Solicitor David Lloyd told the inquest the club was profoundly saddened and sorry for what had happened to Mr Ahern.

“(It) extends its deepest and sincere sympathy to the Ahern family,” he said.

“Any failure by the club and its members was not due to any lack of effort to be safe. No one went out that day with any intent other than to have a safe day’s flying.”

Mr Lloyd said several changes had been made to operating procedures including a review of radio usage and a “more vigorous assessment” of their working; the landing and launch point had been moved further away from a row of pine trees and the communication van (the ‘pie cart’) was positioned differently.

“We are trialling headsets to assist the driver of the winch and continue to work with the Gliding Federation of Australia on issues identified by (investigator) Drew McKinnie,” he said.

“We will also do all we can to assist this hearing and to act on recommendations.”

The club has been operating for about 30 years, the last five under the Southern Tablelands name when the Goulburn and Harden Gliding Clubs were amalgamated.

It is operated by volunteers using an “unregistered, uncertified” airfield at Carrick, on the ‘Lockyersleigh’ property.