FU - Gloonk's Letter

Disgruntled from Fairfield

Random FU Atrocity

FU stalwart Chris Carter (aka Gloonk) felt compelled to put pen to paper and churned out the following article which appeared in the February 99 issue of Skyline (now ASM).

Dear Dave,

I would like to commend you for your article 'Getting Involved In the APF' in December SkyLine. I write to you to add to one of your sentences: - 'Victoria has Rel Workers Unlimited' and it has Freefall United. (I'm sure it was on the tip of your tongue anyway!!)

Freefall United (known mostly as 'FU' which can bring us some grief occasionally) was formed by a bunch of jumpers who had received excellent student training but found little to keep them at the DZ where they 'grew up'.

The Club ran an independent B Licence and above operation for a year or so (including a successful round of the Victorian League) but found, as many do, that running things means less jumping, sticking to a home base and forking out huge dollars.

Freefall United is now in its fourth year, we wrapped up 1998 with a mini-boogie and New Years Eve function to be remembered. Another year of touring the countryside jumping and many non-jumping social events will see Freefall United continue its steady growth. (We welcomed five new members last year two of whom are interstate members!!)

Freefall United does 'sit at the table with the big boys' on the Victorian Parachute Council and several of our Club members are in the gallery each meeting so we can endorse your comments for attending and supporting one's own State Council.

FU is not another Rel Workers, nor does it want to be, both do their respective jobs well. We are a social, non-profit, incorporated Club for those who like to jump at a variety of locations - good views, good company and a good pub essential; to this end around half of our financial members are non-jumping members. Neither will we 'burn up the competition scene', but will be found from time to time around Meredith, Pakenham and Nagambie, but by design, at a disused or quiet airstrip at the beach, in the mountains or anywhere the 'pure joy of skydiving' can be found sans cash flow concerns, leases, politics or the odd clique or two.

So, for those people who aspire to set up the 'alternative club' it can and has been done. We encourage those others in WA, North Queensland and the ACT to help re-tip the balance, to ensure this sport does not become a mono-culturalistic commercial venture, rather to enable new jumpers, and those jaded by their current circumstance, to seek out - and find - the widest range of skydiving experiences possible.

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This page last modified: December 3, 2006.