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A SPECIAL VISIT BY BERT HINKLER

  Bert Hinkler was one of the world's foremost pioneers in aviation.
  Born in Bundaberg , Queensland, he was fascinated by the idea of flight and went to England to learn the craft.
  After a decorated career in the RAF during World War One, he became a designer and test pilot as well as holder of several records for distance flights. In February 1928 he became the first person to fly solo from London to Australia,
a  journey that took him fifteen days to complete. An incredible journey that brought him World acclaim.
  Only a month after his arrival his cousin, Ila Bonney, convinced him to visit her school, Coburg High School, where he was given a reception with school orchestra playing and many dignitaries present. The school had struck a special medal for him which was presented to him on the day. 
  He told the students that '''Flying, by the time you are ready to use it, will be an established reality. At present your mothers and fathers travel by tram, train and motor car because they think flying is dangerous; but they will soon realise that flying is a really practicable form of travel. A great many people are afraid of flying for fear that the machine will break up.''
  It is a sad footnote to this visit that, four  years later, Bert Hinkler was tragically killed when his plane hit a mountain in Italy during an attempt to circumnavigate the world.
  For further information about Bert Hinkler see            
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hinkler-herbert-john-bert-6680

The Bert Hinkler medal was recently returned to the school by his family who kindly donated it to our historical archives.