AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 23103, 1 November 1938, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDY

DEATH DF AIR HOSTESS 'Among the 18 persons killed when the Australian National Airways’. Douglas monoplane Kyeema crashed in Victoria on Tuesday, Miss. Elva Jones was one of the small group of young Australian w’omen who had entered the comparatively new profession for their sex of air hostess, states an exchange. It says much for the courage and pioneering, spirit of Australian girls that whenever a vacancy has fallen open for-a hostess on one of the Australian air eservices there have always been thousands of . applicants. Miss Jones, who was aged 25, is the, first air hostess on Australian air line'rs to have lost her life in a crash. The applicant for such a position is required to have many qualifications, and—an important point—she must be a. naturally early riser, as it is sometimes necessary for her to be up at 4 in the morning. Her'first duty before

the air liner starts is to take on provisions, after which she is given a list of the passengers, wlipm she checks in as they arrive. When all the passengers are aboard the hostess gives them each a map of the route, a newspaper, and some barley sugar. Then she shows them how to adjust their special safety belts for rising and landing. All this has to be done before the flight commences. Once above the clouds, the hostess starts preparing morning or afternoon tea or lunch, according to what trip is being made, and tends the passengers, answering their questions, and pointing out landmarks of interest. She is in communication with the control room by buzzer, and takes refreshments into the cockpit for the officers.