Maurice Little Memorial Trophy

FOR CLUB DEVELOPMENT

The Maurice Little Memorial Trophy is awarded by the VSA Executive to a VSA Club which has made significant achievements in the development of their Club. This trophy was created in 2013 to honour the memory of Maurice Little who served for many years as both VSA and GFA Development Officer. The trophy was kindly donated by Maurice’s employer, International Trade Management in Tullamarine.

Soaring Club of Tasmania		2022
Bendigo Gliding Club		2021
South Gippsland Gliding Club		2020
Horsham Flying Club		2019
Gliding Club of Victoria		2018
Gliding Club of Victoria		2017
Les Nicholson	Sunraysia Gliding Club	2016
John Spilsbury	Gliding Club of Tasmania	2015
David Fynmore	Geelong Gliding Club	2014
Andrew Evans	Mt Beauty	2013

19 NOVEMBER 1954 – 1 APRIL 2012

Maurice Little, previous past President of the Victorian Soaring Association (VSA), died in a gliding accident while instructing with the Grampians Soaring Club at the Ararat airfield on 1st April 2012.

Maurice was first involved with the VSA in the mid-1980’s as Secretary and maintained continuous involvement with the VSA until his untimely death. During these years Maurice filled the positions of Secretary, Vice President and President and was totally committed to the cause of the VSA. There were times when the VSA was struggling through a lack of volunteer effort and Maurice would step forward to fill the gap and encourage us to keep up the effort to make the VSA survive.

Maurice’s career with the VSA also coincided with his involvement with the Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA) as the delegate for the VSA. In parallel with his administrative support to the VSA, Maurice also committed himself to a long career in the GFA serving in a variety of roles including, VSA Councillor, GFA Vice President, Board Secretary and Chair of the Marketing & Development Department for a full five year term.

The work load which Maurice accepted was substantial and, as he would admit, really too much for one individual. Nevertheless Maurice persisted with this workload well beyond what might be expected of any volunteer and achieved important improvements for the gliding movement both locally and nationally. Much of his work was involved with ‘backroom’ administrative detail, not at all glamorous or exciting but absolutely essential for the effective functioning of both the VSA and GFA.

Besides his work at the State and National level, Maurice was continually active in his support of the Grampians Soaring Club as a cross country pilot, instructor, glider engineer and committee member.

Suffice to say that Maurice demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the cause of gliding in Australia from the grass roots level of club activity through to the state and national executive.

On a personal level, Maurice was noted for his love of good food and wine and was an excellent cook and an accomplished photographer.

Maurice will be remembered and missed.