Women in Aviation on Queen's Birthday
Gardens are very special oases from the hurly burly of everyday life. Every region has its special season. For the most stunning autumn colours you need to go south to Wanaka. Camellias are best viewed in New Plymouth in winter. In spring I make the effort to go to the Wellington Botanical Gardens for the tulips. In summer I find my way to the Christchurch rose garden.
Roses are extremely adaptable to both climate and soil. Most towns feature a rose garden. Roses have the added pleasure of a delicate fragrance that seems to make one lighter. They come in a rainbow of colours that brighten the soul and take on a range of shapes and sizes. From miniature rosebuds to fully open blooms, from climbers to floribundas.
In winter rose gardens are barren, pruned and empty. Their true beauty lies dormant. The vibrancy, colour and energy may have gone to ground but it is still there ready to burst upward in the summer. My favourite rose is Katherine Mansfield; it is an old fashioned and mauve rose with a delicate bouquet. It’s also named after a writer.
Next to the Mansfeild raceway in Feilding there is a rose garden. Over Queen’s Birthday weekend staying across the playing fields from the rose gardens were members of the New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation (NZAWA). Eighty members attended the 51st annual rally. Members gathered from as far afield as Whangarei and Wanaka. Ten aircraft flew in ranging from a Coyote (White Wings), a Minicab (Minnie Pearl), a Cheetah flown by Margaret Wright (Margaret Merril), a Tripacer (Blue Moon), a Cherokee looking for an Indian Summer, and the ever trusty 150s, 152s and 172s. These were complemented by the locally based planes including a Diamond. In a turn–up for the books a pilot who flies WW1 aircraft and instructs on tail draggers was seen being taken for a flight in the Diamond by one of her previous students with a current student as passenger. Talk about one extreme to the other.
The locals generously shared their aircraft. A hot pink Cresco (Pink Panther) called in for lunch on Saturday (NZAWA rallies are renowned for their scrummy food, thanks this year to Shirley Mcginity). There were four different types of soup, filled rolls and Cupcakes. I was privileged to go for a ride with Hallett Griffin in his pink purrer. I was still grinning like a Cheshire cat 24 hours later. Dave Wiseman’s 172 (Tequila Sunrise — Dave and Lorraine own the Feilding Hotel) was pressed into service as an air taxi; and ‘Cripes a’ mighty 3rd’ (what happened to 1 and 2?) was seen taking one of our international airline pilots (American Pillar) back to basics. US–born Thyra, who lives on Waiheke Island and flies for Air New Zealand, soon found the glass cockpit (the front windshield) and the stall warning device (the piece of string on said windshield). At the other end of the spectrum we had a fly–by from an L39 (Jet Trail).
Saturday was competition day and as the weather looked like it hadn’t quite made up its mind if it was going to be Auckland Metro (wet) or Blue Skies the judges got the aerobatics under way pronto and hurried the other competitors along.
I was more worried about the Saturday night than the competitions as each region had been tasked to perform a skit. We also had to dress up in an aviation theme. There were some very clever outfits. Apache Indians (patches on pants), Cherokee Indians, a Chopper (plastic axe), Leopard Moth, a Swan (Swany), a superwoman, five witches (some would say I wasn’t in costume), two flying nuns, a blue angel (aerobatic team), a cloud (Fragrant Cloud), ladybirds, butterflies, Gypsy Moths, blonde Jean Batten (aka Petite de Hollande) and lots of aviatrixes. The $2 shop in Feilding did a roaring trade on Saturday afternoon as we’d been threatened no outfit = big trouble from the Swan (Pip Schofield). I was impressed with the effort put in and some of the cryptic minds.
On to the skits. The McDonald School of Dance opened for us and set a high standard. The ex–BOP girls started with the song ‘I am a pilot!’ Dressed appropriately with moustaches, aviator glasses, airline hats and rippling chests (plastic of course). They hammed it up even more than the You Tube version. I had tears from laughing so hard. The Feilding group put on a dance. The Masterton group had ‘WTDL’ on their overalls: Wairarapa Tail Dragger Lovers? They then pantomimed some strange moves. The penny finally dropped: Weight, Lift, Thrust and Drag. Wanaka sang us their journey north to the tune of ‘She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain’. It was all but one ‘she’ as well: Ivan (Playboy) on his guitar and his harem of six. Neil Colliver (Melody Maker) showed us some of his hidden talent by entertaining us in between acts on his guitar. The Ninety–Nines read a poem about who they are which filled in a few gaps for NZAWA members. Canterbury started with an earthquake reenactment which led into rescue which led into rise up Christchurch and a take–off of the Red Checkers (renamed the Red and Black Checkers) to the music of ‘Conquest of Paradise’ by Vangelis (the Crusaders theme). I’ve got no idea how it looked but it was great fun to do. The evening ended with sore sides from laughing so much. I’d like to thank Sarah Colliver (Sarah van Fleet) for bullying us into doing it.
Sunday we had a special treat. We’d been invited to visit the RNZAF base at Ohakea. Some flew, some drove. We got split into three groups. First stop for our group was the Pilot Training hangar where we could get up close and personal to the real Red Checkers (Canary Bird). Our second stop was the King–Air (Sun King) hangar. The girls decided that it would make a great chick plane except they’d have to install a fridge to keep the champers cold. It’d be Sheer Bliss. Lastly we visited the Biggin Hill hangar where the Cheetah, Harvard (Sexy Rexy) and Spitfire (Delightful Lady) are kept safe. With the whole of the RNZAF helicopter fleet across the road they should be well protected.
This is where we made a strategic mistake. We had a big Air Force lunch then went to our AGM in a warm enclosed bunker. Half way through the AGM Jim Rankin came in to inform us that a storm front was on its way and that he recommended those with wings depart ASAP. There was a scramble. The AGM was continued, points were raised by proxy and it was wrapped up fairly promptly. Best NZAWA AGM I’ve been to so far. Thanks Jim also for taking time out of your holiday weekend to show us around and organise clearances.
Sunday night we had our formal dinner and prizegiving at Dave Baldwin’s hangar at Palmerston North airport. The departing Madame President from Geraldine, Desiree McCaskill, helped Katie Peters with organising trophies as one of her last duties. Dave Baldwin filled us in on what he’s been up to latterly. All very exciting, can’t wait for the movie.
After a spit roast dinner the trophies were handed out and Congratulations given. Amongst the trophies were the Fitton Rose bowl (upper air work) and the Winter Rose bowl (navigation). Our grand ladies were in attendance: Ena Monk (Ena Harkness), Thelma Bradshaw (Darling Flame) and Rhona Fraser (Golden Wings). The men were thanked in time–honoured tradition. Thanks to Craig Tyer, Peter McCaskill, Ike Stephens, Graeme Hales (Graham Thomas), John Bubb and Ivan Krippner for being our Peony roses. (Matthew and Ben Wilson were thanked on Saturday night).
The reason the rally was held in Feilding this year was thanks to Jessica Rose Neeson who volunteered to run the 2011 rally at the Tauranga Rally in 2010. Tragically Jess and Pat Smallman died shortly after. It was decided to continue with the Feilding plans in honour of these two effervescent women.
At the Sunday dinner a trophy was presented by her close friends Aleisha Timmer, Philippa Schofield, Penny Armstrong, and Lisa Toy “for capturing the true Airwomen’s spirit”. In memory of Jessica. The hands–down recipient was Sarah Colliver who I am sure has secretly imported her twin sister to New Zealand as one woman could not possibly do as much as Sarah manages. Sarah said it for all of us when presented with the award. She misses Jess and Pat dearly.
On that note I think I’ll buy a Katherine Mansfield rose and plant it by my front door to remind me of the spirit of aviation. The spirit of fun and freedom that Jess and Pat showed us. I think they would have approved of the Feilding rally.
Just in case you hadn’t picked it up, the words in italics are names of roses.
- Report and photographs by Bernice Hintz