On Saturday June 3rd the Nhill aerodrome will be abuzz with the rumble of military vehicles attending Nhill's first Military Vehicle Rendezvous.

Military history displays, marching by the RAAF Air Cadets, and planes flying overhead giving joy rides, will all add to the occasion. Just over 70 years ago this would have been a familiar scene at the aerodrome when it was a RAAF Training Base.

Within 3 months of the location being chosen in 1941, accommodation and hangars were built and ready for training young men and women as pilots, navigators, armourers, mechanics, radio operators and many other types of support personnel who went overseas with the allied forces during WWII.

Hosted by the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre, the event will feature military re-enactment groups displaying their vehicles and other equipment, as well as cars of the WW2 era.

Visitors can enjoy Tiger Moth joy-flights over the town, or Cessna flights over the WWII Bombing Range in the Little Desert, along with free entry to the Heritage Centre where an Avro Anson aircraft is being restored by Nhill locals.

Throughout the day food and drinks will be available. Children's activities will start about midday, and a monster raffle will be drawn at 3pm. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of a special Wirraway aircraft.

John Deckert, chairman of the organising committee said that the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre has been given the oppurtunity to purchase a special aircraft.

"[We've] been given the opportunity to buy a magnificent Wirraway of the type flown in training at Nhill during WWII. Borg Sorenson, a Melbourne engineer, collected parts for ten years then spent another eight years meticulously re-building this aircraft."

"It is reputed to be the best Wirraway in the world and it will become a major tourist attraction for the Wimmera. Borg's Wirraway was last flown at the Nhill Air Show in 2015 and it is hoped it will soon be "retired' at the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre."

Gates will open for the "Military Vehicles Rendezvous' at 9am with an entry cost of $15 for adults, $10 for concession card holders and children are free. A special tribute ceremony to honour airmen who died during training exercises from the Nhill RAAF Base will be held at the cenotaph in the main street of Nhill at 11 am.

For more information go to the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre Facebook page, www.nhillaviationheritagecentre.com.au, or contact John Deckert on 0437 351 753.

Photo: Members of the Military Re-enactment group coming to Nhill. Contributed.