David Lebroque has always been an adventurer, spending years travelling across Australia on his motorbike – until an accident in the Hunter Valley left him unable to walk.
But the 79-year-old refused to let life in a wheelchair hold him back. In 2023, he became the first person to take flight in NSW’s only wheelchair-accessible hot-air balloon, operated by family-owned company Balloon Aloft.
“Before my accident, I was independent and always on the move. This balloon ride reminded me of that part of myself and let me feel it again,” Lebroque said.
“It brought back memories I thought I’d lost, it gave me a moment where I didn’t feel limited by my disability.”
Founded in 1980 and run by father-son duo Graeme, 78, and Matt Scaife, 46, Balloon Aloft operates flights across NSW, including the Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Camden Valley, Byron Bay, and Burketown. The company recently celebrated its 45th anniversary and marked a major milestone with its 700,000th flight.
The company is the only operator in NSW and the second in Australia to offer accessible balloon flights for people with limited mobility, using a purpose-built basket designed for wheelchair users.
“We want everyone to be able to experience hot-air ballooning which is why we launched accessible flights for passengers living with a disability,” Graeme said.
Balloon Aloft was also the first ballooning company to partner with an Indigenous tourism operator, Yagurli Tours, offering flights over the spectacular salt pans of the Gulf of Carpentaria on board Australia’s first Indigenous-owned hot air balloon.
For Lebroque, the chance to fly again was not just about the view – it was about dignity, inclusion and joy.
“For people with disabilities, opportunities like this are rare and incredibly important,” Lebroque said.
“Accessible experiences like this make people like me feel seen. It gives us confidence and a sense of freedom.”
In 2024, Balloon Aloft were recognised for their work, receiving both the Adventure and Accessible Tourism Operator of the year title at the NSW Tourism Awards and Australian Tourism Awards.
Lebroque spoke on the importance of having accessible services for people with disabilities, saying: “If companies don’t offer accessible services, we wouldn’t get the chance to do the things that others take for granted.”
He also described the balloon ride as unforgettable.
“The balloon ride was very special, it was an experience all on its own, it was super quiet, calm and relaxing to watch the world just float by,” he said.
“It was something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I’d go again in a heartbeat.”
To book a trip with Balloon Aloft, click here.
Images: Supplied
