First woman in Australia to gain her commercial flying license
Nancy Bird, was born on October 16, 1915 at Kew, a hamlet south of Kempsey on the North Coast of New South Wales. She was one of six children her father being William Bird, born in Coolah. The family moved to Sydney when the children were small.
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Nancy’s grandfather was Frederick John bird, who had a general store at Coolah, today described as the ”Bargain Barn,” This store was acquired by Scholar and Company in 1896.
F J Bird was for some years the managing director of T.H. Marks and Company at Mudgee. Nancy married John Walton on in 1939.
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Nancy Bird-Walton was 17 years of age when she learnt to fly in 1933, being taught by Charles Kingsford Smith. Two years later she became the first woman in Australia to gain her commercial flying license. She was Commandant of the Australian Women’s Air Training Corps during World War 11.
In addition Nancy was the founder and long time president of the Australian Women’s Pilot Association and Emeritus Patron of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 1966, made a Dame of the Knights of Malta in 1977, and the same year had an Order of Australia bestowed upon her by the Australian Government.
Nancy Bird-Walton had friendly relations with pilots and others at Mudgee and district. Here are two mentioned in her 1990 book, “My God! It’s a Women.”-
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George Campbell of Mudgee: George learnt to fly while on a holiday at Mascot. He was friendly with Bill Wilson, a War 1 pilot, who use to drive Nancy’s father horse team. Fifty six years later, with decades of experience he became an instructor.
Hundred of grateful pilots passed through his capable and dedicated hands. As well as being a great instructor he played an active part in World War 11 and was well regarded throughout the flying world. Shortly before his death in 1987, 370 people gathered at Mudgee to honour his flying achievements.
Reginald Williams of Dabee at Rylstone: In 1969 Nancy Bird met at Dabee homestead Reginald Williams who at the time was the last surviving competitor in the 1919 Great Air Race from England to Australia. Reg was a guest of his daughter the Hon Beryl Evans, Nancy was anxious to speak to him about his experiences.
He gained his pilot license though the New South Wales School of Aviation in 1915, going solo in three hours 35 mins. Showing great aptitude after six hours solo he was appointed as flying instructor. During World War 1 he also ferried new aircraft from England to Europe.
He was to fly a Blackburn Kangaroo aircraft in the 1919 race with Hubert Wilkins as his navigator, Garnsey Potts as his mechanic and Valdemar Rendle as the other pilot. Engine failure caused them to crash in Crete and thus pull out of the race.
During World War 2 Reg Williams appointments included Deputy Director of Training at Air Force Headquarters, Melbourne. He then returned to civilian life and his family motor cycle business until he retired.
Jean Batten: Jean Gardner Batten, aviator was born in New Zealand on 14 September, 1909. She was a famous flyer covering several long distances including London to Karachi in 1933, London to Darwin in 1934, Buenos Airea to London in 1935, London to Auckland in 1936 and Darwin to England in 1937.
It was in that year she became engaged to Beverly Shephard, who as co-pilot was killed in the Stinson crash on the McPherson Queensland Range. She spent many flying hours searching for the downed plane.
Nancy Bird in her book writes that after Beverly’s death, Jean began to live as a recluse. In 1987 she was traced though a death certificate to a pauper’s grave in Majorca, a Spanish Island located in the Mediterranean.
