This page is dedicated to the Women of Aviation who will either be at the Aldinga Airshow or who learnt to fly at Aldinga. This page will be updated as more stories come in.
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Catriona Rowntree
Catriona Rowntree, affectionately known as ‘Australia’s Most Travelled Woman,’ has been at the helm of Australia’s beloved and enduring travel and lifestyle program, Getaway, for an impressive 27 years. This accomplishment not only solidifies her status as one of the longest-running presenters for a single program but also attests to her unwavering dedication to the world of entertainment. Beyond the realms of Getaway, Catriona has brought her charm and infectious humour to various other television programs and events, including Australia’s Funniest Home Videos and the TV Week Logie Awards. More recently, she has taken on the role of host on Country House Hunters, showcasing her versatility and enduring appeal. A literary enthusiast and accomplished author, Catriona marked her decade-long milestone with Getaway by publishing her first book, “Catriona’s Australia: 100 of ‘My Favourite Aussie Locations'” in 2006.
Subsequently, she continued to captivate readers with “A Grandmother’s Wisdom” in 2013, and in 2019, she proudly launched the Best of World Cruising.’Not merely confined to screens and pages, Catriona’s dynamic presence extends to live audiences, where she has dazzled as an MC and guest speaker for prominent clients such as Mitre 10 and Clarins. Her philanthropic endeavours are equally commendable, as she passionately supports various charities, including The Arnott’s Foundation, Mission Australia, and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. In 2008, Catriona embarked on a personal adventure, trading her Jimmy Choos for R.M. Williams as she married Victorian farmer James Petit.
Settled in rural Victoria, their historic bluestone homestead atop a sheep station is a far cry from her television adventures. Interestingly, this station had once served as the temporary home of the Royal Australian Air Force 79 Squadron in 1943, hosting Supermarine Spitfires on-site. The year 2022 marked a turning point for Catriona when encouraged by friends, she entertained the idea of learning to fly.
Initially uncertain and in the absence of female pilot acquaintances, her aviation journey began serendipitously during 2022 Catriona received a phone call from a friend, South Australian Flight InstructorGeorge Seppelt, who asked if he could stay with her during the 2023 AvalonAirshow. On a whim and as a complete joke Catriona said “Only if you teach me how to fly your plane”.What started as a lighthearted joke about learning to fly turned into a transformative experience, culminating in her involvement in the documentary ‘Touch The Sky.’ Sponsored by leading aviation entities; Advanced Aviation Training, Lockr. aero electronic logbooks, Recreational Aviation Australia, OzRunways, Dynon, Matt Hall Racing, Bose, QBE & Velaero. ‘Touch The Sky ‘ follows Catriona and seven other remarkable women from diverse backgrounds, sharing their journeys as they overcome internal and external challenges to soar in the skies. The documentary sheds light on issues such as online bullying, workplace harassment, guilt, and fear, with the aim of inspiring more women to pursue careers in aviation.
Catriona has found immense joy in promoting aviation, especially to women, and actively participates in various aviation organizations while continuing to explore the skies with like-minded enthusiasts across the country. To witness Catriona’s aviation journey and delve into the inspiring stories of ‘Touch The Sky,’ you can view her episode and all others at the following link: Touch The Sky-Catriona Rowntree learns to fly while facing the challenge of Family & Work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXcrUj5aysQ
Emma McDonald
Emma McDonald will be there with Matt Hall Racing. Emma is an incredibly talented aerobatic pilot and will be displaying her capabilities at the Airshow. A diesel fitter by trade, Emma has never been one to let others discourage her from being a pilot.
“I have encountered many people throughout my life who’ve said I’m never going to make it or ‘you’ll never be good enough’ or simply, ‘There’s no place here for a girl’. “All can say is don’t ever take no for an answer. When people say you can’t achieve something, take it as a challenge to prove them wrong. I worked hard, kept my eye on the prize and never let anyone tear me down.”
Cath Conway
Our local and respected Cath Conway will be there. I know Cath from years involved in gliding and Cath has her collection of aircraft based at Aldinga. Cath is an inspiration for sure and well worth a chat with. And Barbera Trappet, National President of the Women’s Pilots Association will be there also. What better opportunity will young women have to get the low down on what it takes to become a pilot?
Catherine Conway OAM has always been a South Australian resident and started flying at university as a glider pilot. She has flown many types of gliders and powered aircraft and was awarded an Order of Australia medal, in 2018 for Services to Gliding and Youth in Aviation.
She is one of the few women ever to be involved in the Gliding Federation’s National Airworthiness Administration and the only woman currently on the team. She holds a commercial pilot licence and a multi-engine command instrument rating. Guinness World Record holder Phil Frawley endorsed her to fly an L-39 military jet trainer. She has owned multiple powered aircraft and gliders over the years, including four Schneider Gliders from the Schneider factory in Adelaide.
The sport has taken her over some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and mountain ranges, all around Australia, and some cool places close to home. In 2016 Catherine fulfilled a dream of opening her own school. Her mission was to teach these important skills to powered pilots, making them safe and sharpening their knowledge. It still is, and her desire to pass on the finer points of glider flight remains as strong as ever. Gliding is a world that has revealed itself to her over time, grounded in her affinity with science, technology, engineering and maths.
Together with pilots Barrie Rogers and David Bradshaw, she undertook an electric-powered aeroplane flight around South Australia. The team, ‘Eyre to There’ battled strong winds, rain, and early morning temperatures below zero on a multiple-flight-leg distance record of 1350 kilometres for an electric aircraft, in a little two-seat Pipistrel Alpha Electro named ‘Bobby’. They broke the German record set the year before, along with other world records for electric aircraft, including the longest over-water flight (30.8 kilometres); furthest distance in a 24-hour period (330 kilometres); and fastest speed between waypoints (177 kilometres per hour ground speed). They flew to 18 stops.
Alicia Hayes
Shirley Jarvis
I want to recognise my late mother Shirley Jarvis who at age 67 decided to learn to fly. Yes, that’s right age 67! To add to that Shirley was always a very nervous passenger in aircraft but later in life inspired by Sue Bolton and Mary Wagener (local pilots) Shirley decided if the men could do it so could she! So off she went to gain her private pilot’s licence right here at Aldinga Airfield flying Cessna 172s. I was so proud of my mum. But that wasn’t enough for Shirley. She decided she wanted to own and fly her open-cockpit aircraft! So at age 70, Shirley made her first flight in a modified Druine Turbulent (pictured below). Maybe Shirley Jarvis has inspired older women to believe that they too can do it if they want to. And you can! Thank you mum for inspiring me to promote women in aviation.
Sue Bolton
Local pilot Sue Bolton was a close friend of Shirley Jarvis. Here is Sue’s story.
I first decided to learn to fly after joining my sister Lynette, on a local flight out of Aldinga in Cessna 172. From that day thoughts of the flight were constantly on my mind. My husband Bob suggested we go to the Aldinga Airfield “for a look around” and I immediately agreed. It was very exciting watching the planes come and go and we started chatting with Geoff and Mike Eastwood.
Mike suggested I take an introductory flight and I was so happy and excited when Bob happily encouraged me to take the flight. It was February 1985. From that day forward, flying has been central to my being and I thank Bob and my children Mark and Kelli for supporting me in my obsession. Work became a means to afford to take another lesson and then another until both Bob and I earned our PPL.
We purchased our first C172 VH-IEF and had fun travelling all around the country mainly thanks of Terry Hassam for the Postal Institute Club. We met so many friends went to many different locations and had so much fun. In October 1992, the Turbit 10-0334 built by Keith Jarvis, came along and we could not believe how wonderful it felt to fly this magic little aircraft.
Hangar space was becoming difficult at Aldinga Airfield, so we had previously moved our C172 and Turbit to Goolwa. We decided to find a property where we could build a hangar and a runway, and we started looking. We eventually found our new home at Currency Creek on the Finniss River. Over time with the help of friends, but mostly Keith and Shirley Jarvis, we had a runway cleared and then added a hangar.
The dream was almost complete. Over time a home at Finniss Airfield was built the garden has grown and different aeroplanes have come and gone. We now have the Turbit back for the grace of Harvey McBain. I feel incredibly lucky, have met many people along the way and travelled to different places experiencing several different aeroplanes and loved them all.
Sandra O'Brien
Another local pilot Sandra O’Brien tells her story:
At age 20 I set off for England as did many others at that time. However, the ship went via South Africa where a tour of Zululand led me to the decision to ‘hop off’ in Cape Town and find out what adventures lay ahead. Over the next 3 years in Africa, there were many, one of which was being airlifted by a flying doctor out of a village due to the risk of terrorists if travelling on the Zambezi River…
Well, that set the scene for my flying. I left Africa and returned home to pursue both nursing and flying with the dream of returning to Africa where there were needs in both areas.
I completed both flying and nursing at the same time but then headed to England to do my midwifery as there were many more opportunities for home deliveries there …and then followed up with a year in London working as a midwife.
Even though my long-term goal was to return to Africa there was ill health in my family and so returned to a job nursing at Yalata on the West Coast. It was a happy compromise as I loved the remote area, loved the people and loved the nursing. Even though I was able to hire a plane in Ceduna to keep up my flying I felt that I still had that dream…hence the move back to Adelaide to pursue my commercial licence.
The Women Pilots’ Association let me know about a scholarship set up in memory Of Robyn Miller, a Flying Nurse. I was lucky to get that scholarship and hence complete my Commercial Licence. Again more twists and turns and the meeting of a lovely man who also flew. Together we bought a JODEL D11 and I stayed in Adelaide!!!
I commenced working in Child and Youth Health and who would have thought that’s where my dream came true? I was asked to fly the senior staff to Coober Pedy at one stage. Following that trip, I was asked to put a proposal together for flying to several remote clinics and then running the clinics. I was on Cloud 9.
It wasn’t a forever job as I was covering three nurses’ jobs while they were training nurses for permanent staff in those more remote areas…but it was a magical year in which even my dog could come flying with me.
I hope I haven’t rabbited on too much but when that finished I had many more happy years flying the JODEL. My 46 years of flying finished with the sale of the JODEL 4 years ago
Aviation as a Career for Women
At the Aldinga Airshow (with Catriona’s help) we hope to encourage as many females as possible to believe they can be pilots and not just that but make a successful career as commercial pilots. There are plenty of women that have done just that but we just don’t hear of them as much as their male counterparts. It’s thanks to people like Catriona that this is set to change. And the Aldinga Airshow is doing its bit to facilitate this. Did you know we have a ‘Flying Kickstart Progam” available with an offer of flying lessons to the value of $5000 for passionate young people? We encourage as many young women as possible to apply for this exciting opportunity. Women do make great pilots!!