In the 1930s Lores Bonney created aviation history by being the first woman to fly around Australia, the first to fly from Australia to England and the first to fly from Australia to South Africa. Yet her accomplishments until recently have never received the recognition they deserve.

In 1933 she flew her De Havilland DH 60 Moth, affectionately named My Little Ship, from Australia to England becoming the first woman to do so. In 1937 she flew a Klemm 32, named My Little Ship II, overland from Australia to South Africa. Lores Bonney's stopped flying in 1939. She was awarded an Order of Australia in 1991 and died in 1994.

This award commemorating the first solo flight made by a woman in Australia was presented to Lores Bonney in 1932.

Significance Statement, Geoff Barker, March, 2007

References
Terry Gwyn-Jones, Pioneer Aviator; the Remarkable Life of Lores Bonney, University of Queensland Press, Queensland, Australia, 1988
William Joy, The Aviators, Golden Press, Sydney, Australia, 1983
Ellen Rogers, Faith in Australia; Charles Ulm and Australian Aviation, Ellen Rogers, Sydney, Australia, 1987
Leslie Jillet, Wings across the Tasman, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, New Zealand, 1953
Blue File, Powerhouse Museum, B2604

Source:

Powerhouse Museum

Location:

Australia

Longitude:

135.0

Latitude:

-25.0