In 1928 Victoria Street, Taree was buzzed by a light plane piloted by George Newnham Mills.1 He was accompanied by Wally Shiers, who has an impressive back story.
Born in South Australia in 1889 and an electrician by trade, Walter Henry (Wally) Shiers enlisted in 1915 and was assigned to the 4th Light Horse Regiment. He served overseas in Egypt, before being accepted into the newly formed Australian Flying Corps, receiving training as a mechanic.2
His expertise was highly regarded as was that of fellow mechanic James Mallett (Jim) Bennett, both of whom developed a close working relationship with renowned war time pilot, Ross Smith.3
This bond led to Wally and Jim being invited to accompany Ross and brother Keith (also a pilot) in a daring undertaking. In 1919 The Australian Government had announced a £10,000 prize for the first successful flight from Great Britain to Australia.4
Against all the odds, the four won the race and became national, and international, celebrities.5
Wally and Helena Alford, his sweetheart from Narrandera were gifted a society wedding at a garden party in Sydney with Ross Smith as Best Man.6 With his share of the prize money (which was split equally between the four men) Wally purchased a house at Dover Heights and a garage at Bondi Junction.7
Author: Penny Teerman
Click here for the Taree story Message from the Sky.
References:
1 Midcoast Stories: Message from the Sky https://midcoaststories.com/2018/06/message-from-the-sky/
2 Long Flight Home by Lainie Anderson, Wakefield Press 2019
3 Long Flight Home by Lainie Anderson, Wakefield Press 2019
4 Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 20 March 1919 P6
5 ABC Radio National: The Drawing Room – “The forgotten hero: Ross Smith” https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/drawingroom/ross-smith-flight/11697600
4 Sunday Times Sunday February 22 February 1920 P11
4 Long Flight Home by Lainie Anderson, Wakefield Press 2019
