This image is one from a series of portraits taken by Rob Elliott to record the character of the Border District through the faces if its identities. Born on 10 July 1931 in Walwa, Joseph Gordon (Joe) Drage operated a timber mill and earthmoving business, but his great passion was aviation. After obtaining his pilot’s licence at the age of 19, Mr. Drage set about buying vintage aircraft that he feared would be sold overseas. He bought his first aircraft, a Tiger Moth in 1965. In 1972 he established Drage Historical Aircraft Museum on about 60 ha of land in Wodonga, with 5 planes. Over time this grew to 21 planes which Joe maintained so that they were all in flying order. His museum was the location for several air shows which included fly-ins by members of the Antique Aeroplane Association. The land occupied by the Museum was compulsorily acquired by the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation and Wangaratta council bought the aircraft collection for about $2 million. They opened Drage Airworld in 1984. The cost of maintaining the collection became too much for the council which closed it down in 2002. Joe Drage died on 9 August 2017.This portrait depicts a person who made a significant contribution to the Wodonga community.A portrait of Joe Drage sitting on the wheel of his Tigermoth. The photo has been mounted in a metal frame.joe drage airworld, aircraft museum wodonga, joe drage

Built at DHA Mascot and taken on RAAF charge as A17-80 in September 1940. It was allotted to 4 EFTS at Mascot. After a short spell at 11 EFTS at Benalla and an overhaul by Ansett in mid-1942, it was allocated to 7 EFTS at Western Junction. Sold in 1946 and registered VH-AUA on 20 June 1947.A man stands beside a yellow biplane standing on dry grass, and surrounded by other aircraft. biplane, tigermoth, aeroplane, flight, airport