Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2022 14:35:12 GMT 12
This article is from the Press dated 17th of December 1969:
Flying Is Her Hobby
The London-to-Sydney air race, which starts today from Gatwick, will hold a special interest for a Brisbane girl, Miss Beverley Morrison, who is working in Christchurch.
Since coming to New Zealand 22 months ago, she has developed a keen interest in flying and next month she will sit a written test for her private pilot’s licence.
Flying as a hobby had never even occurred to Miss Morrison when she left home for a working holiday. She went to Rotorua and, during her 14 months there, made friends with a number of aero club enthusiasts.
“They tried to talk me into taking up flying myself, but I was content to be a passenger. At that time, the Rotorua Aero Club had a little Dominie aircraft, which I travelled in and parachuted from, and this plane, which has since changed hands, has gone over to take part in the London-to-Sydney air race," said Miss Morrison yesterday.
Travel Means
She does not aim as high as becoming another Jean Batten but hopes, when she gets her licence, to see more of New Zealand. “I haven’t seen nearly enough of the country yet because I like to settle myself in one place instead of carting all my luggage around. I can’t' stand buses, and hitchhiking is a bit difficult down here, so the only alternative is to fly,” she said.
“It is not as expensive as you think, if you can get someone to travel with you and share expenses.” Miss Morrison moved to Christchurch from Rotorua about eight months ago and took a job as a waitress at the Russley Hotel. “Then I decided to learn to fly. I was in a strange city, didn’t know anyone, and wanted to do something satisfying in my spare time. Besides, after all the flights I had with my friends in Rotorua, I missed being in the air.”
Solo Flights
Her first lesson was on July 15 at the Christchurch Central Flying School, where she is the only girl and the only Australian pupil. On average, she spends two hours and a half in the air a week and has clocked about 48 hours, 20 of them solo. She flew solo to Timaru this week. Miss Morrison estimated that the cost of tuition to gain her private pilot’s licence would be about $500 — a very apt pupil could do it for less. It would have been much more expensive to learn in Australia.
“But I promised myself that, if I learnt to fly, I would not buy a dress until I had my licence. I haven't and it has been worth it,” she said. “If you are fed up and find you are just living from day to day, flying gives some meaning to your life. Even the thought that I am going to fly later in the day makes me feel good. It’s a great feeling being up there.”
Black Eye
Although she admits flying is her “chief love,” Miss Morrison has other interests. In Rotorua, she joined members of the Sulphur City Sky Diving Club for two parachute jumps, into Lake Okareka and Lake Rotorua. “The second time, I hurt myself and ended up with a black eye. But I don’t think it would take much to talk me into jumping again,” she said.
She loves squash, sews most of her own clothes, has tried her hand at spear fishing, and enjoys smoking a cigar occasionally. But it is flying she really enthuses over, and she spends many hours studying her flying training manual.
Flying Is Her Hobby
The London-to-Sydney air race, which starts today from Gatwick, will hold a special interest for a Brisbane girl, Miss Beverley Morrison, who is working in Christchurch.
Since coming to New Zealand 22 months ago, she has developed a keen interest in flying and next month she will sit a written test for her private pilot’s licence.
Flying as a hobby had never even occurred to Miss Morrison when she left home for a working holiday. She went to Rotorua and, during her 14 months there, made friends with a number of aero club enthusiasts.
“They tried to talk me into taking up flying myself, but I was content to be a passenger. At that time, the Rotorua Aero Club had a little Dominie aircraft, which I travelled in and parachuted from, and this plane, which has since changed hands, has gone over to take part in the London-to-Sydney air race," said Miss Morrison yesterday.
Travel Means
She does not aim as high as becoming another Jean Batten but hopes, when she gets her licence, to see more of New Zealand. “I haven’t seen nearly enough of the country yet because I like to settle myself in one place instead of carting all my luggage around. I can’t' stand buses, and hitchhiking is a bit difficult down here, so the only alternative is to fly,” she said.
“It is not as expensive as you think, if you can get someone to travel with you and share expenses.” Miss Morrison moved to Christchurch from Rotorua about eight months ago and took a job as a waitress at the Russley Hotel. “Then I decided to learn to fly. I was in a strange city, didn’t know anyone, and wanted to do something satisfying in my spare time. Besides, after all the flights I had with my friends in Rotorua, I missed being in the air.”
Solo Flights
Her first lesson was on July 15 at the Christchurch Central Flying School, where she is the only girl and the only Australian pupil. On average, she spends two hours and a half in the air a week and has clocked about 48 hours, 20 of them solo. She flew solo to Timaru this week. Miss Morrison estimated that the cost of tuition to gain her private pilot’s licence would be about $500 — a very apt pupil could do it for less. It would have been much more expensive to learn in Australia.
“But I promised myself that, if I learnt to fly, I would not buy a dress until I had my licence. I haven't and it has been worth it,” she said. “If you are fed up and find you are just living from day to day, flying gives some meaning to your life. Even the thought that I am going to fly later in the day makes me feel good. It’s a great feeling being up there.”
Black Eye
Although she admits flying is her “chief love,” Miss Morrison has other interests. In Rotorua, she joined members of the Sulphur City Sky Diving Club for two parachute jumps, into Lake Okareka and Lake Rotorua. “The second time, I hurt myself and ended up with a black eye. But I don’t think it would take much to talk me into jumping again,” she said.
She loves squash, sews most of her own clothes, has tried her hand at spear fishing, and enjoys smoking a cigar occasionally. But it is flying she really enthuses over, and she spends many hours studying her flying training manual.
