A_F_2015_01_02_

The Australian Aviation

Hall of Fame (A A HOF)

inducted six new members

at a gala dinner in Wagga

Wagga on 8 November

last year.

Nearly 200 people

packed Joyes Hall at

Charles Sturt University to

watch Reg Ansett, Horace

Brinsmead, Harry Hawker,

Col Pay, Ingo Renner and

Senja Robey honoured

for their contributions to

aviation in Australia.

AAHOF also presented

the 2014 Southern Cross

Award for organisations

to the Australian Air

Force Cadets.

AAHOF Chairman

Steve Padgett said the

2014 inductees had

all made significant

contributions to aviation.

“Again tonight we

recognise and honour those

who have contributed

so much to our rich

aviation heritage,” he said.

“Six individuals and an

organisation, which has

promoted aviation to our

youth, are being inducted.

All are extremely worthy of

their awards and all have left

significant legacies.”

Family members

including Bob Ansett

and Ross Pay accepted

awards on behalf of those

inducted posthumously,

but Ingo Renner and Senja

Robey were able to take

the stage personally.

Although the AAHOF

is still a virtual hall of

fame, the aim is to have a

building for people to visit

before 2017. This aim is

wholeheartedly supported

by the City of Wagga

Wagga, and its Mayor,

Councilor Rod Kendall.

“With a history of

aviation dating back to

the pioneering days of air

travel, the City of Wagga

Wagga is very proud to

have been chosen as the

home of the Australian

Aviation Hall of Fame, and

we wholeheartedly support

this great initiative going

forward,” he said.

“Wagga Wagga City

Council will continue to

support the Aviation Hall

of Fame, and we wish

AAHOF every success as

they seek out and recognise

those who have contributed

so much to our aviation

heritage and those who

are building the future of

aviation in Australia.”

The initiative has the

support of the wider

aviation industry, with Shell

Aviation, Jeppesen and

General Electric joining

Wagga Wagga as founding

partners. Hawker Pacific,

Alliance Airlines, QBE

Insurance and Brisbane

We s t We l l c a mp A i r p or t are

major sponsors.

“In many ways AAHOF

has been too long in

coming,” said Padgett.

“That wrong has now been

put right and from the

inaugural inductions in

2012, we have commenced

the AAHOF journey.

“Many more individuals

and organisations deserve

our recognition. Their

stories are in great need of

being told - especially to our

youth. This is the principal

aim of AAHOF.”

The 2 014

Inductees

Sir Reginald Ansett,

the driving force behind

Ansett Airlines.

Lieutenant Colonel

Horace Brinsmead, AFC,

the first controller of Civil

Aviation in the history of

Australia, negotiated the

first airmail route between

England and Australia.

Harry Hawker, co-

founder of Hawker Aircraft,

designer, distinguished

airman, test pilot developing

spin recovery methods and

adventurer.

Col Pay, pioneer of the

warbird industry, aerial

work, crop dusting and

water bombing aircraft

in Australia.

Ingo Renner, four-

time world and 19-time

Australian National

gliding champion.

Senja Robey,

founding member and

Past President of the

Australian Women Pilots

Association, instructor,

and inspiration.

Southern Cross Award:

Australian Air Force

Cadets.

14 FLYING LATEST NEWS

News

HALL

OF FA ME

P G 14

Six Inducted into

Hall of Fame

MAIN: AAHOF Chairman Steve Padgett pays homage to the

six inductees in his introductory speech.

ABOVE: Bob Ansett was visibly moved as he spoke at the

induction of his father, aviation pioneer Sir Reginald Ansett.

The 2014 induction ceremony showed that

the Australia Aviation Hall of Fame is well

on the way to becoming an institution.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING January - February 2015

AAA

REPORT

PG 15