Michael Vaughan’s wife Kate Vaughan has revealed her husband left $100,000 in his Will to the Australian skydiving team
SKYDIVER Michael Vaughan died less than a year ago after a midair collision, but his dying wish will help fellow skydivers achieve their dreams.
SKYDIVER Michael Vaughan died less than a year ago after a midair collision during a week-long training course, but when his wife recently revealed a few details of the great man’s will it left the close-knit aero-sport community stunned.
Fellow skydiver Kate Vaughan from Leichhardt revealed the dying wishes of her husband — a bequest in his will of $100,000 for the Australian Parachute Team — in an online video on the Australian Parachute Federation Facebook page.
“Michael left a large sum of money in his will to be given to the Australian parachute team that goes to the World Championships in 2016,” she said.
“So what that means is whether you’re a canopy pilot or in classic accuracy or formation skydiving, whatever your discipline the money will be divided equally between all the athletes who are in the 2016 Aussie team who will end up going to Mondial in Chicago (in September) this year.
“So, I guess the message is if you have got a team or you don’t have a team yet but you’re interested in competing, I really think this was Michael’s way of dangling a carrot, and saying if you really want to, go for it, then I will help you.”
Mrs Vaughan said that she couldn’t be prouder to be the bearer of the news from Michael’s Will.
“As most of you will know, Michael had a huge passion for competing in skydiving and he really felt that competition helps keep the sport alive,” she said.
Mrs Vaughan may have lost her soulmate, but her love of the sport they shared together lives on.
She said it took her a while to return to the skies after Michael’s death, but she worked hard with her coach, trainers and team mates and was part of Australia’s bronze medal winning team at the Skydiving World Cup in the Netherlands last September.
“Michael and I obviously knew each other’s wills, so I’ve known about this for a while,” she said.
“I’ve been dying to tell people and it’s absolutely helped keep me focused and given me a focus for the last nine months.
“I have a great support network, and getting to Chicago would be a massive journey.
“I talked to the head of the parachute association about announcing it, and we decided now was a good time to make the announcement.
“With three months to go until the nationals in Easter, people will hopefully be inspired and it might help spark them into action to train and compete.”
The winners from the Australian Championships will go on to form the Aussie team to compete in Chicago, and Kate said that the team could be as big as 50 athletes.
“It’d be about a maximum of 50, so that would be a couple of grand each,” she said.
“The Federation does help out for World Championships, but largely it’s self-funding.”
“Michael knows how hard it can be, and I’m so proud of him.
“Chicago will be a huge event, and the Aussie delegation is always one of the biggest and we have a lot of fun.
“I’m still with my team (Bellatrix) and we’ll be hoping to qualify.
“We are training every other month now, and our goal is to be top-placed to qualify.
BACKGROUND
Kate Vaughan first tried skydiving seven years ago to face her fears, but she never expected the rollercoaster ride that would follow.
She never expected to find her soulmate, and never expected to have him taken away at the start of their happily-ever-after journey.
Skydiver Michael Vaughan was involved in a midair collision during a week-long training course in March, 2015.
He died after surgery on March 28.
“I started skydiving, and then I met Michael through the sport,” Mrs Vaughan said. “Meeting him changed my life, and changed how I approach life. I found my soulmate.
“I’d done less than 100 jumps when I took part in my first competition and it was with Michael.
“It was 2009 and we won gold, and it was the state championships.
“It was my first gold medal, a very exciting time, and about when I realised how fun and challenging competing could be.
“Of course, falling in love with Michael, too, was making everything special.”
MICHAEL’S LEGACY
Born: 11/09/1969 — Died: 28/03/15
■ Michael Vaughan was an internationally renowned skydiver who held world and Australian records, and had won international medals
■ His first foray on to the world stage was as a flat flyer and he was in the Aussie 8-way team in 2004 and 2006
■ He was part of the World record 400-way in Thailand in 2006
■ He won silver at the inaugural CP World Championships
■ He was an instructor who had over 10,000 jumps under his belt
■ He became entangled during a midair manoeuvre in Byron Bay, and died after surgery on March 28
■ It’s revealed that Michael left a $100,000 bequest for the Australian Team for the next World Parachuting Championships that would follow his death
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