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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-09-10 Daily Xml
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Harry Butler Centenary

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:27): I rise to speak on a very special event that took place in Minlaton over the weekend of 3 and 4 August to mark 100 years since aviation pioneer Captain Harry Butler became the first person to fly over Gulf St Vincent—or any other major body of water in the Southern Hemisphere—when he delivered the first airmail run on 6 August 1919.

A crowd of thousands attended the centenary celebrations, which suitably included some 40 planes, sky jumpers, model aircraft and static displays, vintage vehicles, a flyover, aerobatics, a re-enactment of the mail delivery itself, history book launches (I managed to pick up a copy of each), and plaque unveilings.

It was a great honour for me, along with others, including the Governor of South Australia, His Excellency the Hon. Hieu Van Le AC, to unveil the interpretive signage at the site of Harry's infamous plane crash in 1922. I commend all involved in staging such a great weekend.

As stated in my speech at the time, made beside his town statue, Harry was a household name, hailed a rock star of his time, a magnificent man in his flying machine, and a charismatic young daredevil with the brain of an engineer. Indeed, so significant were Harry's exploits and achievements that in recent weeks I have made a public call for Adelaide Airport to be renamed in his honour, a call that is gaining considerable community traction, I must say.

I inform this house that I have formally submitted a proposal to the consultation currently underway on Adelaide Airport's new 20-year master plan, which includes the completion of the $165 million terminal expansion project in 2021 and a new airport east precinct. Public consultation on this strategic plan is open until 28 October. I will continue to encourage anyone who will listen to also lodge a submission in favour of such a proposal, such is the case for Captain Harry Butler to be suitably honoured.

The Harry Butler story is an inspiring one. It is about a young boy born in 1889 on a remote farm near the bottom of Yorke Peninsula who taught himself to fly, to build planes, who led daring raids in World War I and, as head instructor in the Royal Flying Corps, trained thousands of pilots on ways to outmanoeuvre the enemy in the skies to stay alive. His brave exploits earned him the Air Force Cross in 1918. He is best known for his historic Gulf St Vincent flight, his war service, his stunt flying and raising money for repatriation causes.

However, I advocate that it is his lesser known firsts for South Australia that really warrant further recognition, particularly achievements that relate to commercial aviation. The formal list of achievements historically attributed to Captain Harry Butler include the first crossing of a significant body of water in the Southern Hemisphere, Gulf St Vincent, which we commemorated in Minlaton on 3 and 4 August. He established the first aerodrome at Northfield in 1919, then the first real airport at Hendon, which he sold to the commonwealth government, to make it the first official Adelaide Airport from 1922 until 1927, when it was moved to Parafield and then to its current location at West Beach.

Captain Harry Butler also established the first air passenger carrying business in Australia, which was a rather significant development for the business of running an airport, and the first aerial photographs, including a commercial capacity for real estate purposes. He was among the first to recognise that the aeroplane could be used for mail purposes. He began the first aviation business (Butler and Kauper Aviation Company), including a shareholder and a huge supporter in MP H.C. Richards. He helped set up the first Aero Club in South Australia to facilitate the new aviation business and look at things like safety, infrastructure, etc.

He can be credited as being the first to consider air flights to take doctors and nurses to injured people in remote pastoral areas, the precursor to the Royal Flying Doctor Service that was set up four years after his death and a tremendous development for those people living in outback South Australia and regional areas. Hail, Harry Butler.

I also would like to take this opportunity to commend all involved in the centenary celebrations about a month ago to make it the wonderful show that it was. In particular, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the organising committee of Max Cook, June Benbow, Julie Searle, Rob Smith, David Croser, Les Parsons, Ed Mahar, Joe Butler, Allison Roberts, Deane Litster, Rob Searle and Bev Litster. Your substantial efforts and those of all the locals who have come before you have ensured that the exploits of this special man from Koolywurtie are kept alive forever.

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