John Williams, Treasures of Nhill & District Facebook page, Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times

65 years ago, it was marked as “our best air pageant ever” when a Canberra Bomber and Meteor jet buzzed the 3,000-strong crowds at the two-day event in March 1959.

The RAAF display was a highlight with the Canberra fly-over on the Saturday and the Meteor staying overnight for another demonstration which ended when the jet rocketed up to a height of 23,000 feet to disappear into the wide blue yonder.

The Apex and Wimmera Aero Club organisers of the show had hoped for a bigger crowd, blaming showers on the Saturday and strong winds on the Sunday which prevented a parachute display by Flying Officer Jack McDonald. However, he was still able to put his Mustang through its paces with a thrilling display of aerobatics.

Publicity for the event seemed to be limited to a small story in the Nhill Free Press the week before, word of mouth and a skywriting display over Nhill and nearby towns on the Friday.

Veteran air pageant crowd pleaser Fred Hoinville gave a polished display of streamer cutting and smoke aerobatics in his Tiger Moth “Brolga”. And visiting pilots were impressed with Hoinville’s ability to perform an outside loop.

The Aero Club’s Chief Flying Instructor Reg Wood gave a forced landing demonstration with the engine cut. And Club President Max Carland gave a dog fighting demonstration.

Some 25 aircraft attended the pageant including a range of American light aircraft which were just becoming popular in Australia, such as Cessna, Piper and Beechcraft.

Grace Hoinville acted as the commentator and praised the Nhill crowd for obeying instructions to keep back from danger areas.

She and husband Fred, who was also the skywriter, travelled to pageants with their three children and in Nhill hospitality was provided by old friend Max Dahlenburg and a car provided by Bullen Brothers.

Tragically Fred was killed in a glider accident a month later in April 1959.

Money raised at the Nhill pageant helped fund a new filtration system at the baths.

Footnote: 1959 was also the year the Department of Civil Aviation gifted the Nhill airport to the Lowan Shire Council so long as they continued to operate it as a licenced aerodrome. DCA also tossed in a tip truck, tractor, harrows, roller and a mower.

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 10 April 2024.