Happiness In The Air

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32295, 13 May 1970, Page 2

Happiness In The Air

“I feel marvellously happy and as soon as I’ve finished this interview I will be up in the air with my first passenger,” Miss Beverley ■ Morrison, a Brisbane girl who has just gained her private pilot’s licence in Christchurch, said yesterday. Miss Morrison began flying lessons last July at the Christchurch Central Flying School while on a working holiday from home. Now, 11 months later and having gained her licence this week, she is more keen on flying than ever. “Later this year when it gets warmer I’ll be off to fly around the South Island with a friend,” she said. The friend, Miss Lynette! Stilwell, of Christchurch, was: also Miss Morrison’s first pas-

senger yesterday afternoon when they flew briefly over Christchurch and Lyttelton. Although Miss Stilwell had not been taking flying lessons herself she was looking forward to the' trip around the South Island, and had complete confidence in the pilot. SECOND TIME The first girl to gain her licence from the Central Flying School, Miss Morrison said she had to sit the written examination for the licence twice. “I failed the first time and I’m glad I did now because the second time around I felt as though I had done some really solid learning,” she said The practical flying test had lasted about 40 minutes and had required the exercise of various skills including steep turns and forced landings. “The most important thing jin the air is to be aware of

everything that is going on around you, really being on the bail," Miss Morrison said, adding that she owed a great deal to her instructor, Mr J Reid, whose patience and encouragement had been of great help to her. SKY-DIVING Although she has been in New Zealand for two years and a half, flying did not occur to Miss Morrison until she had visited Rotorua aftei 14 months and made friends with aero enthusiasts there.

In Rotorua she also joined! members of the Sulphur City | Sky Diving Club for two para . chutes jumps into Lake Oka i reka and Lake Rotorua. “The second time I hurt my self and ended up with a black eye." she said. In Christchurch Miss Morri son has been working as al waitress to finance her flying j lessons and provide funds for I more travelling. “WORTH IT”

“Every minute in the ait : has been worth it I would: advise any woman who felt| she wasn’t geting enough out of life to try flying," Miss Morrison said. “It's funny really and 1 don’t know quite why it happens. but up there you suddenly feel that life is so important. Normally I like a lot of fun but flying has taught me to value the more serious side to life also for some reason.

“The best way I can explain it is to say flying somehow seems to have made my standard of happiness higher,” said Miss Morrison.

She has the rest of the year to look forward to in New! Zealand as her family in Aus-: tralia have made her promise to come home for Christ-I mas.