Australian Women Pilots' Association

The Australian Women Pilots' Association (AWPA) was founded on 16 September 1950 by Australian aviation pioneer, Nancy Bird-Walton.[1]

The AWPA is organised at the national Australian and state levels. The association supports the interests of female pilots. Any female pilot who is in possession of a flight licence can become a member. The association advocates for equal treatment and pay for female pilots, and has a financial support program for the training and further education of individual pilots, including a Lady Casey Scholarship. The Nancy Bird-Walton Memorial Trophy is awarded for "the most noteworthy contribution to aviation by a woman of Australasia".[2]

Its members hold a national annual conference, as well as an annual general meeting.[3]

History

The first official meeting was held at the Royal Aero Club Bankstown, Sydney, New South Wales and was attended by around 50 women.[1] Bird-Walton was elected the first chair of the AWPA. Maie Casey. Baroness Casey was the first patron.[4] Jacqueline Jones, manager of the Kingsford-Smith Flying School, at Bankstown was elected Federal secretary, and Nancy Ellis, the only woman flying instructor in Australia at that time, became the inaugural treasurer.[5]

Leading up to the establishment of the AWPA, meetings were held in 1949 at the suggestion of Bird-Walton to foster a closer relationship amongst women pilots.[6]

Lores Bonney was President of the Queensland branch in 1954-56; the state branch later established a trophy in her name. Bonney was awarded the national AWPA Nancy Bird trophy in 1981.[7]

References
  1. Francis, Rosemary (20 November 2018). "Australian Women Pilots' Association". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. "AWPA Scholarships & Awards". Australian Women Pilots' Association. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. "Australian Women Pilots' Association National Conference". www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  4. "Women Pilot's Form Assn". Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954). 19 September 1950. p. 9. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  5. "Women fliers meet in Sydney". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 18 September 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. "Women with wings: images of Australian women pilots". 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. Lappan, R. D. "Maude Rose (Lores) Bonney (1897–1994)". Bonney, Maude Rose (Lores) (1897–1994). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 3 March 2022.


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