There’s always something happening at the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre. Although it’s officially only open at weekends, week days are often just as busy.
Last Tuesday, members of the Rolls Royce and Bentley Car Club called in on their way home from a rally in Hahndorf. They spent several hours hearing the stories of the men and women who trained at the Nhill RAAF Base during the ‘40s. One man was delighted to see his father’s name listed in Kevin O’Reillys book ‘In Just Five Years’. William Swinnerton was a flight officer and went on to fly with the RAF in England near the end of the war.
Another mid-week Melbourne visitor was Tania Jacobs, who has been working with the NAHC Board to help with tourism ideas. Tania was amazed at the workmanship that has gone into the restoration of the Link Trainer and couldn’t take the smile off her face when she had a ‘fly’ in it.
Visitors from South Australia were fascinated with the latest exhibit, the working model of a Cheetah engine similar to those used on the Avro Anson. At the touch of a button, the seven-cylinder engine sets off in slow motion …without the noise!
The RV Camping area is being well-used, and visitors often have a tour of the Heritage Centre during the week. A phone call to 0490 657 770 will usually find someone available to act as a tour guide.
There’s always something new on display at the NAHC, so bring your visitors over Easter. The NAHC is open Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am – 4pm. Closed on Good Friday.
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 5 April 2023.
