Marj Davis Gillespie learnt to fly in 1983 and it quickly became a passion.  She owned her own aircraft, a Mooney, for ten years and has flown all over Australia. Her interest in flying went further than being a pilot and she became interested in the administration and regulations of the Flying Training Industry.

She was President of Manning River Aero Club of Taree NSW for 24 years and was Secretary for 18 months prior to that.  She was made a Life Member 1998.

She was the inaugural President of Old Bar Heritage Air Strip Committee in 2001.   While she was President, the Committee was successful in achieving the Airstrip being heritage listed and, more importantly, being able to remain operational after much opposition to have it closed.

She was appointed President of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia in 1997 and retired from that role in 2019, continuing as Treasurer. The Federation represents the Flying Training Industry with Government Bodies including CASA, Airservices Australia, Dept of Transport and the Minister.

One of her achievements was representing the Royal Federation of Aero Club of Australia (RFACA) in lobbying the then Department of Transport in removing the GST from flying training in not-for-profit Aero Clubs who were members of the RFACA throughout Australia.   She also was instrumental in assisting Chief Flying Instructor Bernie Sarroff from the Royal Newcastle Aero Club in getting dispensation for colour blind pilots.

Marj always had the very best speakers and presenters from all facets of the aviation industry at the annual conferences and in her time as president there was a Technical Advisory Committee which she consulted with and always kept the club members informed with a regular newsletter. Marj always made herself available to aero club presidents if they had any issues for discussion. She organized the Annual Conferences, reports, auditors, guest Speakers and the announcement of winners of Scholarships from Air Services.

In her role as president, she also organised and managed the Australian Light Aircraft Championships annually and the Trans-Tasman “Wings International Competition”.  This is a national competition between the winners of the Australian Light Aircraft Championships and the NZ Nationals held annually but alternately in Australia and New Zealand.

Marj was awarded the Federation Award 2003 for a “Contribution over and beyond what normally could be expected of an Aero Club member and deemed to have benefited the Aero Club movement”. Marj played a very dedicated role to the RFACA and was admired by all who came into contact with her from the various Clubs around Australia and New Zealand.

Marj is an elected member of the Council of The Australian Strategic Air Traffic Management Group, ASTRA.  This is an aviation industry body dedicated to developing an optimum air traffic management system for Australia. As such, it is the Federal Government’s primary source of industry advice on air traffic management directions.

She represents the RFACA on the Australian Aviation Associations Forum.  It consists of Aviation peak industry bodies representing sectors such as agricultural, recreational, flying training, engineering organisations and airline operators. Marj is also the RFACA representative at AusSAR Consultative Council Meetings.

In 2007 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for “services to the development of the aviation industry through a range of executive and administrative roles, particularly with aero clubs”.  In 2014 she was personally appointed by The Hon Warren Truss MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure & Regional Development, to the Aviation Industry Consultative Committee.  In 2016 she was awarded the Oswald Watt Gold Medal.  For making an outstanding individual contribution to Australian Aviation, Marj Davis Gillespie is awarded the Australian Bi-Centennial Award.

1987/88  Captain T Thom

1988/89  Keith Robey MBE

1989/90  Wg Cdr K C Andrews

1990/91  Captain J K Davenport

1991/92  Gp Capt J W C Baker RAF

1992/93  A J (John) Douglas Esq

1993/94  Captain A Wickes

1994/95  John R Colwell Esq

1995  Mrs Senja Raymond Robey

1996/97  Glenn Elms Esq

1997/98  Captain John W Kessey

1998/99  Langley Kidby

1999/2000  Captain Philip Davenport

2000/01  Stephen Ingham

2001/02  Allana Corbin

2003/04  Captain Peter James Raven

2005  not awarded

2005/06  Bill Bristow

2006/07  David H Lowy

2007/08  not awarded

2008/09  Peter Nottage

2009/10  Gp Capt Dr Robert Lee

2011  not awarded

2011/12  Dr Carol Lesley Durkin PhD LLM BA DipSocStud

2012/13  Christopher Sperou

2013/14  Captain Patrick Stuart Murray

2014/15  Harry Schneider

2016  Matt Hall

2017  Bastiaan Scheffers

2018  Wg Cdr Ian Mallett DFC RAAF(retd)

2019  Nathan Higgins

2020  Gregory James Hood FRAeS

2021  Flt Lt Geoffrey Fox RAAF

2022  Steve Padgett OAM

2023  Ian Honnery

2024  Geoffrey Sartori