G’day, my name is Bronni, and I’ve worked with Global for five years now. I love it.
My favourite movie of all time is Twister. I got to see it in cinemas when it came out in 1996. I was seven, and even though I spent a lot of it pressed up against the carpeted theatre wall with my hands over my eyes, I was decidedly impressed by that film and spent many years wishing Helen Hunt had not so successfully deployed the ‘Dorothy’ so that maybe I could’ve had a shot at it myself when I was old enough. Perhaps somewhat fortuitously, I eventually stumbled into hot air ballooning instead.
The similarities delight me every day. Meteorology – micro-meteorology – all is at the weather’s whim, and it’s a huge part of our job to know and anticipate it correctly. Detailed planning, navigation and logistics. Dedicated professionals of the niche variety and as close as family. The excitement of the chase; a convoy of vehicles with a common cause. Communication by UHF – I always have to fight the overwhelming desire to broadcast my music over the radio as we race to a meeting point. It’s storm chasing, but balloons!
Pato Saunders introduced me to the Australian ballooning scene during his 2017 Northam Nationals crew-recruiting spree. He bundled me into a balloon basket on a crisp winter morning in the Yarra Valley, and I’ve been a part of Global Ballooning Australia ever since. I’ve worked as ground crew on many of the extraordinary projects Global is known for – flights over Kosciusko, a tether for Hendricks Gin in Sydney city, traversing the Grampians, operating the Skywhale, ballooning at both ends of Australia on the national competition circuit. Not one morning goes past where I don’t get a thrill from working with balloons. Unlike fixed-wing, every flight is a unique and holistic team effort.
Last year, I leapt at the opportunity to squish in my private licence just before the summer season began. My best friend, Georgia Croft, was my primary instructor, and Kiff Saunders polished me off. Learning to fly gave me more insight and knowledge to use on the ground. I love being up there and down here equally.
In October last year, 2022, Pato and I flew together from Benalla to Mansfield – a spontaneous 2.5hr adventure flight conceived at 8:30 pm the night before around the fire pit back home in the Yarra Valley. We were up and on the road by 3:30 am, and in the sky by 6. These are the kinds of adventures that drew Kiff to the lifestyle over 30 years ago and still compel us as intrepid balloonists today.
We spent hours riding the winds in pure form. We quested to 11500ft; we cruised at 10000ft (very cold). We plunged to 4000ft – twice – and zig-zagged our way through the hills into Mansfield valley. Suffering shifty winds, we re-assessed our landing point three times – that’s fair, as target fixation can become a detriment in ballooning. Finally, Scarlett, our volunteer crew, collected us from a new location with dry ground and a friendly farmer.
I love delivering the Global experience first-hand, and I feel so lucky that to do so is my full-time job. For me, it’s a flow state with the added bonus of a natural circadian rhythm – catching the sunrise every single day. It’s reading each passenger first thing in the morning to build a special rapport, working with primitive, awe-inspiring aircraft, joking around with the guests and gelling with your pilot to deliver a professional and fun experience. I also love sitting with the passengers at breakfast after the flight, sharing the sensationalism of an out-of-the-ordinary lifestyle via questions and storytelling.
Every day I’m surprised that this little wedge of the aviation industry utilises so many of the skills I’ve developed over the years out of curiosity and intention – meteorology, safety consciousness, business management, the operation of simple and sophisticated aircraft and other machines, and the keen observation of natural senses and instinct. Aviation tourism takes flexibility, adaptability, observation, empathy and intuition. Some days I even feel that being a big sister to four siblings gives me a leg-up in this work. Every morning, driving the passengers back in the Troopcarrier, a bubbly feeling comes from my heart, pumps up my chest and tumbles out through my mouth. I reckon it’s joy.
I now work as senior crew in Melbourne City with the best of the best and switch seamlessly, as required, between all three of Global’s locations – Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and Mansfield. I also work with our head office in Richmond on marketing, promotions, content, and branding.
Our company is family in all the best ways, and I think our guests notice and love that when they come out with us in the mornings. I look forward to sharing our out-of-the-ordinary lifestyle with you, too, sometime soon!
