SoaringNZ Issue 60

FROM THE EDITOR

JILL MCCAW

Twelve years ago, something new hit the New Zealand gliding world; an up-todate fresh and modern glossy magazine. SoaringNZ issue 1 hit the membership’s mailboxes in December 2007. Twelve and a bit years later, here is issue 60. That’s quite a big number. Allow me to become a little introspective.

When we hit issue 30, back in November 2012 we created a collage of all the covers as a centrefold. It seemed like a real milestone at the time. We’re not doing anything like that for this issue, but 60 issues is an amazing body of work all the same. If I lay a copy of them all out on the floor there wouldn’t be much space left in the room. Actually, I’m not sure if they’d all fit in my office. I’m very proud of what I’ve done, for every one of those 60 issues. I have a small team that helps. There are the wonderful Max Stevens and John Goddard who have worked on nearly every of our 60 issues. I can’t thank them enough. These two gentlemen simply want to make sure that the magazine you read is the best that it can possibly be. They give their time and grammar knowledge for free. As well as typo spotting and grammar

corrections, Max quietly points out the odd thing that we really shouldn’t be sharing in public. That’s something thing I’ve managed to become better at myself over the years; no photos of gliders doing a beat up at zot feet or taking the hats off mountain climbers on top of a ridge, even if it is a great shot.

I’ve become a lot better at grammar myself,

but I still pay a proof-reader. And I always will. I have worked with four paid proofreaders over the years, the latest is the lovely Helen Cook from Taranaki. Helen corrects every piece of writing before it goes to print. Helen’s been with us since issue 39.

The wonderful look of the magazine is due to the talents of Rosalie Brown and Lee-Ann

Collins of RGB Design. They’ve been with us right from the mock-up we created for the tender application back in early 2007, before SoaringNZ even started. Visiting the studio to hand over the raw material has become a looked forward to catch up with friends. And of course, if you want a magazine that looks superb, it’s a real bonus to have a husband who is a great photographer. John McCaw’s

pictures are a real feature of the magazine.

A magazine that looks great is useless if the content isn’t any good and there are so very many glider pilots out there who have shared triumphs and tragedies and sheer bloody struggles over the years. Thank you, thank you. To the regular columnists, the contest directors, competitors, club

news correspondents, photographers, new members, long time members and everyone who has had something to say, however big or small, you’re the ones who have made SoaringNZ such a great magazine. That piece you took the time to write. It was worth it.

I’m going to let everyone into a secret. One of the last things I do when I’m putting a magazine together is write the editorial. That’s because I find it really hard. I want the editorials to say something inspiring. I want them to feel personal. This time, I want to acknowledge 60 issues and the people that helped to make them. 60 amazing issues. I think we should celebrate.

If you’ve reading this somewhere near a club bar, raise a glass please. Here’s to 60 issues.

CheersJill