"GREAT AIRMAN."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19481, 30 November 1928, Page 9

"GREAT AIRMAN."

PRAISE FOR HINKLER. HIS GRAND ACHIEVEMENT. (tnrrrED press association—by electric TBLBOEAPH —COPTBIGHT.) (Received November 29th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 29. A large and distinguished company was present when Sir Charles Wakefield gave a dinner to Squadron-leader Bert Hinkler in celebration of his recurd flight to Australia. Sir Charles emphasised that one of tho most remarkable of tho flight to Australia was its extreme modesty, amounting almost to stealth. Few even of Squadron-Leader Hinkler's friends realised how heroically ambitious was tho project. He had departed iti silence ana returned equally unobtrusively. As a result the British public had had no opportunity of showing their appreciation of his truly grand achievement. Air Vice-Marshal Sir Sefton Brancker, in toasting Squadron-Leader tho guest of honour, said that he began making history when he put Bundaberg on the map by being born there. He had been flying since 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 knew him. Sir Sefton Brnnc.ker added that Squadron-ljeader Hinkler did not know fear. Ho worked out his projects most thoroughly for himself. The speaker toasted him as "one of the best things that Australia in particular, and the Empire generally, has ever produced—Bert Hinkler." Responding, Squadron-Leader Hinkler brightly described incidents on his flight. Referring to criticisms of his arrival in Australian capitals on Sundays, he quoted Archbishop dune's remark: "Bert 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 Harry Brittain, in toasting the Commonwealth, pointed out that Australia had tho greatest mileacre in the world linked up by civil air services.— Australian Press Association.