The women who were with Southern Airlines whilst holding Commercial Licences were employed as Radio Operators/Hostesses and presumably were paid peanuts. That was all that was on offer in those days.

Many, many years ago I met a little old lady who used to fly puss moths around the country, later one of her sons became a captain at Ansett Airlines. For a little ol' lady she was quite of a doer and full of interesting stories but through her humbleness felt her achievements were superseded by the onset of the jet age. I really treasured my limited time with her, she really was an inspiring individual who didn't participate in any of the fuss for women's rights, she just got on with doing what she wanted to do and gave a biting retort to anyone foolish enough to get in her way :ok:.

With her it wasn't a case of girls can do anything but more so the right attitude can do anything.

Boy did she really did make an impression on me.

Thats entirely the point! Why weren't they then allowed to progress their flying up to airlines such as ANA, TAA and Qantas? Deb, through legislation bought in by the government of the day (hint: not Gough and his socially progressive hippies) was able to demonstrate that being a woman was not a barrier to doing the job professionally. Yes there were woman flying RPT but only in the "second tier" of RPT services.

I have had the pleasure of flying with Deb and I could see why Reg was never going to win.

Because it was in the 1950s Mr Left - when most women worked and then got married and had kids. A lifelong career back then wasn't on the popularity cards for female boppers in the Buddy Holly era.

I think you will find that in the 50's most woman were required to stop work once they got married. Teachers, Flight Attendants, Nurses just to name some of the professions. I think Deb would be the first to acknowledge the many female pilots who flew in the 50's but the fact remains Deb was the first female to operate as a pilot at the highest level of Australian aviation.

So who decided Ansett was the highest level of Australian aviation?

Maybe he means high capacity RPT?

Well Deb did for a start because that's who she applied to.

While we are on the subject of discrimination I suggest you google 'Len Waters aboriginal RAAF pilot.

It was disgraceful the way he was treated after WW2.

Briefly, he flew 95 missions on Kittyhawks with 78 Sqn. After the war he applied for a CPL as he wanted a career in aviation. DCA refused to grant him a licence.

Seems the RSL weren't interested in helping him out either.

Emeritus

Apologies for thread drift
 

It certainly was!! And if I remember correctly I read of him that he once returned from a flight with an unexploded Japanese 20mm cannon shell lodged in the cockpit right behind his head!:eek::eek:

Not sure of the rest of the story but I seem to recall that for that particular event his CO recommended him for the DFM. (Only Officers got the DFC)

It was not forthcoming.:(:*

Return to subject of thread

Right well I think we have a solid candidate for the name of VH-OQM (should it ever arrive).

Girls can do anything!

Ms Joy Lofthouse:

VE Day: 92-year-old Second World War veteran flies Spitfire for first time in 70 years - Home News - UK - The Independent

Christine Davy
 

Surely Christine Davy has earned a spot on this thread?

Mostly before my time, but I think Christine flew most of the Connair/Connellan Airways fleet including the Beech 18, Heron, DC3 and F27. Wikipedia says she was the first woman to hold an Australian First Class ATPL and that she was a check captain. She was also an Olympic skier.

When Connellans closed she turned her attention to rotary wing and started at the bottom of the pile again, working at Alice Springs.

The only time I met Christine was when someone piped up on the radio one night at Troughton Island advising that the wind had changed direction & I was landing my C310 with a tail wind. It turns out the voice was Christine's and she saved this young pilot the consequences of a fundamental & serious mistake. During our subsequent conversation I found Christine to be gracious, knowledgeable and worth listening to.

IIRC, Christine was a Lloyds Captain flying helicopters in the Timor sea.

pithblot


Thanks emeritus, I'd never heard of Les Waters.
.