Tribute to a Flying Legend
A legend around Merimbula Airport and much further afield in aviation circles is 83 year old Frank Heffernan.
Frank is a former pilot who has lived most of his life in the Bega Valley , and other parts of South East New South Wales.
He's renowned as an aerial photographer. and although handing in his pilot's licence in 1982, still takes to the air as a camera-toting passenger to record the changing world below.
Frank Heffernan bought his first camera, a Kodak Box Brownie for 12/6d in 1942 as a 12 year old.
Photography and flying have been Frank's dual obsessions ever since.
He had his first flying lesson in 1951.
He gained a pilot's licence from the then Department of Civil Aviation on the 27th of July 1962.
He had also previously undertaken training in aerobatics at Bankstown Airport in Sydney. His skills gained him an acrobatics flying championship in future years.
Frank's first plane was an Auster J5, pictured below.
Frank is a former pilot who has lived most of his life in the Bega Valley , and other parts of South East New South Wales.
He's renowned as an aerial photographer. and although handing in his pilot's licence in 1982, still takes to the air as a camera-toting passenger to record the changing world below.
Frank Heffernan bought his first camera, a Kodak Box Brownie for 12/6d in 1942 as a 12 year old.
Photography and flying have been Frank's dual obsessions ever since.
He had his first flying lesson in 1951.
He gained a pilot's licence from the then Department of Civil Aviation on the 27th of July 1962.
He had also previously undertaken training in aerobatics at Bankstown Airport in Sydney. His skills gained him an acrobatics flying championship in future years.
Frank's first plane was an Auster J5, pictured below.
Probably one of Frank's most famous passengers was the entertainer, Kahmhal.
When Kamhal missed his regular passenger flight from Sydney on 8 May 1975, the Bega RSL Club hired Frank to fly their star act for a concert that night. from Bankstown to Bega. Kamhal said he was game for a few aerial rolls, so Frank obliged. Frank believes the singer had to spend a few hours before the concert recovering from the experience . |
Later, he and his brother purchased an Australian designed and made Victor Air Trainer. (Left)
Frank conducted private flights, and duties which extended to shark spotting, fire spotting and taking parachutists up for their jumps. He is perhaps best known for his extensive record of the development of towns in the south east through his collection of hundreds of aerial photos Floods and other district events are recorded for posterity. While he says his photos may not be of significance today ( which is widely disputed), Frank believes they will be of growing historic value over the years. He has recorded the development of towns from Eden to Batemans Bay. Who would recognize the Merimbula of 1984 as photograpghed by Frank, compared with the bustling holiday and retirement town of today? |
The local ABC South East interviewed Frank Heffernan and prepared an on-line presentation, from which some of the above information comes.The program was produced by Vanessa Milton. Photos on this page were taken by Frank Heffernan.
To go to the ABC feature, click HERE
To return to the start of this website, click HERE
To go to the ABC feature, click HERE
To return to the start of this website, click HERE