Vale..Graham " Fatty " Hawkins.
 

For those who knew him....
Cpt Graham " Fatty " Hawkins has passed on.
​​​​​​​(TAA..Australian..Qantas).
info from recent post on Facebook.

One of the sharpest operators I ever flew with. Old style Skipper that they dont make anymore.Thanks for the memories.

Great bloke to fly with back in the day!
RiP captain!

Had the honour to fly with both :)

Great Guy,
Mission Beach Resort, opposite Dunk Island, was one of Graham's greatest projects.
Owned a few aircraft .. The Sea Bee was flown down from PNG where he kept it for many years and it sat in front of the pub near the entrance, and Island Coast Airways was one of Graham's aviation ventures; Grand Commander 680FLP (M) VH-DCE, and C-337 VH-RNZ were the joy flight aircraft kept at Dunk Island and Tully. The Grand Commander was traded in for a Partenavia Observer VH-OBS. Also supplemented by one C-210 VH-TIZ owned by a fellow TAA Captain. Also in Mackay Graham had a least one , possibly two C206F Amphibian's which occasionally popped into Dunk Is.and these were operated Mike Jones's Pioneer Flight Centre..
So there was a life outside of the Airline... and a great many stories.
Thanks heaps ...

Vale Fatty
 

Australia was too lifeless and uninteresting to contain such a character and he is best remembered from his New Guinea days.
Only a towering, colourful country could frame and tame such a big man.

I was friends with Dave and his dad and mine knew each other through TAA. Two nice people of aviation gone.. But not forgotten.

Great guy. First met him on a weekend trip to Mission Beach during a deployment from Willy to Townsville in the early 1980's. Ran into him several times after and always had a great time, professionally and socially. If I remember correctly, one of the knucks on the Mission Beach trip did a low pass a few days later and rotated over the reception building, causing some "minor" damage to the painted roof. I suspect the knuck now lurks on these pages offering his RPT experience.
MJG

On my rare appearances these days I have have learned of "Fatty's', passing.
My first meeting with Graham was at Dunk Island, he had Mission beach resort, he came over to Dunk especially to introduce himself, I was flying the Twin Otter and Dave was flying his Grand Commander.
He introduced me to Dave and asked me if I could help Dave get into Bushies.
It went from there and Dave and Graham and I were friends for ages.
My friendship for both Dave and "Fatty", was, and is, enduring.
Every one who knows Graham has a great story to tell about him.
Well done Dave.
Well done Graham, "Fatty" Hawkins.
The Best

Graham's Dunk Island fleet

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e23db13ebf.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....74eb160704.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....bfbc523f69.jpg

Fly high Fatty
1) When did Fatty retire from QF
2) When did David pass away
3) Any news on Skinny

Thank you for the photo"s.

I was discussing with people and we know that Fatty retired just short of 70, in about 2005 ish.
He lived well.
Good Sonya Fatty.

Someone in Qf will give the exact date.

I will divert slightly, I will miss my friend Fatty for ever, I have just learned that a person I respected very highly has passed also.
I organise a fishing trip every year and this year every person will will wear a Lindsay Jarvis Walker shirt.
Now to business as we some short time to put matters together.
When I was a primary school at Cooroy, they took us onto the oval and the Southern Cross flew over.
Now we were told it was the last flight ever, my research shows this was not true and it did nationwide flying.
I know the Captain was from TAA.
I cannot find out who the Captain was.
Would it be possible if any person could help me solve this question.

Graham
 

I know Graham from the time he came to San Diego California for Flight Training on the B727 I was this training instructor at this time he was such an enjoyable person. We have many drinks together and I did visit him in Australia.

So sorry about his passing we had many good times together we're lifelong friends since his training days back in the 70s I remember his love for Seabees .

I visited him a few times such a joy to be with very sorry and we'll miss him. I went on to complete my career in flying ended up at American Airlines and also went to the FAA finally retired just last year.

Take care from your old friend Bill Jolly
​​​​​​​