AIRWOMAN’S DEATH
MRS. A. BRUSTAD FIRST DOMINION GIRL PILOT KEEN ALPINE CLIMBER The death occurred in the Amuri Hospital, Rotherham, last Thursday morning, of 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 au aero club. Bhe was 25 years of age. Her death was due to pneumonia, and 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, of Garden Road, Fendalton, and a niece of the late Sir George Clifford. She was born 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 ft. to Waiho and back to the Hermitage by way of Graham’s Saddle (8739 ft. a journey that called for great endurance and experience. She was accompanied on this trip by Mr. Alf. Brustad, then guide at the Hermitage. She married Mr. Brustad 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 Mayor L. M. Isitt, the examiner, on August 5. After some experience of cross-country flying in New Zealand she went to England in 1931. "While there she spent three months at the De Haviland 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 the 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 Now Zealand Permanent Air Force, which now uses it for aerial survey work. Mrs. Brustad resumed he-' 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 Christ church. 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 Canter bury Aero Club. Mr. Brustad was stationed in Christ church as an alpine guide and wintei sports tutor until two or three month' ago, when he purchased a farm. Mr and Mrs. Brustad settled in the Wiiau district only two or three weeks ago.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 9
Word Count
476AIRWOMAN’S DEATH Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 9
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