[T]he rot started with the fellow wearing the bow tie.
That would be the bloke that the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame saw fit to induct, while (still til this day) refusing to induct the fellow who set and continues to hold the world record time for a single engined aircraft solo flight from England to Australia, Arthur Butler.
And don’t forget: AJ was awarded an AC, Australia’s highest honour (unless some monarchist gets back in and is inclined to make AJ a knight…).