SPORTING BARONESS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 63, 8 December 1930, Page 5

SPORTING BARONESS

Coming to New Zealand

An airwoman, a motor-ear speed racer, and an enthusiastic traveller is Baroness Von Elpons, of Berlin, the widow of a German army oflieer killed during the war who reached Melbourne in the Orient liner Orama, for a visit to Australian friends. Taking up aviation when it was still rare among German women, she obtained her pilot's certitieate in 1918, says a Melbourne exchange, but was prevented from making mueh use of it, as restrictions were brought in against piloting by women in Germany. As a passenger, however, she was the first woman to fly from Germany to Denmark in 1919. Just before the trans-Atlantic flight of Captain Hamilton, who was lost while attempting the crossing with Princess Lowenstein, Baroness Von Elpons was a passenger with him when he gave exhibition flights in Switzrland. Racing a Fiat car, the Baroness obtained third place in the Mil-an-Rome road race in 1926, open to men and women. In Italy and France she has taken part in many car reliability contests and short-distance races. “The last few years, though, I have spent travelling or on holiday in different parts of Europe,” she explained. “Australia is a part of the world I always wanted to visit. I' have heard much about it, and have met many Australians in the South of France.’’ The Baroness plans to spend a holiday in Melbourne and then to visit Sydney before going to New Zealand and on to China and Japan, which she has never visited Before. “I would like to see something of the country and sporting life of Australia, and I hope to fly to Sydney.” she stated. The Baroness, who is tall and slender, struck a new fashion note by having the sleeves of her blaek-and-white pinspotted crepe-dc-chine suit stitched from wrist to elbow with a row of small crys- • tai buttons. Her brimless hat of black felt was finished at either side,with tiny wings of red and yellow felt.