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Passengers Who Flew With

Harry Hawker - Australia 1914 

2014 marks 100 years since pioneer aviator Harry Hawker visited Australia to demonstrate the Sopwith Tabloid to the Australian people and Government.  

Harry flew flying demonstrations from

Victoria

Caulfield Racecourse

Elsternwick Golf Links

Miners Racecourse, Ballarat

New South Wales

Randwick Racecourse

Victoria Park Racecourse

Albury Racecourse

  The Sopwith Tabloid sat two people. Passengers paid twenty pounds to fly with Harry.

Through newspaper articles on www.nla.gov.au - TROVE we have been able to collect

the names of several passengers.

 Maurice Shmith

After making a flying to Federal Government House to visit the Governor General Lord and Lady Denman on the 2nd February 1914, Harry Hawker made two other flights taking his two old friends from Tarrant Motors

Maurice Shmith and Cecil de Fraga as passengers. The flights were witnessed by thousands of spectators.

(The Argus 3rd February 1914 - Source Trove)

Cecil de Fraga

After making a flying to Federal Government House to visit the Governor General Lord and Lady Denman on the 2nd February 1914, Harry Hawker made two other flights taking his two old friends from Tarrant MotorsMaurice Shmith and Cecil de Fraga as passengers. The flights were witnessed by thousands of spectators.

(The Argus 3rd February 1914 - Source Trove)

 Lord Denman

Lord Denman was the fifth Governor General of Australia, 1911-1914. Lord Denman flew for ten minutes with Harry Hawker from Randwick Racecourse.

(The Register - Monday 23 February 1914 - Source TROVE)

Senator Millen

For approximately 16 minutes Senator Millen, Minister of Defence flew with Harry Hawker over Caulfield, Malvern, Armadale, St Kilda and the bay at 100 miles per hour. Senator Millen gained the distinction of being the first member of the Federal parliament to fly.

(Kalgoorlie Western Argus 17 February 1914 - Source TROVE)

Lieutenant Eric Harrison

Lieutenant Eric Harrison, Military Aviator. Eric Harrison travelled to

England in 1911 with Harry Hawker, Harry Kauper and Harry Busteed. Lieutenant Eric Harrison conducted the first flying course at Point Cook

in 1914 (The Argus 7 September 1945) Lieutenant Harrison and H.A. Petre were Military Aviators for the Department of Defence for the formation of the Australian Aviation Corps (Australian Flying Corps).

(The West Australian 25 October 1912)  

Harry made three flights on the same day, taking passengers Lieutenant Eric Harrison, Senator Millen, Mr G.G. White, (motor record holder between Melbourne and Adelaide) and Mr Francis Syme

Miss Strickland

Miss Strickland was the Daughter of the N.S.W State Governor. Miss Strickland was with her father Sir Gerald Strickland when she made a comment to Harry Hawker's promotional manager, Mr Claude Kingston. For years she had longed to go aloft in an aeroplane but her father would not grant her permission. Mr Kingston offered her an immediate opportunity, and Sir Gerald Strickland had been so impressed with the skill and nerve that Mr Hawker had exhibited that he allowed his daughter to go on a flight with Mr Hawker. Miss Strickland actually clapped her hands with delight, indicating that she was a very young lady. The flight lasted for eight minutes. (Barrier Miner 2 March 1914)

Miss Ruby Dixon

Miss Ruby Dixon flew several flights with Harry Hawker. She was the

daughter of John Dixon who established the Prahran Ice and Aerated Water Company in 1898 and the Kia-ora Company (cordial) in approximately 1905.

Ruby Dixon flew with Harry Hawker from Caulfield Racecourse on the 7th February 1914 in front of a crowd of as many as 35,000 people,

depending on the newspaper article you read. Once alighting from the plane Miss Dixon said " It was the wonderful experience I have ever had .

I never want to live on earth again. I do wish I could spend all my time

up in the air. I would just love to be a bird now:

(Kalgoorlie Miner 9 February 1914 )

Miss Linda Cole

Linda Cole was the eldest of six children of Eliza and Edward William Cole. Edward Cole was a bookseller and the founder of The Coles Book Arcade, which was a popular three story book store in the centre of Melbourne. 

Miss Linda Cole flew from Elsternwick with Harry Hawker with

Harry Hawker on the 13th February. They flew over St Kilda, Brighton and across the water of Hobson Bay.

(Punch 5 March 1914)

Miss Coles flight with Harry Hawker was featured in her fathers book 'Coles Funny Picture Book' on page 115

Linda's flight with Harry Hawker Coles Funny Picture Book

Miss Ann Stutt

Miss Ann Stutt of Masonic Chambers Collins Street, flew with

Harry Hawker on the 13th February from Elsternwick Golf Links. Four other passengers flew on the same day, Mr G. R Jackson, Miss L. Cole, and

Mr Hay.

(The Argus 14 February 1914)

Mr Hay

Mr Hay of Boomanoomana Station, near Mulwala, Riverina, flew with Harry Hawker from the Elsternwick Golf Links on the 13th February

(The Argus 14 February 1914)

Mr Mac Robertson

A well known manufacturer

(Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail

18 February 1914)

J. A. Murdock

A Park Street and Press Photographer flew with Harry Hawker from

Victoria Park racecourse, Sydney. Several passengers were taken

for flights that day including Miss McEvoy, Mr Reg Growling and

Mr James Risk.

(The Sydney Morning Herald 2 March 1914)

Miss Mc Evoy

Miss McEvoy flew from Victoria Park racecourse, Sydney with Harry Hawker.

(Sydney Morning Herald 2 March 1914)

Mr Reg Growling

Mr Reg Growling flew from Victoria Park racecourse, Sydney with Harry Hawker.

(Sydney Morning Herald 2 March 1914)

Mr James Risk

 Mr James Risk flew from Victoria Park racecourse, Sydney with Harry Hawker

(Sydney Morning Herald 2 March 1914)

Mr G.G. White

 (Kalgoorlie Western Argus 17 February 1914)

Mr Frances Syme

(Kalgoorlie Western Argus 17 February 1914

Mr A Harkness

 Mr A Harkness flew with Harry Hawker from the Miners Racecourse

at Ballarat.

(Singleton Argus 7 April 1914)

Mr G. R. Jackson

Mr G. R Jackson of Urangeline Station, Riverina flew with Harry Hawker on the 13th February from Elsternwick Golf Links.

(The Argus 14 February 1914)

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