A PIONEER WOMAN FLYER

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 December 1933, Page 3

A PIONEER WOMAN FLYER

ONE OF DOMINION’S LEADER'S. FORMER MISS A. CLIFFORD. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 30. Mrs Alary ,Lu*cy Aro-ha. )B)rustacl, who died from pneumonia in Amuri Hospital, Rotherham, this morning, at the age of 25 years, was as Miss Aroha Clifford, well known throughout New Zealand ais the first woman, to gain a pilot’s license through an aero club. Her death followed the birth of a son at the hospital two days ago. Mrs Brustad was the youngest daughter of Mr and the late Mrs Walter Clifford, Garden Road, Fendalton. and a niece of the late Six’ George Clifford. She was horn in Wellington, and received her education at St. Mary’s Convent, Colombo Street, Christchurch, and at Ascot Convent. England. While still in her early teens she Became keenly interested in winter sports and alpine climbing. She w r as a very frequent visitor to The Hermitage, Mount Cook, and she became an expert ski-er and climber. One of the most notable of' her exploits in this region was the “round trip” over Copland Pass (7400 feet) to Waiho and hack to The Hermitage by way of Graham’s Saddle (8739 feet), a journey that called for great endurance and experience. She was accompanied on this’ trip bv Mr Alf Brustad, then guide at The Hermitage, whom he married in 1931. Mrs Brustad was the first pupil instructed bv the Canterbury Aero Club, in May, 1920, a month or two after the club’s inception. She flew solo for the first time in June, and was granted her “A” license when under the age of 21 by Major L. M. Isitt, the examiner, on August 5. After some experience of cross - country flying in New Zealand she u r ent to England in 1931. While there she spent three months at the De Haviland factory taking a private OAvnership course in mechanics. She Avas at this time a- member of the London Aero Club! and did a. considerable amount of flying from the Stag Lane Aerodrome. She purchased a machine of her oaa'ii. a. Puss Moth, and this she brought back to New Zealand with her. It was later acquired by the Now Zealand Permanent Air Force, AA-hich noAV uses it for aerial survey work. Mrs Brustad resumed her flying on her return to NeAA r Zealand, and she Avas. the first woman to pilot- an aeroplane over Cook Strait in a flight from Wellington to Christchurch. After her marriage to Air Brustad in September, j 1931, she gave up acth'e flying, al-j though she maintained a. keen interest j in the activities of the Canterbury! Aero Club. Mr Brustad av as stationed in Christchurch as an alpine guide and AA-inter sports tutor until two or three months ago. when he purchased a- farm. Mr and Mrs Brustad settled in the Waiau district only two or three Aveeks ago.