The patron of Narromine Aero Club, Anne Elliott, has been recognised by the national governing body for gliding in this country, Gliding Australia, as a recipient of one of several awards at its recent annual general meeting (AGM).

Involved with gliding for many decades, Anne, now an octogenarian, received the JR Muller Award – Promotion and Marketing for her tireless support as a volunteer promoting the sport of gliding nationally and internationally.

"Few people celebrate gliding with the passion and consistency of Anne Elliott," the award citation read.

"As an administrator of multiple gliding Facebook pages, Anne shares daily stories, news, and historical treasures with audiences across Australia and internationally.

"Her social posts have become a beloved fixture in the gliding community, helping broaden our reach and spark enthusiasm for the sport among pilots and non-pilots alike," the citation concluded.

Anne's award was announced at the Gliding Australia AGM on November 12, and is one of several that recognise pilots, volunteers, engineers, administrators and promoters for their contributions to the gliding community. Other awards announced included:

  • Bill Iggulden Award – Services to Gliding as a Volunteer – posthumously awarded to the late Beverley Matthews

  • Ryan Award – Services to Airworthiness – awarded to Ben Terrell

  • Hoinville Award – Services to Operations – awarded to Justin Fitzgerald

  • Wally Wallington Award – Services to the Sport of Gliding – awarded to Nick Gilbert.

"Each year, the Gliding Australia AGM gives us the opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the individuals who life our sport higher through dedication, innovation, and service," Gliding Australia announced on social media.

"It is a huge honour."

It's not the first time Anne has received the JR Muller Award. She received it first back in 2009 and that award is proudly displayed in the Narromine Aviation Museum.

Quietly spoken Anne was very surprised to learn from Gliding Australia that she had won the award again.

"I am so honoured and humbled to be included [in the awards]," she told Dubbo Photo News.

"I'd like to thank all the people and clubs that I post about for sharing their experiences [with me]," she added.

A well-known quiet achiever on the local aviation scene in Narromine, the patron of the Narromine Aero Club has a very long connection with the Narromine aerodrome and all things aviation.

Arriving from England as a small child in 1950 and introduced to the local aerodrome by her late father, it was 1990 before Anne discovered her true passion for the sport, training with Soar Narromine and taking her first solo flight a year later. She and her beloved life partner and fellow pilot Keith Dixon, who passed away in August 2021, purchased a vintage 1960 glider and the sky became their second home.

Anne has also volunteered as Secretary of Orana Soaring/Narromine Gliding Club for a decade and in 1999 became sub-editor of the Gliding Australia magazine – a role she held until 2011. She was also the first female president of Narromine Aero Club and is a past secretary of the Narromine Aviation Museum.

In September 2023, Anne was announced as the patron of the Narromine Aero Club – only the third female in the club's almost-100-year history to take the helm, joining Joan Shepherd and the legendary Nancy Bird Walton in the honorary role.