The Management Committee of QSA

The people who make up the QSA Managment Committee are a diverse group of volunteers who represent the various clubs and diciplines of the Sport Aviation community of the S-QLD region. We aim to improve and develop the sport for all Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) members.

President – Stefanie Becker: Stef is an ex-sailplanes pilot from Germany who started paragliding in Australia in 2017, and can now regularly be found at diverse flying sites. She became the Secretary of Wicked Wings in 2020 and a Senior Safety Officer in 2024. Stef was invited to join the QSA management committee in 2022, became Secretary in 2023, and was elected as President in 2024. She also served as a SAFA board member for a while but resigned in 2025, which gives her more time for QSA and to play with the clouds. 😊

Secretary – Wayne Smith: Wayne started paragliding in 2017, and was elected as Secretary for QSA in 2024. Wayne is a site maintenance enthusiast, launch comic relief, public entertainer and wind dummy. He has been a QSA commitee member since 2021, representing the Canungra Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club. He can be found in the sky whenever the thermals are cracking and his wonderful wife gives him a day pass. 😊

Treasurer – Kent Gosden: Kent has been flying paragliders since 2010, powered paragliders (foot-launched and wheel-launched) since 2013 and weight-shift microlights since 2021. He became a committee member and then the Secretary of the Sunshine Coast Sports Aviators and subsequently the management committee of Sunshine Coast Freeflyers. He was also invited to become a member of QSA and now serves as Treasurer. Having managed his own business as a consulting engineer for 30 years, he is used to dealing with ‘paperwork’ and liaising with councils and state governments to obtain permits and approvals.

Don Cramer: Don started flying hang gliders from an early age, and is now flying everything that has wings and a few things that do not have wings. Point in case, Don is an instructor for gyrocopters and has his own airfield up north close to the border of S-QLD. Don is also flying hang gliders and weight-shift microlights, often at the Dalby Hang Gliding Club. He has recently started paragliding as well and is an active member of RAaus (Recreational Aviation Australia). Don joined QSA in 2025.

Matts Eliasson: Matts has been flying paragliders since 2000 and has been a team pilot for over 10 years. He is now retired from international competition flying but remains an active pilot. Matts lives in Brisbane and he is a club member of CHGC and WW. Matts has also been elected to the QSA board and currently serves as the S-QLD representative on the SAFA board of directors. 

Sonya Fardell: Sonya is the representative for the Wicked Wings Toowoomba and District Para/Hang Gliding Club. She joined the club shortly after she started paragliding in 2007. At that time it was a very small club, and Wicked Wings pilots were excited when they had six people out on the hill on a good day. Sonya became more involved with the club and was Secretary for many years, often organising Killarney long weekend flying (together with Andrew Horchner). She cherishes how the club grew and evolved over the years. Sonya has been a QSA member since 2021 and can be found at diverse flying sites when the weather is good.

Paul Reilly: Paul started flying hang gliders in the early 80’s as a teenager, in Toowoomba with a great group of people in the Toowoomba Hang Gliding Club. Paul has also been flying Weight Shift Microlights for close to ten years now. He has been involved with a number of clubs as secretary (including QSA) and on their committees. Paul is an experienced investigator, having conducted investigations in relation to recreational aircraft incidents and provided evidence during coronial matters. He continues to fly trikes and hang gliders and loves both forms of flying.

Peter Brindza: President of Paradise Flyers Inc., Peter has been passionate about paramotoring since 2019 and currently serves as the president of Paradise Flyers Inc. He became part of the QSA commitee in 2025, when the Paradise Flyers became affiliated with SAFA. With an insatiable love for flying, he’s in the air whenever the weather allows. Known for his approachable nature, Peter is always happy to answer questions about the sport and is dedicated to helping newcomers build confidence and develop their skills in the sky.

Our Past Committee Members:

Paul Green: Paul started flying hang gliders early on and has enthusiastically advocated for the sport at all levels and in many diverse positions. He served as the President of a Sunshine Coast club, the President of QSA and the President of SAFA for several years, dedicating a large chunk of his life to foster sports aviation locally, regionally, and in Australia. Paul retired from his various roles in 2024, but is still called upon from time to time to provide in-depth historical information and sage advice.

Mike Zupanc: Mike started flying hang gliders in 1981. He flew and travelled intensively as a competiton pilot up to world Championship level, was a board member of SAFA (formerly, the HGFA) and had a number of other important roles – amongst them, the chairman of the national competition committee, the national representative to CIVL (the international governing body of HG/PG) and during his time at CIVL, chairman of the international competition committee, and chairman of the international rules committee. These days Mike does some aerotowing of hang gliders with the Dalby Hang Gliding Club and he is also current with RAaus (Recreational Aviation Australia) and GAus (Gliding Australia).

Terry Carroll: Terry started paragliding / paramotoring in 2012 and served as the Secretary or Treasurer of Surf &Turf Flyers for 8 years. He has been a Safety Officer for paragliding and paramotoring since 2017, and served as a committee member of QSA from 2021 to 2025. He is currently flying paragliders (PG4), and paramotors, both foot launch and wheel-based operations. Terry is in awe of the sport and flies whenever he can.

In other news, the Teewah Airfield is under threat!