A GLOWING TRIBUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1928, Page 4

A GLOWING TRIBUTE

“ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST AIRMEN.”

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, November 29. A large and distingished company were present when Sir Charles Warefield gave a dinner to Hinkler in celebration of the record fiiglit t<f Australia. Sir Charles Wakefield emphasised that one of the most remarkable feattures of the flight to Australia was its extreme modesty, amounting almost to stealth. Few, even of Hinkler’s friends realised how heroically ambitions was the project. He departed in silence and returned equally unobtrusively with the result that the British public had bad no opportunity of its showing appreciation of the truly grand achievement. Sir AV. Branckner, toasting Hinkler, said lie began making history when lie put Bundaberg on the map, by being born there. He had been flying 6ince childhood, and there was no record that he had ever crashed anywhere. He always had a wonderful instinct in finding his way in the air. He was one of the world’s greatest airmen, but few people know him. He added that Hinkler did not know fear. He worked out the projects most thoroughly for himself. The speaker toasted “one of the best things Australia in particular and the Empire generally has ever produced—Bert Hinkler.”

Responding, Hinkler brightly described incidents of the flight. Referring to criticisms of his arrival in Australian capitals on Sundays ho quoted Archbishop Clunes: Hinkler has done more than all the Churches. He has kept the whole population looking heavenwards for two days. He paid a glowing tribute to his all British machine.

Sir AAL Brittain, toasting the Commonwealth, pointed out that in Australia the greatest mileage in the world was linked up by civil air services. Sir 0. Fuller responded.