Branches/Chapters
You will notice that on this website some member groups are titled Chapters instead of the customary Branches. This is simply a nomenclature initiative necessitated by the use of computer based membership management to differentiate between those member groups that are self-administering (Branches) and those whose membership administration is managed by a sub-committee of the State Council (Chapters).
22 Squadron Chapter
30 Squadron Beaufighter Branch
PRESIDENT
Wing Commander Sharyn Bolitho
president@beaufighter30squadronraaf.com.au
SECRETARY
Yvonne Holt
holty34@bigpond.com
02 9639 9862
4/5 Army Co-Op Squadrons Branch
PRESIDENT
Robert Watts
b.watts@y7mail.com
02 6258 1845
SECRETARY
Dennis Wilkes
wilkesda@bigpond.com
02 6254 0609
458 Squadron Branch
PRESIDENT
Keith Cousins
02 9449 1637
SECRETARY
David Longhurst
02 9810 4416
463/467 Squadrons Branch
Membership Point of Contact
Peter Gustafson
membership@raafansw.org.au
0414492401
5ACS Flying Shovels Branch
Membership Point of Contact
Peter Gustafson
membership@raafansw.org.au
0414492401
Air Force Connect Groups Branch
Air Mobility Branch
AIRTC & AAFC Branch
PRESIDENT
Merridy Thompson OAM
merridy.thompson@airforcecadets.gov.au
0407 224 779
SECRETARY
Sharon Lim
sharon.lim@airforcecadets.gov.au
0404 098 102
Membership Point of Contact
Karim Anwar JP
secretary@raafansw.org.au
0401 154 154
Meetings
The AIRTC and AAFC Branch meetings are scheduled for 1900 h on the following dates and location: Mon 16 Mar 26 (including Annual General Meeting (AGM)) - DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club ; Mon 18 May 26 - Virtual via Microsoft Teams ; Mon 13 Jul 26 - Virtual via Microsoft Teams ; Mon 12 Oct 26 - DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club
Albury-Wodonga Branch
PRESIDENT
Grant Buggy AM
grant.buggy@yahoo.com.au
(0407) 223 505
SECRETARY
Tracy Sylvester
tsy96740@outlook.com
(0417) 620 853
Membership Point of Contact
Grant Buggy
airforce.alburywodonga@gmail.com
(0407) 223 505
Meetings
SOCIAL DAY LUNCH on First Sunday every month at 1200 hrs (TBC) at various location notified by email - please confirm venue/attendance with the President/Secretary. Social Lunch Venues are posted the Calendar of Events. GENERAL MEETINGS will be held as required as part of the Social Day Lunch in February, April, June (AGM), August and October. The AGM is held at the SS&A Club Albury unless otherwise notified to members. A COMMITTEE MEETING will be held as required, except a meeting will be held in May prior to the AGM in June to discuss and AGM Agenda. Branch Biannual Newsletter - Ad Astra - is no longer produced. Facebook group page is open to members - ask to join from the group Facebook page.
Information
The Albury-Wodonga Chapter of Air Force Association (NSW) Ltd covers North-East Victoria and Riverina New South Wales. The region has strong historical links with the RAAF through wartime and post-war training; these links continue today. The Branch's 30th Anniversary was celebrated on 30 April 2019.
The Chapter's focus is on promoting military aviation heritage and comraderie, encouraging veteran advocacy, promoting today's air force in the local community and supporting youth development through events and with flying scholarships for local air force cadets.
Committee meetings are held when required and there are monthly social events for all members, prospective members and guests. Up to five general meetings, including the AGM, are held during the year - on even-numbered-months (except December).
AFA Albury-Wodonga is a small Chapter under Air Force Association (NSW) Ltd and it welcomes new members and visitors. A casual Social Lunch is normally held on the First Sunday of each month at a venue in either Albury or Wodonga, and in December we hold a casual Christmas Party at Albury's SS&A Club.Visitors are requested to contact us via email for social event details. The branch's email address is: airforce.alburywodonga@gmail.com
The Albury Wodonga Chapter Committee for 2025-2026 is:
Membership and/or Visitor enquiries to: (1) airforce.alburywodonga@gmail.com or (2) (0407) 223 505 or (3) (0417) 620 853.
Association Honorary Chapter
Information
The Associaion Honorary Chapter is a record of Association Honorary members.
Honorary Membership can only be awarded in accordance with the Association Constitution clause 7 (5)
Bomber Command Branch
PRESIDENT
Mr John Horsburgh
SECRETARY
Mrs Annette Guterres
annette.guterres@gmail.com
0412759912
Membership Point of Contact
Annette Guterres
annette.guterres@gmail.com
0412759912
Meetings
Committee usually meets on the second Tuesday of the second month.
Information
Membership is open to all with an interest in Bomber Command. A quarterly newsletter is sent to all members. More details are on our website www.bombercommandassociation.org.au
Each year ceremonies are held in each state for Bomber Command Commemorative Day. More information about the ceremonies can be found on www.bombercommandcommemorativeday.com
Canterbury/Bankstown Chapter
Central Branch
Civil Air Crew Vietnam Branch
PRESIDENT
George Nelson
kba38556@bigpond.net.au
(02) 9517 1314
SECRETARY
Peter McCabe
(02) 9607 2167
Membership Point of Contact
George Nelson
kba38556@bigpond.net.au
(02) 9517 1314
Coffs Harbour & District* Branch
Membership Point of Contact
Peter Bennetts
peter.bennetts@westnet.com.au
0418 84 5533
Meetings
The Chapter meets socially at various venues, and occasionally at Sawtell RSL Club Ltd, First Avenue, SAWTELL. A Christmas meeting is also held late November or early December.
Coogee-Randwick Branch
PRESIDENT
Jonathan Miller
raafaclub@gmail.com
Membership Point of Contact
Jonathan Miller
raafaclub@gmail.com
0405 547 202
Far North Coast Branch
PRESIDENT
Richard (Dick) Wills BEM
2rcwills@gmail.com
0414 618 793
SECRETARY
Colleen Wills
rcwills1@gmail.com
0414618793
Membership Point of Contact
Dick Wills
2rcwills@gmail.com
0414618793
Meetings
Monthly general meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month except December. At the Cherry Street Sports Club 68 Cherry Street Ballina, starting at 11.00am. The Club's Restaurant provides for a branch lunch after the meeting.
Information
Fighter Squadrons Branch
PRESIDENT
Ron Haack
president@fsb.raafansw.org.au
0416 077 770
SECRETARY
Geoff Kubank
honsec@fsb.raafansw.org.au
0410 325 644
Membership Point of Contact
Geoff Kubank
membership@fsb.raafansw.org.au
0410 325 644
Information
PATRON
AIR VICE MARSHAL A.J Quaife AM
FROM WHENCE IT SPRUNG
Since WWII, a number of individual and independent associations sprouted to accommodate the needs of ex-members. Those associations were largely squadron-centric owing to the members' (mostly WWII veterans) strong sense of connection and identity with their particular squadrons. In 1971, the “Kitty Hawk Squadrons' Association” was formed as an offshoot of the original "No 77 Squadron Association" which was established in June 1953.
Since the mid-sixties, however, this strength of identity has diminished to a degree because of more diverse involvement with several squadrons and/or aircraft types. In 1976 the “Kitty Hawk Squadrons' Association” was renamed the “NSW Fighter Squadrons Branch”. That was the first attempt to establish a "combined association" concept. Such a change not only broadened the scope of membership by excluding reference to aircraft type, but based on the logic that the common thread was their fighter squadron heritage, it was envisaged that this organisation could fulfil the needs of camaraderie for all older and younger-generation members who served within the many fighter squadrons in existence.
WHAT IS IT
The Fighter Squadrons' Branch (FSB) is now a fully established branch of its parent body namely "The Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force Association (New South Wales Division) Incorporated" - or RAAFANSW. Naturally, all members of the FSB are fully subscribed members of the RAAFANSW.
The FSB is not an independently constituted, incorporated or otherwise, organisation. Accordingly, the statutory functioning of the FSB is fully governed by the constitution of RAAFANSW. There is no provision in the RAAFANSW constitution for its branches to spawn sub-branches.
WHAT IT DOES
The broad charter of the FSB is to:
- foster ongoing camaraderie among all members past and present of the fighter squadrons community;
- promote welfare of and assistance to members of the branch and their dependents;
- disseminate relevant information from RAAFANSW and/or other sources;
- plan, coordinate and conduct reunions, formal and social events;
- maintain a website with both public and private access segments; and
- provide limited financial assistance to kindred and affiliated organisations and groups.
IMPLEMENTATION
In 2003, following requests from some of the independent associations, the FSB committee established and formalised the “umbrella” concept - a concept where the FSB sits in a focal position relative to a cluster of individual and independent squadron associations, thus providing a linkage for embracing the fighter squadrons' fraternity as a whole.
In late 2004 the Fighter Squadrons Branch website was launched, with the home page graphically illustrating implementation of this concept. From an original eight associations, some twelve groups now populate this cluster.
During the following years FSB operated in a supportive rather than a governance sense in respect of the members of the independent associations. The passage of time however took its toll in these associations and governance positions became more difficult to fill.
Since 2011 major constitutional changes within RAAFANSW have fertilised progressive management concepts and IT leading to the establishment of websites and better communication capabilities for the division and branches alike.
These changes enabled branches to conduct their own membership management, previously undertaken at division level, permitting independent associations to merge with FSB whilst retaining their squadron identities as chapters within FSB if they wished. This arrangement now retains the aforementioned "umbrella" concept and allows wider scope for all members to enjoy the collective benefit of the branch as a whole whilst perpetuating chapter initiatives in respect of history recording and collection of memorabilia.
Membership of the Fighter Squadrons Branch is open to past and present members of Fighter Squadrons.
Friends and associates of the fighter community, persons with connections to Williamtown and Amberley air bases and persons with a genuine interest in military aviation are also eligible and welcome to join.
Applications to join are made through RAAFA NSW website https://raafansw.org.au/membershipNew.php
PRESIDENTS
Alwyn Quoy 1969 - 1985
Ken Hitchcock 1985 - 1987
Jack Lynch 1987 - 1990
Dick Gregory 1990 - 1996
Dave Bowden 1996 - 2003
Dave Leach 2003 - 2005
Ian Whisker 2005 - 2009
Bruce Connell 2009 - 2015
Mike Lavercombe 2015 - 2022
Ron Haack 2022-
Halifax Chapter
SECRETARY
Keith Campbell OAM
02 9489 3250
Liberator Chapter
Manly-Warringah* Chapter
Manning River Branch
PRESIDENT
John Smith
johnsmith13@bigpond.com
+61412525165
SECRETARY
Jacinta Bryan
jacintabryan1@gmail.com
0402646118
Membership Point of Contact
Jacinta Bryan
jacintabryan1@gmail.com
0402646118
Meetings
Branch Meetings held March, June, September and December
National Service* Branch
PRESIDENT
Vice President
craigwatford@bigpond.com
0427 666 701
Membership Point of Contact
Craig Watford
craigwatford@bigpond.com
0427 666 701
Newcastle Branch
Membership Point of Contact
Memberships Member
membership@fsb.raafansw.org.au
0418 396 681
Orange Chapter
Pathfinder Branch
PRESIDENT
Ken Youdale DFC OAM
0408 219 920
SECRETARY
Jeff McClenaughan
02 9527 1048
Port Macquarie Chapter
RAAFA HARS Branch
PRESIDENT
Bob DeLaHunty
delahunty@bigpond.com
0433 941 306
SECRETARY
Douglas Haywood
doug34@bigpond.com
0431 704 991
Membership Point of Contact
Douglas Haywood
doug34@bigpond.com
0431 704 991
Meetings
TBA
Information
RAAFA HARS Branch membership is open to all HARS members, whether they haved served or not. It only requires an interest in military aviation.
RADSCHOOL Branch
Rotary Wing* Branch
PRESIDENT
Bob Redman
rlredman@bigpond.com
04 18 570 768
SECRETARY
Steve Hartigan
stevehartigan@placidhills.com
0438 585 202
Membership Point of Contact
Steve Hartigan
stevehartigan@placidhills.com
0438 585 202
SEAAC Chapter
St George* Branch
PRESIDENT
George Hurley OAM
gvhurley@gmail.com
0404 600 852
SECRETARY
Elizabeth Wood
myassist@hotmail.com
0400 805 009
Membership Point of Contact
Paul Gregory
paulgregory@optusnet.com.au
0477 345 906
Meetings
At Victory House, 647 Princes Hwy, Blakehurst, 3rd Friday Monthly except January
Sunderland Squadrons Branch
PRESIDENT
Peter W Dowling RFD
peterdowling1946@gmail.com
0418281775
Membership Point of Contact
Peter W Dowling RFD
peterdowling1946@gmail.com
0418 281 775
Information
If you wish to receive interesting stories and photos of Sunderlands and the brave men who flew them and reminders of our social gatherings, please email Prue Anthony on 10.461sunderlanders@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list.
Test Branch Branch
PRESIDENT
Pres Test
pres@natiive.com.au
73737373
SECRETARY
Sec Name
sec@natiive.com.au
9999999
Membership Point of Contact
Test POC
poc@natiive.com.au
123412234
WAAAF Chapter
Wanderers Branch
PRESIDENT
Gordon Pert
gordon.pert@bigpond.com
0407 239 382
SECRETARY
Malcolm Baker
rekab62@yahoo.com.au
0435 653 630
Membership Point of Contact
Malcolm Baker
rekab62@yahoo.com.au
0435 653 630
Information
As previously discussed the Wanderers Association 60th Anniversary will soon be upon us – about 10 weeks time.
Here are the details
Venue: the Corrina Room @ the Southern Cross Club, Woden ACT
Date: 31st October 2025 (please note the change in date)
Time: 530pm gathering starts for a 7pm dinner
Cost: $100 per person (includes two course dinner, some drinks)
Payable to: Wanderers Account - details below with attendees name(s) in the comment/description line
RSVP: NLT 18th August 2025
If you have any digital images please feel free to email to myself
Wanderers Account
BSB 062-909
Account Number 1023 8040
All are welcome, so spread the word.