With National Volunteer Week upon us, we would like to recognise and thank our volunteers, past and present, whose contributions have made our sport what it is today. In the spotlight today is Hamish Campbell, whose journey from an enthusiastic newcomer to transformative leader of Hillman Farm Skydiving Club serves as an inspiration to aspiring volunteers and skydivers alike.
National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering, providing an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our community, and inviting people not currently volunteering to give it a go.
Since the APF was established, it has relied heavily upon volunteers. So much has changed over the years, but the need for helping hands has not changed one bit. If we did not have the small army of volunteers that we do, the sport as we know it would cease to exist in this country. So much work is shouldered by those who seek no recognition and receive no payment. By law, the APF Board must be volunteers, with all seven Area Councils relying on volunteers. There are volunteers serving on APF Committees, and, of course, we have volunteers helping out around the drop zones. They are always willing to lend a helping hand, asking nothing for themselves, but doing what they do for the love of the sport.
This week is a time to recognise and thank our volunteers, past and present, whose contributions have made our sport what it is today.
Volunteer Spotlight: Hamish Campbell
In today's spotlight is Hamish Campbell, former President of Hillman Farm Skydiving Club.
Longstanding member and volunteer of Hillman Farm Skydivers (HFS), the longest running dropzone in Australia (est. 1975), Hamish's journey from enthusiastic newcomer to esteemed president is not only a testament to his passion for the sport and the community, but also a story of transformative leadership and unwavering commitment.
Hamish's journey into volunteering with HFS began concurrently with his pursuit of the skies. Embarking on his AFF course in 2015 marked not just the start of his skydiving adventure, but would also lead to years of invaluable service to the community. Hamish's early roles within the committee included kitchen manager, and over two years he tirelessly helped out around the club and fostered a sense of camaraderie among the HFS community. However, it was his ascension to the presidency in early 2018 that showcased his transformative leadership.
During Hamish's presidency, HFS witnessed a remarkable evolution. The annual memorial boogie, 'Mumbles', transformed from previously being a modest gathering of 8-10 jumpers, blossoming into an internationally-recognised event attracting over 100 enthusiasts, with the HFS black long sleeve top, introduced by Hamish, becoming a sought after item.
One of Hamish's most notable achievements was the acquisition of a Caravan for the club - an endeavour fraught with challenges but brimming with potential. Despite initial skepticism due to Hillman's modest resources, Hamish's perseverance and strategic planning paid off. His relentless pursuit of sponsors, idea to have tandems at Mumbles, logistical acumen and unwavering determination culminated in a hugely notable turning point for the club.
Beyond his role as president, Hamish's dedication extended to various facets of club operations. From being Drop Zone Safety Officer weekend after weekend, to managing merchandise and logistics (catering, fuel and so on), he wore many hats with unwavering diligence. His personal investment in maintaining club amenities and equipment using his own farming gear exemplifies his commitment to the community's well-being.
After a long term, in which the number of Hillman memberships increased tenfold, Hamish hung up his Hillman Presidency boots earlier this year, feeling the time was right as the club enters a new chapter:
“Many are probably aware I've been trying to hang up the boots on Hillman Presidency for the last few years, and I think theres no better time than now as the club turns over a new leaf with new prospects and injection of fresh blood into its system. Mumbles 2014 was the pivotal driving force that got me into the sport and on to the committee and the wild and wacky community was what made me stay.
I'm proud to say that the club has come a long way from the 8 active members to the 80 prior to York's closure, and now nearly double that again. It has been a rocky road implementing a lot of unpopular changes, and it's nothing short of amusing that burning caravans to clean up the caravan park has manifested into a very internationally recognised effigy, even once copied by a dropzone in the UK. I never even considered we'd actually have to start buying caravans to burn.
Thanks to all the past and present committee members I've had the pleasure of working with, you've all been an integral part of Hillman's history to get it to this point. For quite a period Hillman was viewed by the larger operations as the banana republic of dropzones that was mostly unheard of, and thanks to the unwavering support of the committee members and volunteers, it has become one of the largest funjumping operations in Australia. I’d like to thank The Skydive School for the continuing focus on community, the DZ is in safe hands and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Hillman.”
Hamish's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring volunteers and skydivers alike. His transformative leadership, coupled with his boundless passion for the the community and the sport, has left a permanent mark on HFS and the broader skydiving community. Being a local Farmer, Hamish understands the importance of a sense of strong community, and is the embodiment of inclusivity. As Volunteer Week unfolds, let us acknowledge individuals like Hamish, whose selfless contributions enrich the fabric of our community.
On behalf of Hillman Farm Skydivers and WA fun jumpers, we would like to extend a huge thank you to Hamish.
Thank You's
Paige Preedy, current Hillman President:
“I speak on behalf of the entire community when I say it's hard to put into words what Hamish has done for Hillman and WA skydiving. There are few people who truely understand the sacrifices that he has made to ensure the sport of skydiving continues to thrive in WA and taking Hillman Farm from a DZ that operated a few times a year when I first went out there, to an every weekend Caravan dropzone. From countless hours of phone calls, emails, DZSO and GCA'ing, labouring, working out how to make Hillman the place it is today, and so many more things, he really is the Farm Daddy to our skydiving family. A big thank you goes to his family, nearest and dearest too for putting up with his unavailability over the many years he has been on the committee, because that man really does live and bleed Hillman Farm. Thanks again to our forever Pres.”
Darragh Flynn and Paulie Morton, The Skydive School:
“Hamish Campbell stands as the cornerstone of Hillman Farm Skydiving Club, his unwavering dedication shaping it into the vibrant community it is today. Without his steady guidance and determination, the realization of our dream, The Skydive School, would have remained just that – a dream. As Volunteer Week approaches, it's paramount to extend our deepest gratitude to Hamish for his remarkable contributions. His impact resonates not only within the club but throughout the Darkan community, touching the lives of locals and enthusiasts alike. With immense respect, we salute Hamish Campbell, Farmer. The simple fact, the club or TSS wouldn't be here without him. He's a good wee farmer.”
Russell Thornton, OG Hillman member:
“Hamish and his efforts helped save the club with a big group of young energetic people under him, the club has been left in superb shape.”
Isaac Battersby and Danny Mogensen, longstanding Hillman committee members:
“Hamish ran the club like a reflection of the community involved in it; happy, helpful, and there for anyone, facilitating new younger players, whilst remembering the history of the farm by always involving the old dogs and founders. He is by far the easiest and happiest dropzone prez we have ever had the pleasure of working with.”
Jessy Bell, former Hillman committee member:
“Hamish is the primary reason that Hillman Farm is thriving as a weekly operating skydiving dropzone today. I remember my first Hillman AGM back in 2018, Hamish had invited me and a couple of other new skydivers to come and join the committee. Hamish was already on the committee as the kitchen manager with the rest of the existing committee all long-time Hillman members and mostly retired skydivers. They declared at this meeting that they were going to let the club fold, which is the moment Hamish stepped up to become President! Hamish had a dream of bringing Hillman Farm to the world stage, inviting skydivers from all over Aus and internationally to discover the unique funjumping utopia that is Hillman Farm. It’s safe to say he achieved this dream with all attendees leaving with a craving to come back and experience this skydiving relic from the 1970’s. Hamish also had another seemingly impossible dream of building the club back up from a sporadic, events only DZ to weekly ops, by bringing a caravan over from the eastern states. This was no easy feat as the portage required $26,000 of crowd funding just to get the plane over to the west coast, and that was before the real challenge of meeting a minimum number of contractual flying hours each month in a “use it or lose” agreement. A lot of these months we struggled, just managing to meet the required hours by the skin of our teeth, especially during weathered-out weekends, plane maintenance and purely based on the fact that skydivers can be a non-committal herd of cats sometimes. The dropzone today is a testament to Hamish’s resourcefulness, ingenuity and ratbag imagination. He has created something really unique and special on the west coast and deserves all the praise for a momentous stint in the top job! In the words of the Pres 'stay true to yourself and everyone around you'. Thank you Hamish!”
Danielle Riley, former Hillman committee member:
“I believe our biggest achievement as a committee crew in that timeframe wasn’t just hosting a successful Mumbles, but was bidding and fundraising for the Caravan. Also, Hillman DZ becoming an every weekend operation DZ again was definitely a huge stepping stone for the club.”
Wesley Burrows, Hillman member:
“Hamish's unwavering dedication as president of Hillman Farm Skydiving Club for many years has been nothing short of remarkable, showcasing his passion for community, the sport of skydiving, and safety in equal measure.”
Gustavo Boisson, Hillman member:
“Hamish is one of the biggest contributors to reigniting the Hillman fire - and the caravans that burned with it. He put together a great crew and led Hillman’s transformation. It went from a club that ran once or twice a year with a small local event, to an active drop zone, running most weekends with a Caravan, with a boogie that’s now famous worldwide. He supported development by bringing national and international coaches, running state meets and weekend events for all levels. Without the work that Hamish did over the last few years, skydiving in WA would have taken a big hit after most fun jumper drop zones in the state shutting down. Thanks Hamish!”
Georgie, long-standing HFS member and former committee member:
“I met Hamish at a young farmers event, where he eagerly talked about a skydiving club in Darkan, which sounded mindblowing at the time, being something outside of tractors and machinery. It was there that Hamish managed to convince us to come to a Mumbles, where upon arrival, we were given a 'Hillman-hand-grenade', and the rest is history. HFS was a small and quiet set-up to begin with that had no money. Hamish, his family, and the Darkan community was what kept it running. Hamish kept pushing to grow Mumbles and was always encouraging his mates to help him build and move things or tidy up the grounds.”
Matt Rigby, former committee member:
“There is so much you could write about what pickle has done for Hillman, a small novel, really. I believe that ever since Hamish (pickle) learnt to skydive at Hillman Farm with a set of Rossi work boots and some farm jeans, he could see the potential of what Hillman could and has become. People like Hamish are far and few between, to invest so much time, love, and passion for a place like Hillman. Hamish has a way of bringing the absolute best from people, and with that, they went along on a journey with him to get Hillman up and running again to be the place it is again today. The enthusiasm and passion he had for Hillman rubbed off on so many people, and they, too, shared the same love to volunteer their time to a club that has given so much to people's lives.”
Thank you to Jess Dunbar, Hillman Farm fun jumper and committee member, for her contribution to this article, along with contributions from the Hillman Farm members.
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[Photo Sources: Hillman Farm Skydiving Club, Tai Morton, Matt Anderson, The Skydive School]