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Mike Kelly, our local federal member of parliament, together with Dick Smith, opened the very scenic and significant Southern Cloud lookout today, 15 March 2008, just 28km south of the town on the way to Tooma. People came from as far away as Canberra, Cooma, Melbourne and Sydney to commemorate this event, including many descendants and relatives of the victims of the crash.

As luck would have it, it turned out to be the hottest day we have had this year, however, that didn't stop the many hundreds of visitors from attending and enjoying the day's festivities.

Dick Smith was very happy to be able to open the lookout and the Museum exhibition as he said the loss of the Southern Cloud initiated the push for greater safety regulations for passenger aircraft in this country. Local aviators paid homage to their fallen comrades with a flypast.

A lovely ceremony was held by aboriginal elders to bless the lookout.

The Museum exhibition included some items from the plane crash, including some on loan from the Australian Museum, and others generously donated by locals, some items of which have been languishing in their sheds since the crash site was discovered! The exhibit was painstakingly pieced together by the Tumbarumba Historical Society, and in particular by local historian, Ron Frew.

Local professional model maker, Russ French, of Defence Models and Graphics, presented a scale replica of the Southern Cloud to the Tumbarumba Historical Society, to be displayed in the Tumbarumba Information Centre and Museum. He also presented Dick Smith with an even smaller version of the aircraft, which Dick was delighted to receive.

The lookout has been two years in the planning and making, and is a credit to the local council and all the volunteers who helped out with its creation. It is a fine showpiece for Tumbarumba and many a visitor will stop along the Snowy Valleys Way to learn about the most significant aviation disaster in Australia's history. Special mention should also be made of the massive effort put in by Chris Blake from Tumbarumba Council and Col Goldspink, Deputy Mayor, for all their work in bringing the lookout, and this very special day, to fruition.

For more details on the model and its building, and information on how you can own your own little replica, please go to Defence Models and Graphics' website by clicking here.