Do dizzying heights give you a thrill? Is Phileas Fogg your idol? Are you a lover of all things ‘balloon’? The Canowindra International Balloon Challenge is recruiting volunteer observers for this year’s event now. Held from the 11th to 19th April, this is an exciting opportunity to interact and become involved with competition hot air ballooning. The main objective of a balloon competition is to rank competitors according to their skill in various flying tasks, and to reinforce friendship among aeronauts from all over the world. Observer’s main duties are to be impartial when recording particular positions, times and distances. Mrs Falconer, an observer in last year’s event, said “hearing the word ‘observer’ you think of somebody serenely watching. Being a hot air balloon observer is a bit more complicated and possibly should be called a hot air balloon ‘police person’ as what you are there to do is watch judiciously that all rules are followed by both the pilot and the crew.”
Training in map reading, rules and responsibilities will be provided, plus lots of opportunities to get together with fellow observers and balloon crews at social functions. For those travelling from afar free camping is available along with free entry to Night Glow and a ‘last supper’ to complete the exciting week. Once you’re a qualified observer you can have the opportunity to observe overseas or all around Australia. “It’s a buoyant feeling being part of such a fun competition and it feels as though you have a second family” Mrs Falconer said, “I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a volunteer observer and look forward to April 12th for this year’s competition to begin!”
The event lives up to the name ‘Balloon Challenge’ with the first challenge for observers is to start work at 5am. Other challenges include climbing fences, searching for markers and trying to orienteer and balloon spot simultaneously. But as a great philosopher once said, what’s life without a little challenge? If you fancy being a volunteer observer this year, contact Amy at Volunteering Central West on 63324866 or email Jack at canowindraballoonchallenge@gmail.com
By Jan Kerr