Farewell Stu Smythe
Captain Stewart Smythe (retired) sadly passed away on June 9th in Melbourne, from complications following surgery on a tumor.
Stu had a very colorful and rewarding aviation career that began with top dressing in New Zealand through to the controls of an Airbus into the busiest destinations in Europe. Along the way he made lots of friends from all levels of the industry and from all corners of the world.
One of his earliest jobs was with Rural Aviation in NZ doing topdressing. From here in 1966 he went on to TPNG (Territory of PNG) as it was known then, to fly with Ansett Mandated Air Lines (MAL) in the light aircraft division. He was based in Mendi on a Cessna 185, I remember him telling me that he used to land in the Hagen strip in town before Kagamuga was built. Those were the days of real "bush flying".
When Ansett MAL was closed the PNG operation in 1968 Stu moved to Australia and joined Ansett Airlines. He enjoyed a good career there until 1989 before relocating to Polynesian Airlines in Samoa, an operation that certainly suited his love of life and all things relaxing. Some of the antics of his time spent in the South Seas surely reflect this.
In early 1992 as Emirates was starting to expand, Stu joined EK on the 727 Fleet and was promoted to the Airbus a few years later where he stayed until retirement in March, 2001. He retired to Gisbourne, Victoria where he has a farm. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with cancer shortly after retirement and his death was due to complications following the removal of a tumor.
Stu was laid to rest next to his wife Lorraine in Waipukarau, New Zealand on June 22nd. He is survived by two daughters and one son, Deanna, Tanya and Don.
Many of us who knew Stu as a colleague, friend and mate will surely miss him and will always remember his love of life and his emphasis on squeezing the most out of it.
Farewell Stu, rest well, you will be missed.
Lukim yu bihain taim Wantok.