RAAFA WA

08/01/2026

Merriwa Estate residents Peter White and Noel Cahill were friends and long-time enthusiasts of radio-controlled model planes for years at Merriwa Estate, spending time together flying and building model aircraft.

When Peter could no longer build a beautiful model 1938 Boeing-Stearman PT-17, he gave it to Noel to complete the very complex and detailed assembly. It took over a year, but Noel completed construction of the aircraft, and it looks amazing at Merriwa’s main hall, still in the air as a reminder of Peter and Noel’s great friendship.

05/01/2026

The residents at RAAFA Air Force Memorial Estate are a friendly lot. Listen to resident Ted tell you about an unofficial support group known as 'The Barrel Boys.'

One of our RAAFA Retirement Living residents Ted, tells us about the impromptu support group, nicknamed 'The Barrel Boys' at RAAFA Air Force Memorial Estate,...

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🎉

As we kick off 2026, we look forward to another year of continued high-quality care for our community, advocating for our Veterans and preserving stories that should never be forgotten.

Stay tuned for what's to come!

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas from RAAFA! 🎄

Wishing everyone a joyful festive season! May your holidays be merry, your hearts be full, and the new year bring many bright moments to share.

To all our residents, clients, members, volunteers, and staff — thank you for being part of our family! 💙

23/12/2025

Diamond couple Ray and Linda Hinds from Merriwa Estate marked their 60th wedding anniversary this year. From meeting at a rock ‘n’ roll night in the UK to raising a big family here in Perth, they say the secret to a happy marriage is simple: never take each other for granted.

Ray adds, “I’d do it all over again—every bit of it.” ❤

21/12/2025

From serving meals to driving residents to appointments, Merriwa’s volunteers do it all — and at this year’s Volunteer Day lunch, it was their turn to be looked after!

Special recognition went to Bill Wallace, our longest-standing volunteer, who has dedicated 47 years of service to Merriwa. Certificates of appreciation were presented to all, celebrating the generosity and dedication that keep our community thriving.

Thank you to all our volunteers — you make Merriwa a truly special place! 🌟

16/12/2025

Cambrai Club’s kitchen is officially back in action!

During the 10-week refurbishment, keeping meals flowing was no small feat — a temporary kitchen was craned into place, thanks to the careful planning and teamwork of our Property, Hospitality, and Estate teams.
Now, Chef Manish and the Cambrai Hospitality team are back at the helm of a shiny new kitchen, ready to serve up delicious dishes for years to come. 🍽

14/12/2025

What a night at our Meadow Springs Members’ Sundowner earlier this year! ✨

We loved celebrating the membership year with canapés, drinks and fantastic live music — and our members definitely brought the energy, filling the dance floor and enjoying a great night together.

Thank you to all our members for being such an important part of our 2025. We’re excited for everything still to come and can’t wait to share more moments like this with you. 🥂

Enjoy the highlights from the night in our video — and see if you can spot yourself on the dance floor!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

12/12/2025

Happy 103rd Birthday, Margaret! 🎉

Margaret O’Malley, Merriwa Estate’s most senior resident, celebrated an incredible 103 years earlier in October! She enjoyed a special lunch at the BlueGum Café surrounded by her friends who brightened her day, and posed proudly in front of her birthday banner prepared by the Merriwa team.

Here’s to many more happy, healthy years, Margaret! 🎂

09/12/2025

Twinkling lights, tasty treats, and plenty of laughs—Merriwa’s last Sundowner of 2025 had it all! A special cheer for Helen and Merle, whose dedication over the past three years has made these evenings a true Merriwa tradition. 🥂

05/12/2025

We’re celebrating the next generation of aviators! ✈️
This year we launched the RAAFA Higher Flyer Award, recognising high school students who’ve gone above and beyond in their aviation studies.
Congratulations to our first awardees:
⭐ Ayden Hackshaw (Greenwood College)
⭐ Eva McAllister (Kent Street SHS)
⭐ Edward Ryan (Trinity College)
⭐ Cameron J. Stolk (Morley SHS)
⭐ Rafael Bouzada (Melville SHS)
Each student receives a $500 contribution toward flying lessons or further education — helping them take their passion for aviation to the next level.
Well done to all our Higher Flyers. The future of aviation is looking bright! ✨

01/12/2025

RAAFA is delighted to announce Norm Waldie as our new president, succeeding Clive Robartson AM.

Norm brings a wealth of experience spanning both defence and corporate sectors. His career began in 1967 when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an apprentice, studying at RMIT before graduating as an instrument fitter in 1969. His postings included Laverton, Williamtown, Richmond and Butterworth in Malaysia, before he decided to leave the RAAF in 1977.

After relocating to Western Australia in 1978, Norm built an impressive civilian career in offshore oil exploration, working on programs around the Northwest Shelf, offshore China, the Gulf of Thailand and Australia's Timor Sea. This work also took him across Southeast Asia, and included training programs in Dallas, demonstrating his adaptability across diverse technical and corporate environments.

Norm initially joined RAAFA in 2013 and was elected to the board as secretary eight years later. And his progression recently to president reflects his deep commitment to the organisation, and the trust placed in his leadership by fellow board members.

And as the newly appointed president, Norm's vision is focused on strengthening engagement with veterans at all stages of their post-service journey.
"I'm concentrating on expanding our engagement with veterans," says Norm. "Those veterans being people who have recently left the RAAF and are settling into civilian life, and also those who've been out for a long time and still need support."

Norm has lived in Duncraig with his wife Jill for over 40 years and remains actively engaged in the community as a member of North Beach Bowling Club.

Please join us in congratulating Norm as we welcome him to the presidency.