About the Air Force Association (ACT Division)
Our History
The Air Force Association proudly has its genesis in the Australian Army based Australian Flying Corps Association that was established in 1920 in the aftermath of the Great War in Melbourne. Australian Flying Corps (AFC) veterans in Melbourne celebrating the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith epoch-making first flight from England to Australia agreed to establish an association with the aim of keeping their colleagues together and to raise funds to support their members who needed assistance.
State-based chapters were later formed. The Association’s time-honoured aims to foster friendships developed during Service, honour and preserve the memory of comrades who served and died, provide for the welfare of members, and support airpower development (now Air Force) endure today. The AFC was disbanded along with the rest of the Australian Imperial Force in 1919, following the end of hostilities. It was temporarily replaced by the Australian Air Corps that was subsequently re-established as the independent Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1921.
The onset of World War II saw many eligible AFC veterans join the RAAF. The Australian Flying Corps Association that had started with a small number of AFC veterans adapted to the changing environment and became the ‘Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force Association’ to enable members of the RAAF to join alongside their AFC colleagues. After the war, the Association adopted the shorter title, ‘Air Force Association’ although its formal name was ‘Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force Association’.
Since then there have been several iterations of its title but in 2016, when the Association’s National entity became a Company Limited by Guarantee the title was formally changed to reflect its early commonly referred title, ‘Air Force Association’, which is also in keeping with the RAAF’s branding as ‘Air Force’.
The Air Force Association comprises a National Board and a Federation of State based Divisions from Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Each Division has its own state headquarters while the National Board has its headquarters in Melbourne.
The ACT Branch was formed on the 8th August 1946, initially as a branch of the NSW Division. The Branch was incorporated in 1989 and It became a Division in its own right on the 17th November 1992. The first Annual General Meeting of the a Division was held on the 16th February 1993.
Funding
The ACT Division of the Association is an incorporated not-for-profit organization which is led by volunteers. Its revenue is obtained predominantly from modest investments, membership subscriptions and donations by supportive people.
Relationship With Other Ex-Service Organisations
The Air Force Association is one of several ex-service organisation (ESO) members forming the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO). ADSO was formally constituted in July of 2010. It was formed as result of the constituent organisations desire to work in a more cooperative and coordinated manner. The Alliance represents a significant number of members of Australia's Defence Family on national advocacy and representative matters to the Australian Federal Parliament and political parties. The Alliance objective is to provide a stronger voice on issues impacting the conditions and wellbeing of currently serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force and their families to the Australian Government, Parliament and all Australians. Information sourced from the Alliance website. For details about member ESOs and current campaign objectives visit the ADSO website at www.adso.org.au . The Air Force Association is a member of the World Veterans Federation and was the first Australian National Veteran's Organisation to join the Federation in 1954.
This Page Last Updated: 20 Feb 24