Thousands Welcome Famous Airman

KINGSFORD SMITH AT LISMORE

Joy-Flights in Southern Cross

Courtesy of Trove Northern Star 12 June 1933

About 3000 district people, many of whom had travelled miles to be present, gave Sir Charles Kingsford Smith a rousing welcome when he stepped out of the cockpit of his famous monoplane, Southern Cross, at the Lismore Muni cipal Aerodrome yesterday morning, in continuation of his North Coast tour. The cheering was renewed when Sir Charles responded to an impromptu welcome by the Mayor (Ald. S. J. Hosie) from the cabin door step of the ‘plane.

More than 300 people took the opportunity of flying over the city in the monoplane when Sir Charles conducted joy-flights, first from the municipal ‘drome and later from Robinson’s Airpark.

Sir Charles had earlier requested that official ceremonies should be excluded, but he bowed to the wishes of the Lismore Aero Club and the Returned Soldiers’ League and participated in semi-official functions arranged by those organisations.

Motor cars lined both roadways adjoining the aerodrome long before the drone of the big monoplane was heard over Parrott’s Nest at 10 o’clock yesterday morning. The ‘plane circled the town and made a perfect landing, water showering the ‘plane as it touched earth. Despite the mud and water, which covered the aerodrome, people flocked round the machine, making it impossible for Sir Charles and his party to reach the club house.

The Mayor’s speech of welcome and praise of Sir Charles’s exploits was punctuated with cheering, which gained fervour when the aviator took the Mayor’s place on the single step which leads into the cabin of the ‘plane. Unassumingly Sir Charles returned thanks for the welcome and after restarting the engines taxied off for his first flight.

FIRST TRIP IN ‘PLANE

Six ‘plane-loads of people had their first flight, before lunch, in the machine which has helped to make aviation history.

Mr. J. Kille (president of the Lismore Aero Club) and Mr. T. P. Winterton (president of the Lismore branch of the Returned Soldiers’ League) joined in the initial welcome.

Arranged by members of the Aero Club, luncheon was taken at the Terminus Hotel at South Lismore, Sir Charles and his crew being the guests of the club. Among those present at the function were the Mayor (Ald. S. J. Hosie), Ald. E. J. Eggins (deputy Mayor), Col. F. J. Board, Messrs. H. Nott, T. Walsh, P. G. Lovett, T. Winterton (president), A. Mackay (representing the Lis more returned soldiers), J. Kille (president of the Lismore Aero Club), R. E. T. Friend (secretary Lismore District Hospital), W. Mason, W. Lynn, W. F. McDermott, R. Hampton, T. D. Sullivan, V. C. Wilson, W. Groom, Mesdames E. J. Eggins, J. Kille, W. Mason, W. Groom, Dennison and Misses Joan Kille, Cawley.

Sir Charles Smith’s party included Messrs. Wilfred Kingsford Smith, Leofric Smith, T. Pethybridge (chief engineer), Pilot Hall (pilot of the Southern Cross Midget), Harold Af flick (aircraftsman), Harry Purvis (mechanic) and R. E. Hollis (ex secretary of the Coff’s Harbour Aero Club).

NOVEL PRESENTATION

Mr. J. Kille presented Sir Charles with a memento on behalf of the members of the club. The presentation was in the shape of a silver model aeroplane containing cigarettes and a petrol lighter. The gift was inscribed.

With, quiet sincerity Sir Charles acknowledged the gift, remarking that he had not expected it. He said he hoped that whatever little contribution he had made to aviation would bear fruit.

“A lot of people refer to me as the greatest aviator, a term I strongly deprecate,” added Sir Charles, “It is not my ambition to become the world’s greatest aviator. I want to be the world’s oldest aviator. I always preach the gospel of safe flying wherever I go. “Perhaps some time when I come round again, my son will be pilot and I will be the passenger,” he smilingly remarked.

A GOOD ‘DROME

Explaining his reason for transferring to Robinson’s Airpark in the afternoon, Sir Charles said he would not like people to get a wrong impression. There were great possibilities in the Lismore aerodrome, but unfortunately the wet weather had prevented a roller being used on the runways. He said the Southern Cross weighed about six tons and there was not a breath of wind, and he was landing at a speed of about 60 miles an hour. Landing into the wind would drop the speed back to 40 miles an hour and that would make a lot of difference. The continual landing of the big ‘plane on the one spot was cutting up the run ways and making it difficult for flying.

Ald. Hosie, during a conversation with Sir Charles, mentioned that some residents thought that the council had made a mistake in purchasing an aero drome, but Sir Charles rejected the sug gestion and said it would be a mistake which Lismore would regret in years to come if it relinquished its aero drome. He mentioned that every town of any size in U.S.A. had its ‘drome and said that at Los Angeles 1,000,000 dollars was spent on the aerodrome.

THE DIGGER SPIRIT

Traditional of Lismore returned soldiers’ entertainments, the typical “digger” spirit prevailed when Sir Charles, himself a “digger,” was entertained at night by the Lismore branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. in the Soldiers’ Club rooms. In reality it was a real soldiers’ night. Modern and old time episodes were recalled between services of beer, biscuits and cheese, with Sir Charles proving himself a raconteur of no mean repute. Sir Charles was quickly among old friends and agreed with the suggestion that the prefix to his name be forgotten for the time. The league president and 36 other diggers were present at the function and toasts of ” Smithy” and “Smithy, junr.,” were musically and enthusiastically honoured. On behalf of the league, Col. F. J. Board presented Sir Charles with a silver mug for his son.

DIGGERS’ HELP

Thanking the “diggers” for their fine gesture, Sir Charles paid tribute to the “digger spirit” and said there was one thing he would always remember of himself, that he was once a digger. He referred to the help and encouragement offered by the returned soldiers in Australia when he was negotiating for his first flight across the Pacific. Parliamentarians, public bodies and the press had sternly condemned the scheme, but the returned soldiers had telegraphed their encouragement.

Sir Charles and the Southern Cross leave for Murwillumbah this morning.

Photos by George Hunt