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The Australian Armoured Vehicle Association Inc |
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About |
Australian Armoured Vehicle Association Inc.
ASIC Registration No. NSW Y2413247
The Australian Armored Vehicle Association (AAVA) is a group of of current and former service personnel and civilian enthusiasts who own, restore and display military vehicles.
Histoy of AAVA
In the 1990s a many people associated with armoured vehicles in Sydney started to realise that the knowledge associated with the operation and use of the vehicles were mostly held by a generation of ageing former soldiers. If the situation continued and with the passing of aged veterans there was a significant likelihood that those skills and knowledge would be lost to subsequent generations. As a result in 1996 a group of armoured vehicle enthusiasts, many being former Armoured Corps troops, decided to pool their resources and formed AAVA. The principle aim of the Association was to pass on the accumulated knowledge of driving, guidance, maintenance and restoration of armoured vehicles to younger people seeking to collect, renovate and display armoured vehicles.
AAVA today
Many of the vehicles owned by AAVA members were used by the Australian Army during the last seventy five years and have been painstakingly restored to accurately represent the vehicle's own history or a military vehicle from a particular period. Vehicles from the UK and USA are also well represented.
AAVA membership is spread across Australia but is most concentrated in and around the Sydney area where the club is based. There are a growing number of overseas members in the UK and USA adding to the active network of people with a common interest who are able to help with the sourcing of parts, and sharing technical and historical knowledge.
AAVA is a keen supporter of the various ANZAC Day events as well as regimental and veteran reunions and some of the many military and vehicle events held throughout out the country. Because of the rarity of some vehicles, members are also often asked to provide vehicles for film work.
The Objects and Aims of the Association are:
1. Facilitate and encourage the collection, restoration and display of Australian armoured vehicles in mechanically operational condition. Particularly the preservation of vehicles of significance or of types representing Australian military participation in overseas conflict or peacekeeping activities.
2. Assist in the preservation of the traditions and culture, and the contribution of those who served this country by cooperation with other organisations including Australian defence organisations, the RSL, regimental or veterans associations, in the parade of mechanically operational armoured vehicles to the general public on days of significance to Australia’s military history or at military events.
3. Enhance the public image of Australian defence organisations by participation with other groups such as museums and military re-enactor groups, dedicated to the preservation and valuing of Australia’s military heritage and the honouring of Australian service personnel past and present
4. Facilitate and encourage the collection and preservation of historical artefacts relating to the operation, use and deployment of Australian and other nations armoured vehicles, including personal records, note-books, pamphlets, manuals of instruction, photographs, films, as well as tools, equipment and spare parts pertaining to the use of armoured vehicles.
5. To mentor and train members in the safe operation of armoured vehicles. Such training will include crew roles, commands and hand signals for the driver, crew commander, ground guide and any safety officer roles, whereby members will operate the vehicles in a professional manner that would be expected of members of the Defence Force. Enabling operation of the vehicles, without risk to: association members; bystanders; or the general public.
6. Assist, advise and instruct members in the repair, maintenance and restoration of armoured vehicles enabling them to maintain their vehicles in a high state of operational efficiency and mechanical reliability.
7. Encourage the use of such vehicles at displays, functions, rallies and field days as may be organised by the association from time to time.
8. Correspond and promote good fellowship with intrastate, interstate and international armoured clubs, societies and associations.
9. To publish a newsletter for the benefit of members and to file information in keeping with these aims. |