MISS AMY JOHNSON

Southland Times, Issue 21095, 29 May 1930, Page 7

MISS AMY JOHNSON

FLIGHT TO BRISBANE

“APPALLING” COUNTRY PASSED WELCOME AT ALEXANDRIA (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Brisbane, May 28. Reports from Longreach state that Miss Johnson upon her arrival at the aerodrome was instantly surrounded by thousands of excited people, who literally mobbed her and she had to be carried to safety by four policemen. All the way to the town .she drove through cheering lines. She described the country between Darwin and Alexandria as appalling. The escorting planes got some idea of the immensity of the drops of the Jason caused by air pockets. Sometimes her plane flopped 200 feet.

Miss Johnson is the first England-to-Aus-tralia flyer to reach Alexandria from Darwin without trouble. She will stay tonight at Roma.

Interviewed at Longreach Miss Johnson said: “I’ve'this message to Australia. I thank the whole of Australia from the bottom of my heart for the marvellous welcome. I bring good wishes from England to Australia and to those of my own sex I give my love. I am thrilled and I feel at home.” Mr Brown, the Director-General of Post and Telegraphs, advises that special arrangements have been made for Miss Amy Johnson to broadcast a talk to the people of Australia upon her arrival at Roma. It will take place at 7.30 in the evening. BRISBANE TO-DAY GREAT WELCOME ARRANGED. (Rec. 8.40 p.m.) Sydney, May 28. Continuing her flight across Australia, Miss Johnson left Longreach at 10.25 this morning for Roma, where she will remain overnight. She will broadcast a short talk from there at 7.30 to-night to Australians, and is due to arrive at Brisbane to-morrow afternoon, where a wonderful welcome awaits her. Lord Inchcape has cabled his Australian agents offering Miss Johnson a free passage back to England in one of their Peninsula liners. SLIGHTLY OFF COURSE LANDING WEST OF CHARLEVILLE. (Rec. 10.40 p.m.) Sydney, May 28. Advice received in Sydney to-night states that Miss Amy Johnson got off her course and landed at Quilpie, 130 miles west of Charleville. She refuelled and intended to follow the railway line to CharleSyille, where she will remain overnight. LANDING AFTER DARK WARM RECEPTION AT CHARLEVILLE. (Rec. 12.45 a.m.) Sydney, May 28. Miss Johnson landed at Charleville (Queensland) just after 6 to-night. She had become separated from the escorting plane. She received an ovation. Her broadcast talk, originally fixed for Roma, was of the briefest. Messrs Wakefield’s representative announced over the air at 9.40 that Miss Johnson had had a trying trip from Longreach. She landed at Charleville after dark, and 20 motorists grouped their headlights and flooded the landing ground. Miss Johnson made a perfect descent amid deafening cheers. She then said: “Hullo Australia! I’m just going to bed. I’m very tired. I will speak to you longer when I reach Brisbane. Good night.” AVIATRIX HEARD OVER THE AIR. Last evening Mr. Aberaham Wachner picked up the broadcast of Miss Amy Johnson’s speech on her landing at Charleville, Queensland. The speech was relayed by 4QG Brisbane and the reception was very clear. Miss Johnson was very tired and spoke only a few words. She landed in Charleville after dark and to enable a safe landing to be made the headlights of 20 motor-cars were turned on to the landing place. Miss Johnson will be speaking over the air from 4QG this evening. THREE GREAT QUALITIES TRIBUTE BY LORD "WAKEFIELD. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 27. When Miss Amy Johnson arrives in Brisbane she hopes to have a long-distance telephone talk with her parents in England. Lord Wakefield, who assisted MLss Johnson’s venture, made reference to her during a speech to-day. He said: “If you ask me how it is that this young girl with less than 100 hours’ flying experience was able to accomplish this long and dangerous journey on a machine that had already flown 35,000 miles, I would attribute it to her having three great qualities—courage, enthusiasm and efficiency."