Loddon Herald 24 March 2022

Page 1

COUNTRY VICTORIA’S NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

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Loddon HERALD FREE EVERY THURSDAY

Vol 2 No 10 THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 ISSN 2653-1550

SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT! Race winner Graham Bunn receives his trophy from Robert Hooke. LH PHOTO

BLENDED TRANSPORT: Co-pilot David McGuinness arrives by bicycle at his Tiger Moth before the race. LH PHOTO

PICTORIAL SPECIAL - MIDDLE PAGES

BACK HOME: The 1920 trophy is delivered to John Davidson by Wing Cdr Philip Beanland. RAAF Image

A PIVOTAL moment in Australian history was celebrated by almost 5000 people at Serpentine on Sunday.

Keith Ireson

Crowds flocked to the makeshift airfield on Frank and Sue Coghlan’s property to mark the centenary of the nation’s first official air race. Nine Tiger Moth planes took part in the special air race out over Boort and Mitiamo. Lastminute replacement pilot Graham Bunn and co-pilot Murray

NOW SELLING STOCKFEED

By CHRIS EARL Gerraty won the race in 53 minutes and 22 seconds. They are pilot instructors at Lilydale and said they were honoured to have flown a 1943-built Tiger Moth in the cetennial race. “It was a very pleasant day for flying 500 feet above the ground,” Graham said. And on winning the race, both said: “It’s incredible.” Graham and Murray received the 2022 race trophy from Keith Ireson, grandson of 1920 race winner Lt WH Treloar, the fast-

est of four pilots raising funds for the Second Peace Loan to repatriate soldIers and rebuild Australia after World War One. Keith said the family was steeped in aviation, himself a commercial pilot, his parents and uncle pilots and engineers. “It (the first air race) is an event that had been forgotten about and needed to be remembered,” he said. Keith started his journey of discovery about Serpentine, the race and the Second Peace Loan after inheriting the race trophy. The cup is now at RAAF Mu-

seum Point Cook and on Sunday was flown to Serpentine by 100 Squadron commanding officer Wing Cdr Philip Beanland. Spectacular aerial displays by the RAAF Roulettes and Paul Bennet Airshow planes were watched with awe from the ground throughout the day. Organising committee chair Robert Hooke said the show’s outstanding success was thanks to his great committee and marvellous support from community and sponsors who stayed the course after COVID scuppered show plans two years ago.


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