June Edition: What Our Team Gets Up To When We’re Not Flying

You might think our team spends all day in the air…

But when the blades stop spinning, things get just as interesting.

From weekend fishing trips to putting their heart into their hobbies, chasing sunsets, or testing out new cellar doors — turns out, our crew doesn’t sit still for long!!

Bridgette's Adventures – New Heights & Championship Buckles

June has been another action-packed month for Bridgette, balancing exciting milestones both in the air and in the arena.

Behind the scenes at Barossa Helicopters, she's been leading the public announcement of our newest aircraft acquisition while also keeping busy taking bookings for the new experiences it will offer.

This month has also been focused on building new tourism partnerships, including soaring to a meeting at The Lane Vineyard—arriving the best way we know how, in one of our R44 helicopters.

Away from aviation, many know that rodeo is one of Bridgette's greatest passions. The countless hours of training, travelling and competing over the past season have paid off, with Bridgette being awarded the

2025–26 Festival State Rodeo Circuit Second Division Ladies Barrel Racing Champion.

Bringing home the championship buckle is a fitting reward for a season built on determination, hard work and dedication—qualities she brings to both the rodeo arena and Barossa Helicopters every day.

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Nick's Adventures – Finke Finished!

After months of training, preparation, and countless kilometres on two wheels, June finally saw Nick head north to the Northern Territory to tackle the legendary 50th Anniversary Finke Desert Race—his second time competing in one of Australia's toughest off-road events.

Joining a field of around 750 bikes and 200 cars, Nick competed against some of Australia's best off-road riders and delivered a strong performance from start to finish. His Prologue run placed him 63rd, setting him up well for race weekend. After two gruelling days racing through the red dirt, he crossed the line in 69th position on Day 1 before climbing to 66th on Day 2.

When the dust settled, Nick secured an impressive 64th overall position out of 750 riders, finishing 16th in the 450cc class from 180 riders.

Congratulations, Nick, on an outstanding achievement! But don't think he's slowing down just yet—keep an eye out as he lines up for his next challenge, the 24 Hour Trial at Kapunda from 10–12 July!!

Image Credits: Greg Sketcher Photography , Dale Bishop Photography & Hayley Rogers/Nick Throup

Video Credit : Harrison Mielke

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Kye's Adventures – Showdown Bragging Rights

With a few footy fanatics in the Barossa Helicopters team, there's always plenty of friendly rivalry when Showdown rolls around—especially between our Port and Crows supporters.

In Kye's words:

"Showdown 60 finished exactly how it should. Power caged the Crows up. Port owned Adelaide Oval while the Crows flapped around looking for an escape route. Another Showdown, another reminder that when the pressure's on, the Crows go missing!"

Of course, the rest of the team was quick to remind him that one win doesn't erase history. After all, Port's been a little short on power in recent Showdowns... but luckily SA power networks managed to get everything switched back on just in time for the weekend to keep the Port fans smiling!

No matter which side of the fence you're on, there's always some friendly banter on Monday morning in the Barossa Helicopters office after a Showdown!

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Neessa's Adventures – Behind the Scenes & Back in the Saddle

You see her work every week but rarely see her in the spotlight! As the creative mind behind our social media, newsletters and marketing, June was the perfect time to introduce Neessa.

This month she attended the Tourism Industry Council South Australia (TiCSA) Conference in Adelaide, taking part in tourism-focused workshops designed to help businesses grow and evolve. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from industry leaders, discover new ideas, and connect with tourism operators from right across South Australia.

When she's not creating content, you'll usually find Neessa with one of the many animals around the farm. With a background in veterinary nursing and a genuine love for animals, she's always first to stop for a pat or lend a helping hand with them.

June also marked a special personal milestone. After a rodeo accident back in January, Neessa was finally able to get back in the saddle. Like her cousin Bridgette, horses and rodeo are a huge part of her life, making that first ride back easily the highlight of her month.