My Uncle Ted first introduced me to the magic of aeroplanes and flight back in 1951, when he took me to an air show at Bankstown airport. With the dim distance of time my memory of that day is very sketchy. I do recall the dust, smell, sounds and excitement of seeing the planes take off and fly overhead. Joy flights were on offer, however Uncle Ted’s kindness did not extend to that indulgence.
I remember lying out on the front lawn one night with Uncle Ted waiting to catch a glimpse of the first man made satellite , when it passed overhead. The Russians had launched ‘Sputnik 1’ on October 4 1957.
It was such an exciting time; the dawn of the space age.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1
Back then there seemed to be more stars visible in the skies over Sydney. Light pollution was not so intense as it is now. It was reported in the newspapers that the small craft would be visible overhead just after 7.35pm. We watched in awe as the light, like a small star moved across the sky. What we were seeing was the sun light reflected off the shiny surface of the man-made craft.
In my diary dated Friday, 21 August 1959, I wrote about spending the day with my Mum shopping in ‘Sydney Town’. I think this photo of us was taken that day as we walked along George Street, by one of the many Street Photographers of the day.
We could well have been walking back from the ‘Wynyard Newsreel’, where we “…saw some really funny comedies.” After which we “…went to the Federation and had a pie each in a conference room.” The ‘Federation’ was the Teachers’ Federation’, which at that time, was in the old Queen Victoria Buildings.
When we arrived home that afternoon, I recorded the following:
Until then, the furthest distance I had travelled was by train or car between Sydney and Lithgow, where my Grandfather and Aunt May lived. Following Grandfather’s death in 1954, Aunt Della returned to Lithgow, where she taught at the Lithgow Highschool for the rest of her long teaching career.
I was very excited at the prospect of this trip up to Queensland. When Uncle Ted popped over to our house the next day, he convinced my Mum to take the bold (for her) step of flying up to Queensland. I wonder how she felt about it. I was very excited of course. On 24 August, Uncle Ted confirmed that he had booked our seats for two days’ time, on a flight to Brisbane, where we would then transfer to a Coach to Southport. He had attempted to book us on a direct flight to Coolangatta, but they were fully booked.
Leading up to the big day, I wrote the following in my diary:
Tuesday 25 August 1958
“…Ted said he’d sleep here tonight so he can drive us to Mascot Airport tomorrow. (we’re going to Queensland)”
Wednesday 26 August 1959
“Got up at 6 o’clock and got dressed. Had breakfast. Ted drove us into Mascot where we gave our luggage in at the lounge. We then sat around waiting for our plane. Ted took a photo of the plane. At 5 to 9 a voice over the loudspeaker said “Will passengers for flight 304 to Brisbane please assemble at the gate. We did, then went on board. Mum and I had a seat right in the tail. “
From the moment we took off from Mascot, I was mesmerised by the views out of the window. I was in awe of the experience of flying above the city and beyond.
There was writing paper supplied on board, and so I started writing a letter to Aunt Della before I could forget the details.
I have made a transcript below:
I have made a transcript below:
Sans Souci Hotel
Southport
Qld
Dear Della,
I have started this letter at 20 to 11 on the plane. I don’t want to leave out any details.
We got to the airport about ¼ hour early. Ted said it’s the earliest he’s ever been for a plane. We gave our bags in at the lounge then sat. Ted took a photo of this plane. At about 5 to 10 a voice over the loudspeaker called passengers for flight 304 to Brisbane to assemble at the gate please. We did then went on board. We took off (Ted stayed to see us off). Looking down … (at that point I stopped because we were going down and had got into an air lift, it jerked us a bit). The houses were as small as mushrooms and the cars were smaller. After a while we went above the clouds. They look like masses of cotton wool.
Later the air hostesses (3 of them) came and handed the passengers creamed coffee and biscuits. Mum had struck up a talking friendship with the woman next to her (we were in the tail and the seats went round like a curved picture theatre.
We went inland at places and when the clouds broke we saw snow on some of the mountains. The rivers looked like threads of wool.
I was surprised to find out that when we landed, we were at Brisbane because it only seemed like 5 minutes since we left Mascot and the area was just like a sun burnt bush.
When we got to our Ansett ANA bus to take us into Brisbane, we got on it and the driver drove off. The houses are very queer. They are built very high up on wooden posts and lattice work is put there to cover the space between the house and the ground.
When we got to the terminal we found out the red and blue bus to Southport wasn’t due to leave until 3 o’clock. It was only 12 o’clock. So while waiting for our bags to arrive we walked around Brisbane. The shops are more spacious than Sydney.
After that we sat down on a seat overlooking the Brisbane River and ate our lunch (the sandwiches)
We went back to the terminal and got our bags. We then caught a taxi to the Greyhound bus terminal. While waiting for our bus we had a cup of coffee then read the Woman’s Weekly that we got at Mascot. The Telegraph is only 4d.
The bus arrived and we were off again. The scenery is beautiful. When we arrived we got our room then went down to the dining room for tea (6pm to 7pm). We had lamb and vegetables and jelly and cream and coffee (yum).
This morning we went for a walk along the beach before breakfast. We got home in time for it (8am to 9am). We had sliced apricots and Wheaties and poached egg and potato and coffee. Now we are off to the beach again.
See you,
Yours truly,
Della was always very interested to hear what we had had to eat!
That first flight was the beginning for me of a life-long love of flying.
Southport
Qld
Dear Della,
I have started this letter at 20 to 11 on the plane. I don’t want to leave out any details.
We got to the airport about ¼ hour early. Ted said it’s the earliest he’s ever n for a plane. We gave our bags in at the lounge then sat. Ted took a photo of this plane. At about 5 to 10 a voice over the loudspeaker called passengers for flight 304 to Brisbane to assemble at the gate please. We did then went on board. We took off (Ted stayed to see us off). Looking down … (at that point I stopped because we were going down and had got into an air lift, it jerked us a bit). The houses were as small as mushrooms and the cars were smaller. After a while we went above the clouds. They look like masses of cotton wool.
Later the air hostesses (3 of them) came and handed the passengers creamed coffee and biscuits. Mum had struck up a talking friendship with the woman next to her (we were in the tail and the seats went round like a curved picture theatre.
We went inland at places and when the clouds broke we saw snow on some of the mountains. The rivers looked like threads of wool.
I was surprised to find out that when we landed, we were at Brisbane because it only seemed like 5 minutes since we left Mascot and the area was just like a sun burnt bush.
When we got to our Ansett ANA bus to take us into Brisbane, we got on it and the driver drove off. The houses are very queer. They are built very high up on wooden posts and lattice work is put there to cover the space between the house and the ground.
When we got to the terminal we found out the red and blue bus to Southport wasn’t due to leave until 3 o’clock. It was only 12 o’clock. So while waiting for our bags to arrive we walked around Brisbane. The shops are more spacious than Sydney.
After that we sat down on a seat overlooking the Brisbane River and ate our lunch (the sandwiches)
We went back to the terminal and got our bags. We then caught a taxi to the Greyhound bus terminal. While waiting for our bus we had a cup of coffee then read the Woman’s Weekly that we got at Mascot. The Telegraph is only 4d.
The bus arrived and we were off again. The scenery is beautiful. When we arrived we got our room then went down to the dining room for tea (6pm to 7pm). We had lamb and vegetables and jelly and cream and coffee (yum).
This morning we went for a walk along the beach before breakfast. We got home in time for it (8am to 9am). We had sliced apricots and Wheaties and poached egg and potato and coffee. Now we are off to the beach again.
See you,
Yours truly,
Della was always very interested to hear what we had had to eat!
That first flight was the beginning for me of a life-long love of flying.
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