In the beginning the team was made up of the Labertouche instructors but as the team became more popular it became necessary to induct suitable jumpers into the team.    Until the research is finished many of the team members will only have the date and/or place of their first display with the team.

Claude and Steve Filak made their first display jump together at Labertouche from a Piper Tri-Pacer in January 1961.   A 10 second delay from 2,000 feet.

As sport parachuting grew and landing accuracy progressed from being measured in hundreds of yards to centimetres, it was difficult to convince government authorities that some parachutists had mastered the art of landing accurately and could be trusted to land in tight (small) areas.

Claude played a leading role in changing the authority's attitude and bringing more reasonable laws to display jumping.

When he decided to earn a living from parachuting, it was necessary to be a jack of all parachuting trades to make ends meet.   In the beginning, display jumping was mostly used as a promotion for the parachute training school but as the civil aviation regulations were eased and displays could be made into smaller areas, they became an important part of the income stream, used to finance the training, commerce and rigging sides of the enterprise.

As the Australian Parachute Federation's main contact with the Department of Civil Aviation, Claude had a considerable influence on the change in the Department's attitude.

It was some time before other jumpers realised that display jumping could be part of the entertainment industry.

Claude still acts as commentator for parachute displays whenever asked to do so.

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Bill Spent a few months on military parachuting courses with the US Army Parachute Team on his way back from the 1966 World Parachute Championships in Leutkirsch, and accompanied them on all of their display jumps while he was with them.   Mostly jumping into Baseball Diamonds.

The Display Team made use of everything he had learned about display jumping except for the 1,000 ft openings.  Though it did fit the twin pilot-chute system that the Knights used to ensure quick low openings.

Before his tour of duty in Vietnam, most of Bill's passion was in sport parachuting. A Lieutenant in the 1st Royal Victorian Regiment, Citizens Military Forces, he volunteered for duty in the Vietnam Conflict and spent an extended tour on active duty.

Upon his return to Australia he was offered to have his field rank of Major made substantive and the position of Officer Commanding Parachute Training School should he elect to join the permanent army. 

He decided to accept the offer and made arrangements to sign over his interest in the Centre to Claude.

Bill went jumping the next weekend at a dropzone in Queensland and was travelling in the back seat of a friend's car on the way back from the dropzone when the car hit a bridge pylon and suffered fatal injuries.

It was a great loss to sport parachuting and Australian military parachuting, because of his involvement with the US Army Parachute Team he was one of the most qualified military parachutists in the country. 

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Steve was the Operations Officer of the Golden Eagles.  As the Eagles developed into a highly professional team and found that even the best commentators at big events had no knowledge of skydiving and gave bland descriptions of the Eagles displays.   If Claude were not on the jump, he would take over the microphone and do the commentary.   Show Ringmasters recognised that the informed commentary gave the display more spectator appeal and would request Claude as the Event Commentator.   That became the norm and from then on the full responsibility for the display operations fell on Steve's shoulders.

Steve had been the preferred Display Jumpmaster since the team was formed.  Choosing the team exit point was critical in the days before high performance parachute canopies and Steve a master in this area.

Steve's habit of always choosing the exit point for the worst possible situation paid off when jumping into the Adelaide agricultural show, Bruce Towers had a rotating malfunction.  Bruce was wearing a video camera on his helmet and calmly filmed the malfunction before cutting away onto a small round reserve. Steve's spotting paid off with Bruce landing on the target.

Steve was always prepared to turn his hand to whatever was needed on the dropzone and as he was the fastest packer and most knowledgeable equipment inspector, over time he added role of Centre Rigger to his role of student continuation training.   This resulted in most of his parachuting being student supervision and display jumping.

As Claude spent more and more time overseas, Steve also took on a lot of the administration tasks as well.  A lot of budding sky gods owe him for steering them through the basics.

He was the Golden Eagles' "Chief of Operations".

Lennie was an all round jumper who performed well in competition and as a "Fun Jumper".

A quite young bloke when he took up parachuting, after completing the Southern Cross Skydivers Instructor Course he became a self-confident skydiver with an outgoing personality.

One of the six skydivers who took part in the world-best 5-Way (6 person) baton pass at Pakenham in 1963, he earned the title "Skydiver" at a time when few in the world could aspire to that honour.

A trusted member of the Golden Eagles.

These days, Lennie lives in the Darwin and works for a local media organisation.

Jock was a member of the Golden Eagles from May 1966 but departed for overseas and first jumped with the Golden Eagles upon his return at the Longwarry Rodeo on the 24th of January 1970.

Williamstown Yacht Club, May 1966

Jimmie was an early member of the Southern Cross Skydivers Display Team and he transitioned to the Golden Eagles and enjoyed display jumping.

A memorable moment we have of Jimmie is from the Hobart Regatta 1965 where Southern Cross Skydivers made a water jump from 7,500 feet wearing wet suits.   The team was to make a 3-Way star but jumping wet suits with very little drag gave them a very fast fall rate and each relative movement required much less use of control surfaces than normal.  Jimmie didn't make it into the formation.    The 250,000 spectators were ecstatic about the jump and in the radio interview that was being broadcast on site immediately following the jump, Jimmie was asked "How come you didn't join the formation".   He answered "We exited over the Hobart Town Hall and the city below was such a beautiful site that I was gawking at the scenery too long and I ran out of time"  The crowd went mad and cheered long enough to interrupt the interview.   There was radio not television but Jimmie was a very popular guy in Hobart that night.

Dennis, an ex-US Marine first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Kilmore Racecource 16th of October 1966.

Tommy first jumped as a Golden Eagle at a Kerang Airport Airshow on the 13th November 1966,

He was a core member of the team until he was killed in a motor cycle accident.

Lang Lang Rodeo on the 15th of October 1968.

Ray first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Coldstream in April 1969 and is a Jack of all trades in skydiving. 

He spent some time in the USA working for Strong Enterprises and six months in Malaysia setting up a parachute manufacturing facility.

His involvement in BASE jumping surprised many in the skydiving establishment.   His most outstanding venture in that field was to hike through the Tasmanian forest to leap off Frenchman's Cap.

He excelled as an FAI Judge and has judged a great number of World Championships.   For a number of years he was the only FAI Judge to be rated in every parachuting discipline.  These days he is a guru amongst artistic event judges and is in demand as an artistic event judge.

He was APF Director Judging for 1981 and again from 1986 to 1994

He is currently studying business administration full time and fitting overseas judging assignments into his curriculum.

He still lives in Balaclava, Victoria and still devotes most of his spare time to parachuting in one form or another.

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Russell first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Kilmore Showgrounds 19th of October 1968.

Gene, an army sergeant and parachuting instructor, was transferred to Melbourne in October of 1969 and went to work as an instructor at the Centre.

Gene first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Geelong Show on the 16th of October 1969.  He was an outstanding member of the Golden Eagles and participated in every display while he was at Labertouche until he ran foul of the Bald Eagle by bringing a girlfriend to a display where the team was living in a five bedroom house with only one bathroom and the girlfriend held up everybody for more than  an hour making up her face and everybody was late for dinner.   

Gene was warned not to bring her again but brought her along to the next display relying on his Sergeant Bilko tongue to get around the problem.   It didn't work and Gene was banished for three months from displays.

At the same display, he borrowed Bald Eagle's brand new wrist Altimaster and landed in the water with it on.    

Gene was also well known for his enjoyment of the ten course dinners served every night to the Eagles at the Paynesville Hotel/Motel after they had jumped onto the foreshore or into the swimming pool, every hour on the hour over a five day Easter period each year.

He now lives in Brisbane with his wife Hong and son Nong Doi.

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Robin first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Cootamundra Agricultral Show on the 16th of October 1969.   

Roy's first Golden Eagles display was at the Kilmore Showgrounds on the 19th of October 1969.

Bob came to the Centre as a foundation member of Monash Skydivers. He became a parachute instructor but found that his interest in flying did not allow him time to give both activities the attention required to do well in both.   So he chose flying and eventually went into partnership with another Centre pilot, purchased a Piper Navajo and started a charter business.

Bob's first jump as a Golden Eagle was at the Tyabb Airshow on the 28th December 1969.  He enjoyed jumping into Monash University each time the Eagles had a display there.

He has had a successful career in aviation and now flies corporate aircraft in Australia and overseas.   

Alan first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Longwarry Rodeo on the 24th of January 1970.

Bruce first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Longwarry Rodeo on the 24th of January 1970.

Rod's first jump as a Golden Eagle was at the Geelong Show on the 15th of October 1970.

A core member of the display team, he particularly enjoyed the displays at the Adelaide Show, because the showground was in a tight built up area and the team was domiciled next to the beach.

Rod has had a successful business life and has never lost his love of jumping.

He is at present managing Rambler's Dropzone at Toogoolawah.

Tug's first jump as a Golden Eagle was at the Kilmore Gymkhana on the 18th of October 1970.

Geoff's first jump as a Golden Eagle was at the Devonport Air Pageant on the 22nd of February 1970.

Bernie first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Kilmore Racecourse on the 18th of October 1970

Mike first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Kilmore Racecourse on the 18th of October 1970

Leslie Ann first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Yarrawonga Aerodrome on the 22nd of November 1970

Colin first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Lang Lang Rodeo on the 12th of April 1971.

He was a core member of the team while jumping at Labertouche and often came back to perform with it after he had moved away.

Hugh first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Peaches and Cream Festival, Cobram on the 14th of April 1971.

Goldie's first jump as a Golden Eagle was at the Geelong Show on the 16th of October 1971.

John's first jump as a Golden Eagle was at the Kilmore Races on the 17th of October 1971.

Natalie's first jump as a Golden Eagle was into the Drouin Swimming Pool on the 30th of October 1971

Wendy first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Geelong Show on the 21st of October 1972.

Andrew first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Lang Lang Rodeo on the 23rd of April 1973.

Alex first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Monash University Open Day on the 11th of August 1973

Tony first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Kilmore Racecource on the 21st October 1973.

Alan first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Edenhope Oval on the 9th of February 1974.

Phillip first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Trafalgar Oval on the 10th of February 1974.

Carol first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Tongala Peaches and Cream Festival on the 14th of February 1974.

Frank first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Monash University on the 6th of March 1974.

Sue first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Finley, New South Wales in March 1974.

Ian first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Longwarry Oval on the 17th March 1974 and later at the Horsham Show on the 28th of September 1977 and the Geelong Show on the 13th of October 1977.

13/10/1977

John first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Longwarry Oval on the 17th of March 1974.   He particularly enjoyed jumping into Monash University on the 28th of July 1974 and the Geelong Show on the 17th of October 1974.

Peter first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Longwarry Oval on the 17th of March 1974.

Amongst his jumps with the team he enjoyed the jumps into Monash University and into the Bright Woodchop Championships, even though he bruised his heel on that one.

A keen photographer, Peter was always ready to capture a good photo.

Gary first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the 17/03/1974  Longwarry Oval on the 17th of March 1974.

He landed out at the Geelong Show on the 17th October 1974 and broke a few tiles on a church roof.

Natalie first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Charlton Show on the 19th October 1974.

Colin first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Edenhope on the ?? of ?? 1975

Ray first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Wynyard, Tasmania on the 7th of March 1976

David first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Geelong Agricultural Show on the 14th of October 1976

Frank first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Geelong Agricultural Show on the 14th of October 1976

Sandy first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Geelong Agricultural Show on the 14th of October 1976

Ruth first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Geelong Agricultural Show on the 14th of October 1976

John first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Dandenong Show on the 14th of November 1976.

Greg first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Dandenong Show on the 14th of November 1976.

Sue first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Bright Woodchop Championships in January 1977.

He gave a sterling performance on the Anglesea job, where the Eagles staged an airborne truck hijacking designed to bring to the attention of the proving grounds security the need to beef up surveillance on the International prototype truck.

A serious jumper, he was heavy into the social life of Australian Skydiving.   

Ray reasoned that if he was to make a BASE jump it should be from a place where he would have plenty of time to open his parachute and so travelled to Norway and the Troll Wall where there was plenty of height after leaving the top of the cliff.  He missed his footing on launch and did not clear the rock face and the jump ended in tragedy.

Ray was a joy to be with, his smiling face and high spirits made you feel good and as he would have wanted it, we celebrate his life with a drink whenever his friends are together.

10/11/78 Ballarat Show

He also performed at the Swan Hill Agricultural Show in October 1980 and at many local skydiving displays in the Labertouche/Latrobe Valley districts.

Bernie was the original administrator of POPS Down Under.   POPS (Parachutists Over Phorty Society) is a world wide organisation that originated in the USA.   He organised the 1st Down Under POPS Meet at Labertouche in 1981.

Bernie and Tony Edwards organised the 1st World POPS Meet, at the Ettemoga Pub, a few kilometres north of Albury, NSW in 19??

The World POPS Meet was back in Australia in April 2008 at Toogoolawah, Queensland.

Michael first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Dandenong Show on the on the 18th of October 1979.

Richard's first jump as a Golden Eagle was into Monash University on the 22nd of July 1980. He took to display jumping and gained valuable experience under Steve Filak and Colin Holt.

Once Labertouche closed, he, Greg Chambers and Chris Hutter formed the Philips Display Team.

The Philips Display Team took advantage of the advanced display facilities available in the USA and obtained United States Parachute Association professional display qualifications while there.

During the next 20 years he was part of various teams that completed displays in Australia and overseas including major events such as Grand Final football fixtures, Grand Prix motor racing events and International Airshows.

Richard is an executive with considerable experience in the role of CEO.  He is at present managing a company in China.

John was the United Kingdom Top Pop (Leader of the Parachutists Over Phorty Society) and enticed by Colin Holt, came to Australia to visit for a year or two.   He involved himself totally in sport parachuting whilst here and spent most weekends on the dropzone at Labertouche.

On his return to England, he settled in the Lakes District in the north.   Last time we had contact with Cookie, he was was running an exclusive small bar restaurant in a 1,000 year old structure.

Having taken off from Tooradin Airfield a number of the jumpers had purchased crayfish to bring with them for a picnic lunch.  Having no carry bags or big enough pockets to put the crays in, they put them down the front of their jumpsuits.  Not such a good idea, on opening shock the crays all took a dive back into the sea.

Colin Holt tells a good version of the story if you ask him about it.

 Sam and Malcolm Corp were a big hit with Toorak ladies.

Ken first jumped as a Golden Eagle onto a cricket pitch in the Dandenong Ranges.

Graham first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Wash Oval, Moonee Ponds on the 26th of March 1983.

John first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Longwarry Oval on the 21st of August 1983.

Dave first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Longwarry Oval on the 21st of August 1983.

Damien first jumped as a Golden Eagle at Monash University Orientation Day on the 26th of January 1985.

Danny first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Builder's Labourers Annual Picnic, Moonee Valley Racecourse on the 2nd of October 1985

Ross first jumped as a Golden Eagle at the Builder's Labourers Annual Picnic, Moonee Valley Racecourse on the 2nd of October 1985.

Geelong Show 20/10/1972

He had a rapport with the media that did not always work to his advantage.   He once took sick leave from his job to jump in the Australian Championships in Western Australia.   His photograph appeared on the front page of a Melbourne newspaper reaching for the disc on landing.   He got a telegram from the boss; "Congratulations on your success in the competition, don't bother reporting upon your return".

On another occasion he went AWL from work to jump at the Melbourne Show.    The newspapers published a picture of him in their coverage of the show and he was in deep strife at the building site.

A building worker and crane driver, wherever possible Bill would jump into whatever site he was working on.  On at least one occasion that was onto the top of a high rise building in the CBD. 

Billy was true blue Aussie and a staunch unionist.   He jumped every year at the Builders Labourer's Annual Picnic and never missed a skydiving event or a party.

Paynesville Sport Spectacular on the 2nd of January 1970.

Dave jumped with the Golden Eagles at the Lang Lang Rodeo on the 30th of march 1970

Bruce jumped with the Golden Eagles at the Longwarry Hotel on the2nd of April 1970

Derek jumped with the Golden Eagles at the

Ian was a keen competition jumper and Australian Accuracy Champion in 19??, 19?? etc.   He had his own parachuting display act that he performed at the Sydney Agricultural show.   He was a one man show that started off as a straight jump, then he introduced a moving target and landed on the pillion seat of a motor cycle with bike in motion.  This developed to a landing in the back of a Utility (Small truck) and later on the top of a double-decker bus.    A true entrepreneurial showman.

The Golden Eagles always recognised talent and invited Ian on some of its bigger displays.   His performance was always flawless.

Ian earned the name "Which Foot" from his accuracy training technique.  When approaching the target disc on accuracy training jumps he would call out to the ground crew "Which Foot?".    He would get a reply "Left" or "Right" and he would then strike at the disc with that foot.   Such a technique requires absolute self-confidence

After Ian gave up competing, he was asked by a cheeky jumper "What's it like to be a has-been?".   Ian replied without hesitation "Better than being a never-was".

Ian was a member of the 1972 Australian Parachute Team and competed at the 11th World Parachuting Championships hosted in Tahlequah, North Carolina, USA.    

Noel first jumped with the Golden Eagles at the Bayswater Oval on the 9th of December 1973.

Tony first jumped with the Golden Eagles at the Geelong Show  17/10/1974

Tony was a regular guest jumper with the Eagles.  Particularly at country regional shows.    

John was mostly involved in football half-time jumps with the team.

David first jumped with the Golden Eagles at the Melbourne Agricultural show on the 17th of September 1976. He particularly enjoyed jumping at the Melbourne Agricultural Show each year.  

His real love was competition jumping and he represented Australia at World as a competitor and as a Meet Director.  He took part in many competitions at all levels. 

On one occasion, David stole the limelight at a Melbourne Show. He was approaching the arena at about 500 feet using a classic accuracy technique and as he turned his five cell ram air parachute towards the arena, one side of the canopy rolled under and David was back in free fall for a brief period until the canopy opened again at about 250 feet.  This left him with barely enough height to make it back into the arena and he had to lift his legs to avoid touching the edge of the grandstand roof as he flew his canopy straight for the target and made a last second hook turn to stand up in the centre of the target square.

The spectators in the north stand had a clear view of all of this and when the parachute collapsed, there was an loud gasp from the crowd.   When the parachute opened again there was another loud gasp from the crowd.

David was now on the edge of the wind cone and he had to lift his legs to avoid landing downwind on the roof of the stand, he made a quick hook-turn and landed on the target arms the crowd burst into wild applause.   

As the Eaglemobile took the team on the "Lap of Honour" around the trotting track, the north stand spectators gave them a standing ovation in appreciation for the spectaclar show.   Most of them believed that it was all part of the act.    David showed no sign of being perturbed by the incident, which in fact had been a close shave.

Geelong Show on the 21/10/72.

Dash first jumped with the Golden Eagles at the Geelong Show on the 5th of October 1975.  

Tony jumped with the Golden Eagles at the Geelong Show on the 17th October 1975.