The Late Mrs M. L. A. Brustad

Southland Times, Issue 22188, 2 December 1933, Page 17

The Late Mrs M. L. A. Brustad

Mrs Mary Lucy Aroha Brustad, who, as Miss Aroha Clifford, was well known throughout New Zealand as the first woman to gain her pilot’s license through an aero club, died from pneumonia in Amuri Hospital, Rotherham, this morning, at the age of 25 years states the Christchurch Times. 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 Sir George Clifford. She was bom in Wellington, and received her education at St. Mary’s Convent, Colombo street, North Christchurch, and at Ascot Convent, England. Early in her teens she became keenly interested in winter sports and alpine climbing. She was a very frequent visitor to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, and she became an expert skier 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 back 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 by Mr Alf Brustad, then guide at the Hermitage, whom she married in 1931. Mrs Brustad was the first pupil instructed by the Canterbury Aero Club in May, 1929, 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 went to England in 1931 and while there she spent three months at the De Havilland factory, taking a private ownership course in mechanics. She was at this time a member of the London Aero Club, and did a considerable amount of flying from Stag Lane aerodrome. She purchased a machine of her own, a Puss Moth, and this she brought back to New Zealand with her. It was later acquired by the New Zealand Permanent Air Force, which now uses it for aerial survey work. Mrs Brustad resumed her flying on her return to New Zealand and she was the first woman to pilot an aeroplane over Cook Strait in a flight from Wellington to Christchurch. After her marriage to Mr Brustad, in September, 1931, she gave up active flying, although she maintained a keen interest in the activities of the Canterbury Aero Club. Mr Brustad was stationed in Christchurch as an alpine guide and winter 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 weeks ago.