12 Feb 1945 - 13 Oct 2019

The Australian hot-air ballooning fraternity mourns the sad loss of Judy Matijak recently, on 13th October. She was 74 years old. Judy was a quiet achiever, having gained many unique qualifications that put her as a woman well ahead of her time.

Judy was born and raised in the Canowindra district but became well known across Australia for her work building and repairing hot-air balloons... not to mention her dress-making skills, hand crafts, and cake decorating awards.

As a child, Judy showed her talents as a dress maker for her own dolls and never looked back! As a quiet but very determined woman, she proved that a positive attitude 'to get on with it' and perseverance wins over all.

She achieved the unique qualification of being the only female 'CASA Certificate of Approval' holder with a Maintenance Authority for balloons in Australia. In 2012, The Australian Ballooning Federation recognised Judy's contribution to the sport with acceptance into the ABF Hall of Fame.

Judy had married Charlie Matijak in 1966, about the same time hot-air balloons began to appear in Canowindra. It was to become the 'Balloon Capital' of NSW, if not Australia.

Her capacity for hard work established Judy as the 'go to' person for balloon envelope repairs and maintenance. With Charlie often at her side, no sewing machine was too complex to master, no job too big or difficult.

'Have the skill, will travel' could have been her motto as the official repair person, travelling across Australia with her sewing machine for the Bicentennial (1988) Trans Australia Balloon Challenge.

In the late 80's and 90's, Judy was one of the cornerstones of the Balloon Aloft Australia base in Canowindra. She would often work day and night to get a balloon back into service.

As a team, she and Charlie travelled to Longview, Texas, USA to build the special-shape 'Ferrero Rocher Chocolate' hot-air balloon in record time for a TV commercial that was filmed in Australia. Judy and Charlie worked for two weeks to put over 2,200 pieces of fabric together, with tapes and rigging.

The last of three 'Flag of Australia' balloons was proudly assembled by Judy in the Balloon Aloft workshop in 1996. It was dedicated to Camp Quality. Judy also completed the production of 4 jackets for the winning balloon crew who raised the most money for Camp Quality for several years at the Canberra Balloon Festival.

Judy always showed the quiet determination of a girl raised in the hard country life of post-war rural Australia.

She is survived by Charlie who took on the difficult task of looking after Judy when she recovered from an accident resulting in severe brain injury ten years ago. She had great satisfaction in watching her many grandchildren grow up.

Her three children, Danica, Angelina and Adrian all still live in the district. Danica was for many years the receptionist for Balloon Aloft Head Office.

Ballooning was very much in the family and Judy will be missed by all those who knew her and trusted her good work.

She is now interred at the Toogong Cemetery, overlooking the beautiful countryside that local and visiting balloonists often over-fly from Canowindra.

May she rest in peace.

Peter Vizzard OAM