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM), is a member of the Marketing Research Society, Past President and National Board Member of the Australian Marketing Institute, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a founding member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Advertising.
Qualifications: Master of Business (Marketing) (Queensland University of Technology), Bachelor of Law / Bachelor of Arts (The University of Melbourne).
Bill currently lectures in Integrated Marketing Communications, Marketing and related Marketing subjects. His career in marketing spans 40 years and stretches from Senior Marketing positions in fast moving consumer goods companies, such as Fosters, Danone and Campbell's Soups, to running his own Marketing Consultancy and Advertising Agency for around 20 years. Bill has consulted to local, national and international companies on Marketing and Advertising issues and directed campaigns in both the public and private sectors. Bill is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM), is a member of the Marketing Research Society, Past President and National Board Member of the Australian Marketing Institute, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a founding member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Advertising. |
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Jason Quick - Paramedic Sciences Lecturer, Victoria UniversityJason Quick is a Lecturer in Paramedic Sciences at Victoria University in Melbourne. Since achieving his Skydiving Certificate A in early 2011, Jason has been working closely with APF Manager Training, Gary Myors, to develop a Drop Zone First Aid module for inclusion in the APF suite of skydiving Certificate and Diploma courses currently under development. With a Bachelor Health Science (Paramedic Science) and Post Graduate Diploma (Intensive Care) Jason is an expert in the areas of Paramedic Science & Pre-hospital Intensive Care. He is also a member of the Australian College of Ambulance Professionals and the Plexus Institute. |
Technical Directors & APF National Office Staff
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Richard Petters - Director Safety
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Gary Myors - APF Manager Training
1st jump at Wilton in August 1970.
Last Jump March 2000.
Total jumps 3100 - Retired with regret due to long term knee injury.
Safety
Safety Officer Australian Parachute Championships
Mangalore 1988, Wangaratta 1989, Corowa 1991 to 1999 inclusive.
Safety Officer World Formation Skydiving Championships, October 1999
Area Safety Officer Tasmania 1993 to 2000
Director Safety 1998 to 2000
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Lisa Perdichizzi - APF Director CompetitionsLisa has 13 years experience in the sport, with over 3000 jumps. She started jumping at Skydive Express in WA, moving to Qld six years ago, and is now based at Ramblers. Outside the drop zone, Lisa's professional career involves varied experience in management, accounting, administration, events coordination and marketing. Lisa is an experienced skydiving competitor at state, national and world level. Her main contributions to the development of the sport are instructing, coaching, videography and club involvement. Lisa finds assisting novices progressing through b-rels and beyond to be the most rewarding aspect of the sport. |
Lindy Rochow-Williams - Director of Judging
Lindy has served as a judge in Australia for 22 years. She brings to the position not only experience as a skydiver, but as a judge who is an advocate for all types of competition and skydiving endeavors, representing Australia at International Competitions as Judge, Event Judge, and Chief Judge.
Brad Turner - CEO of the Australian Parachute Federation
Brad began his skydiving career at Ramblers in 1981 and is a veteran of over 11,000jumps. Brisbane born and bred and originally a mechanic by trade, Brad soon discovered his true calling was jumping out of airplanes! With CRW as his first discipline he was part of the 8 way team Early Openers when they won a Bronze in 1986 at the World meet at Gatton, followed by a Silver in 1988 in France and finally the Gold medal was achieved in Chang Mai China in 1990 with Brad as Captain.
After starting his first Drop Zone at the Kooralbyn Resort in 1990, Brad went on to host many events including the 5th World Parachuting Championships in 1994. Holder of Instructor A, Chief Instructor, Tandem / AFF Examiner and Tandem Master, AFF Instructor, Brad has always enjoyed working closely with his Students and Jumpers and is a very hands on CI with a passion for Skydiving and all it entails.
Graeme Hill - Director Aircraft Operations
Stated jumping April 1970 jumps to date 12,954 not many in the past 2 years
Pilot 3246 hours, mostly twin time flying jumpers. Did a ferry flight of a jump plane (Islander) I bought, from South Africa to Sydney via India in 1977
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Ralf Jaeger - APF Director InstructorsI was appointed Director Instructors in November 2011 by the APF Board. But, for the few that may not know me I would like to give you a quick outline and back ground of my parachuting history. I am currently a serving member in the Australian Army and posted to the Parachute Training School at Nowra, NSW. I have completed over 35 years in the Australian Army; most of these are in the parachuting field. In Jan 1978 I started my civilian skydiving career at Caloundra Downs under the watchful eye of Dave McEvoy. |
Workshop Facilitators
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Jules McConnel – World Champion Skydiver Jules is a world-champion skydiver with over 17 years’ experience in the sport and 6000+ jumps.
As part of the Australian 2-way Sequential Canopy Formation team “Ookoonono” with Michael Vaughan and Craig Bennett, Jules has won multiple medals including bronze at the 2009 World Games in Taiwan and silver at the 2011 Dubai World Parachuting Championships and Gulf Cup. During the Australian National Championships held in April this year “Ookoonono” also succeeded in making a new Australian record by scoring 24 points – just one point off the current World Record for this event. |
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Paul Smith - Manager, Skydive Oz
Poo started jumping at the age of 16 in 1987. After spending his whole life at the drop zone what other choices were there?
In 1987 - 1990 he spent his time at Parachutes Australia as a Packer/Rigger.
At age 19 and 1800 jumps under his belt Poo got his instructor rating and has since managed to keep an instructor A for 12 years. |
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Mason Corby - Co-Founder & Tutor, Genetix Freefly Coaching
Since I was a child I dreamt of flying, In March 2007 that dream became reality. I started skydiving in Gatton Qld Australia.
After a tour in Iraq with the army I came back with enough coin to jump every weekend. Soon after this I began to Freely. I quickly found this would be my new passion.
Whilst jumping with my mates Criky and Joorj I tried to learn all I could from them and be the best Freeflyer I could possibly be. In 2010 I formed Genetix with Tyler Baird and Dave Guiliani to compete in the Atmonauti League, soon after this Tyler and I started running Freefly camps teaching people how to fly in big way angle formations. |
Brett Newman - Downward Trends Rigging
Presenting: Basic Canopy Maintenance
I started jumping in February 1992 at Bridge Pa, New Zealand. In 1995 I started working at Taupo Tandem Skydiving, NZ as their first packer and learned some freefall cameraman skills. I gained my tandem instructor rating in 1996 and my NZPF Parachute Technicians rating in 1997. I moved to Australia in October 2000 and worked at Byron Bay Skydiving centre for 3 years. During this time I was slowly growing a small rigging cliental. In 2003 I moved from Byron Bay to Redcliffe, Qld and increased the capacity of the rigging facilities but we were still a home run business. In 2007 Downward Trend grew into a full time rigging facility when we moved into our present location at Clontarf, Qld.
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Tyler Baird - Co-Founder & Tutor, Genetix Freefly Coaching
I am a twenty-five year old Australian born and raised on the Gold Coast.
I’ve led a life of sport and outdoor adventure. I started skydiving on the Gold Coast end of 2007 with Brad Turner as my CI and Susan Bostock as my ‘sky mum’.
I was focussed on freefly and angles and that’s all I wanted to do, so I did! Two years down and at 800 jumps people started coming to me asking if I could teach them what I do. |
Michael Vaughan - Presenting "Downsizing" workshop with Jules McConnel
Forty-two years old, 16 years in the sport and 9000+ jumps! First Skydive - Sydney Skydivers, 1995. Michael holds RW Tutor, Packer A, Display B, Canopy & RW Coach. Australian 8 Way Formation Skydiving Team 2004/6 Australian Canopy Piloting Team 2004/5/6/7/8/9/10 Australian Canopy Formation team 2008/9/10. 81 Way Formation Skydiving Australian Record 400 Way Formation Skydiving World Record. 36 Way Canopy Formation Australian Record, 100 Way Canopy Formation World Record. 2 way sequential canopy formation Australian Record. If it involves jumping out of a plane I will give it a go: rw, freeflying, birdman, CF, style, accuracy, swooping, Mr bills, skysurfing, intentional cutaways, demos, test pilot. One of the few things I have not tried yet is throwing a drogue. I don't intend to do that anytime soon. Goals: Get better!
Paul Osborne
Hard to condense 36 years into a paragraph.
Commenced Jumping Wigram Air Base Christchurch February 1974 with Canterbury Skydivers. (no I'm not a Kiwi).
Did a second 1st jump course with Doug Irvin of Cairns Skydivers at Mareeba in 1975.
Did my IB with Noel Lourie as Instructor and Jim and Faye Cox as examiners in the late seventies.
Commenced Australian Paracentre as a full time DZ at Corowa with Dingus McKie in 1980.