The countdown is on until Narromine welcomes teams from 26 countries to contest the 37thFAI [Fédération Aéronautique Internationale] World Gliding Championships.

In just five months’ time, hundreds of competitors, their supporters, aviation enthusiasts and tourists will descend on the region for the 19-day competition that starts on November 28 and runs until December 16.

“This event will be a huge boost to the region’s tourist economy [with so many people] visiting and staying in the Narromine region,” said the town’s mayor, Cr Craig Davies. 

“Narromine experiences perfect weather and thermals during the summer period. We have no airspace restrictions and have first-class aerodrome facilities combined with an accommodating and supportive community. It is no wonder that Narromine is the gliding capital of Australia,” Cr Davies said. 

Organising the event has been a labour of love for the hardworking team from the Narromine Gliding Club which successfully bid to host the prestigious international competition.

The club previously hosted the World Junior Gliding Championships in 2015 with great success, so has a good idea of what to expect as the event approaches. The club has successfully secured funding from Destination NSW to assist with hosting and promoting the world championships. 

Club Treasurer and spokesperson is Beryl Hartley, herself a gliding identity with almost 60 years’ experience and recipient of the prestigious FAI Paul Tissandier Diploma last year in recognition of her services to gliding.

Beryl told The Western Plains App that a wonderful opening ceremony is planned for Cale Oval on the evening of Saturday, December 2.  

“It will be like a mini-Olympics’ opening ceremony,” she said, encouraging the community to attend. 

“This will be the first time that all the people participating in the event will come together, including volunteers. Air cadets will also carry the flags of each competing country around the oval.” 

ABOVE: Gliders on the tarmac at the Narromine aerodrome. These beauties ferried local contestants on the Farmer Wants A Wife series in 2022. Photo: Sharon Bonthuys. 

A range of dignitaries will attend the opening ceremony including representatives from the various embassies, aviation bodies including the FAI and Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the international gliding jury and stewards overseeing the competition, and elected representatives from local, state and federal government. 

The free opening ceremony event will provide an excellent opportunity for the community to welcome the competitors and their supporters to Narromine and will showcase the accomplishments of the international gliding industry.  

Mrs Hartley expects the international gliding contingent to bring about 800 people to Narromine for the event, which does include volunteers and visitors from outside Narromine. She said that accommodation will be at a premium as the teams book out local hotel rooms and caravan parks ahead of the championships. At least one foreign team is known to have booked out an entire accommodation venue, she said. 

“We want to keep as much money in town as possible by accommodating as many competitors and their support teams as possible.” 

ABOVE: This is what a competition looks like in action... Photo: Sharon Bonthuys. 

The Courthouse Hotel in Narromine is one local venue keen to welcome the arrival of the international gliding community. Manager Liza Beattie has some accommodation still available and said the historic hotel, which was extensively renovated and reopened in 2022, has recently hosted large contingents in town for the Legends of League rugby event and a bike riding club tour from Oberon to Bourke. 

“We can’t wait for the world gliding championships. We are ready to welcome the teams to town with good food and great rooms,” Ms Beattie said. 

Securing accommodation for the many volunteers that will help stage the world gliding championships is the Narromine Gliding Club’s priority at this stage. Mrs Hartley is keen to hear from local Narromine residents who may be going away or who are interested in making their homes available for short-term rental during the lead up to and staging of the world championships in November/December. 

“We need at least ten houses that have air-conditioning to accommodate our volunteers. If we can’t get the houses, we will have to look at billeting our volunteers with local families,” she said. Anyone interested in renting their home out for the event is encouraged to contact Mrs Hartley at the Narromine Gliding Club as soon as possible. 

In the meantime, local aviation enthusiasts can keep track of the event online as it approaches.  

BELOW: The Narromine aerodrome is set for a workout when the world gliding championships are held later this year. Photo: Sharon Bonthuys