POPS Australia

In May 1981 Claude Gillard then APF President asked Bernie Shaw from Victoria to establish a Parachutists Over Phorty Society chapter in Australia, or POPS Downunder as it was then known. The first POPS Meet in Australia was held that month at Labertouche DZ in south east Victoria.

POPS had already been operating 15 years in the USA, where it was founded in 1966 at a time when 40 was considered ‘old’ – well, it was! Now, as we near 2011, POPS has spread around the world with tens of thousands of members in about  24 nations; regular POPS events are held in Europe and the USA in particular, with World POPS Meets and Championships conducted about every two years in a different country.

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

The first World event was the brainchild of our own Bernie Shaw, who with a little help from his friends organised the 1st World POPS Meet at the Ettamogah Pub near Albury in New South Wales in April 1990. It was a resounding success and since then, these events have been held in Umatilla Florida USA, Empuriabrava Spain, Wadi Rum Jordan, Chilliwack Canada, Matamata New Zealand, Gruyere Switzerland,  Eloy Arizona USA, Toogoolawah Queensland Australia and at Reggio Emilia Italy in June 2010. The 11th World POPS Meet and Championships will be held in Teuge Holland in June 2012.

AUSTRALIA 2011

In the last few years POPS Australia membership has risen relatively significantly, with Membership # 747 having recently been issued, up from about #430 something in 2005/6. POPS participation at its own events and at major Boogies such as Equinox and Batchelor has contributed to this growth, as did the 2008 World Champs at Toogoolawah.

In 2011, POPS Australia will celebrate this milestone anniversary year with several participations and competition events at DZs in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Already locked in are:

Speed Star Competiton at Batchelor in July

3 Way Competition at Port Macquarie in September

POPS Australia support of Masters Category Teams at Nationals Competitions

POPS Australia support at Commando Skydivers 50th Anniversary at  Tooradin in February

POPS Australia will be considering options and expressions of interest from DZs over the next couple of months, with the aim of giving POPS Australia members the opportunity to celebrate the 30th Anniversary at an event or competition in 2011.

POPS Australia wishes to recognise the support of the late Fiona McEachern in our efforts to bring the POPS fraternity into the mainstream in the Australian skydiving community through participation, learning, safety, competition and enjoyment of our wonderful sport.