Gliders return to Horsham

BY ABBY WALTER

More than 60 glider pilots, support crew and ground staff flocked to Horsham Aerodrome for the annual Horsham Week competition last week.

Gliders took to the sky for a variety of flight courses judged on speed and distance.

Horsham Flying Club president Michael Sudholz said there were 37 gliders at the event.

“It was a really good week. The gliders had a terrific finish on Friday with really good conditions and gliders reached heights of up to 12,500 feet,” he said.

“They were able to fly five of the eight days, with one rest day and two no-fly days as the weather was not suitable for competition.

“Our winner in the open category, Ryan Driscoll, flew at 140 knots per hour, which is good. He started at coaching week with us five years ago and has climbed the ranks since.”

Mr Sudholz said the week finished with glider awards and a presenta- tion from club founding member Steve McFarlane.

“As it is our 60th year as a flying club, Steve spoke about the early days and how the club came to be in Horsham,” he said.

Mr Sudholz said he had seen some great improvement from gliders who had continued to return to the competition each year.

“We had 20-plus students at Coaching Week, the week before Horsham Week, plus coaches,” he said.

“They lost three days of flying due to weather but had great weather when they did get to fly.

“We hope to see some return and move up into competition.”

Mr Sudholz said it was a great

Changes to HPV immunisation

Routine immunisation of young people for human papillomavirus, HPV, is changing under the National Immunisation Program.

Australian young people will now only require one dose of Gardasil®9 HPV vaccine, not two.

DEDICATED:

‘boost’ for Horsham to have so many people come through the town across the two weeks.

“People use the accommodation and spend money, which is great for Horsham tourism,” he said.

“People who come to fly here say it’s one of the safest places to fly and that they love coming here and coming back.”

A free catch-up program for young people who have missed a vaccination has been extended from the current 19 years of age to people under 26 years of age.

Young people, except those who are immunocompromised, who receive a single dose before 26 years of age are now considered fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Mark Butler said many people would be happy to only receive one jab.

“A single dose is considered by the experts to be just as effective in preventing HPV infection,” he said.

“This will make it easier to protect young people from the range of cancers and diseases caused by HPV and help eliminate cervical cancer in Australia.

“If you’re 20 to 26 years-old and haven’t had a HPV vaccine and you’re now funded to catch up, now is the time to get the jab and protect yourself.”

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, World Health Organisation immunisation expert group and United Kingdom’s immunisation expert group are supporting the change.

The HPV vaccine is delivered free through school immunisation programs for children aged 12 to 13.

Catch-up vaccination is provided through immunisation clinics at schools or through a general practitioner, community pharmacy or other primary care providers.

HPV is a common virus that is primarily spread through sexual contact. Infection can cause cancers and other conditions that lead to serious health consequences in people of all genders.

Almost all cervical cancers are linked to HPV infection, with the vaccine also protecting against genital warts and HPV-related genital, anal and oropharyngeal cancers.