{"id":304,"date":"2021-07-04T16:21:54","date_gmt":"2021-07-04T06:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/?page_id=304"},"modified":"2024-10-11T20:51:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T09:51:03","slug":"the-story-of-our-field","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/the-story-of-our-field\/","title":{"rendered":"The Story of our Field"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Going back to the 1970&#8217;s, the land that is now the WRCS flying field was a disused quarry, in pretty sore shape:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"563\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quarry.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quarry.jpg 563w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quarry-300x216.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 563px) 100vw, 563px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We were lucky enough to secure a lease on the filed, in return for remediation work on the land, replanting with appropriate native bush, and a longer term obligation to maintain the access and fire trail for the emergency services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The article below, from the Manly Daily (1978), talks about the establishment of our field. Thanks to one of our previous Presidents, Peter Bennett, for the article and his efforts in establishing our field. Thanks also to all the others who have worked to establish and maintain the field over many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"738\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Manly-Daily-Sat-4th-March-1978-WRCS-Field-Established-738x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Manly-Daily-Sat-4th-March-1978-WRCS-Field-Established-738x1024.jpg 738w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Manly-Daily-Sat-4th-March-1978-WRCS-Field-Established-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Manly-Daily-Sat-4th-March-1978-WRCS-Field-Established-768x1065.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Manly-Daily-Sat-4th-March-1978-WRCS-Field-Established-1107x1536.jpg 1107w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Manly-Daily-Sat-4th-March-1978-WRCS-Field-Established-1476x2048.jpg 1476w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Manly-Daily-Sat-4th-March-1978-WRCS-Field-Established-scaled.jpg 1845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Work commenced on the late 70&#8217;s:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"301\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-79-1024x301.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-79-1024x301.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-79-300x88.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-79-768x226.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-79-1536x451.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-79-2048x601.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The amenities were a bit rough, for a while:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"316\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/IMG_2038.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-307\" style=\"width:839px;height:414px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/IMG_2038.jpg 640w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/IMG_2038-300x148.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By 1981, things were looking better:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-81-1024x442.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-81-1024x442.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-81-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-81-768x331.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-81-1536x663.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-81-2048x884.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So good, in fact, that the film industry asked to use the location for a temporary film set. This is the set of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nfsa.gov.au\/collection\/curated\/five-mile-creek\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nfsa.gov.au\/collection\/curated\/five-mile-creek\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Five <\/strong><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nfsa.gov.au\/collection\/curated\/five-mile-creek\" data-type=\"URL\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Mile <\/strong><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nfsa.gov.au\/collection\/curated\/five-mile-creek\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nfsa.gov.au\/collection\/curated\/five-mile-creek\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Creek<\/strong><\/a>, a six part mini-series set in post-gold rush Australia. Five Mile Creek was, at the time, the most expensive television series shot in Australia featuring a guest appearance by Graham Kennedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> Over the years the field and the road have been used in films including The Well and Vietnam:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"677\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5-mile.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-311\" style=\"width:839px;height:508px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5-mile.jpg 677w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5-mile-300x182.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 677px) 100vw, 677px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The movie set gave an interesting view from the flight line. The film crew usually lowered the masts Friday afternoon to make an easier approach for club members.  Long term member Doug Radford can be seen taxing out in the picture below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"277\" data-id=\"2542\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WRCS-Historic-Field-Photo-Merge-1024x277.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WRCS-Historic-Field-Photo-Merge-1024x277.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WRCS-Historic-Field-Photo-Merge-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WRCS-Historic-Field-Photo-Merge-768x208.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WRCS-Historic-Field-Photo-Merge-1536x415.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WRCS-Historic-Field-Photo-Merge-2048x554.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As time went bye the bush matured well, thanks to Jack Black and his trusty watering can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-94-1024x371.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-309\" style=\"width:840px;height:304px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-94-1024x371.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-94-300x109.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-94-768x279.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-94-1536x557.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-94-2048x743.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But by 2008, it was a stunning venue:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"397\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-Dec-08-1024x397.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-Dec-08-1024x397.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-Dec-08-300x116.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-Dec-08-768x298.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Field-a-Dec-08.jpg 1086w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And now it is a flying field to be truly proud of&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/field-plan-1024x574.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/field-plan-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/field-plan-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/field-plan-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/field-plan.jpg 1473w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Going back to the 1970&#8217;s, the land that is now the WRCS flying field was a disused quarry, in pretty sore shape: We were lucky enough to secure a lease on the filed, in return for remediation work on the land, replanting with appropriate native bush, and a longer term obligation to maintain the access [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-304","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=304"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3470,"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/304\/revisions\/3470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrcs.org.au\/WP1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}