Tuesday 3rd March & Wednesday 4th March

Our Victorian pilots passed the Baton over to NSW member Kreisha in Malacoota.

We have had some pilots joining us on our flights with the Baton.  Local NSW pilot Raymond Toms has put together this great short video of the baton handover at Mallacoota - Merimbula.
https://vimeo.com/121112701

ACT AWPA member Jan Goodhew collected the baton from AWPA member Belinda Baulch (Blue Top) who was a custodian of the Baton overnight in Merimbula.

Jan then flew to the beautiful coastal town of Moruya where she handed over to AWPA NSW members Shelly Ross and Catherine Fitzsimons.  

Shelly found a great use for the Baton during her pre flight checks as a 'throttle extension'.......

 

The girls then headed up to the Nowra Navy base to AWPA members

Natalie Johnston and Sally Malone where they were warmly welcomed by a large number of Navy personnel and fellow AWPA members.  The girls enjoyed Navy hospitality and an afternoon at the Navy base.

At 08:30 on the 4th March, the Baton departed Nowra Navy base in a Squirrel helicopter, with AWPA member and Navy pilot Sally Malone at the controls.

Escorting Sally on her relay flight in the MRH90 was Navy pilot Tammielee Moffat and fellow AWPA member, Navy Pilot Natalie Johnson, with a large number of female crew on board.
Heading northbound along the stunning coastline of NSW and traveling the Victor 1 VFR route, the Baton was delivered to Bankstown via the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour where it arrived at 09:15 into the safe hands of three civilian helicopter pilot's Sandy Taylor, Joanna Murphy, Lisa Wilkin from Bankstown Helicopters who then hosted a delicious morning tea. 
Bankstown Helicopters was totally over run with a larger than normal number of female pilots and Navy crews, this appeared somewhat overwhelming for the young new pilot at the desk on his first day at work!

The Bankstown Helicopter girls then boarded their R44 helicopter  which was very generously provided by Bankstown Helicopters and flown to Cessnock in the amazing hunter valley, where it was handed to female World Champion balloon pilot Nicola Scaife from Balloon's Aloft who will take to the skies tomorrow at dawn with the Baton. 

Over All an amazing week so far!  Looking forward to sharing with you all the next part of our journey.