Maurice Austin, photographed in September 2005

(Photo: Phil Vabre/CAHS Collection)

A relative newcomer to the museum is Maurice Austin. He was introduced to the museum as an invited guest of the TAA Museum on their visit to the Airways Museum and has stayed!

Although having no background in aviation, Maurice is enthusiastic and has a passion for technical information, particularly airframes and engines. He is also a volunteer at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook.

Maurice brings skills in photography and has a graphic arts background, both these skills having been used in the production of various displays that the Museum mounts from time to time. A highlight for Maurice was being flown by Phil Vabre over Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) during the recent runway widening works for the Airbus A380. The resulting photographs formed the basis for a photographic exhibition at the Museum.

Maurice finds the volunteers with their wide experience very agreeable company and to be able to ‘rub shoulders’ with some of the ‘grand old men’ of Australian aviation who are members and frequent the museum from time to time is a bonus. Maurice finds them a great stimulus in his quest for knowledge.

Below: A montage of Maurice's aviation photos (Maurice Austin)