Tuesday 24 June at 17:50 in the Members Bar
Book Title: Hudson Fysh by Grantlee Kieza
Hudson Fysh by Grantlee Kieza is the biography of Wilmot Hudson Fysh, the World War I veteran who co-founded Qantas and played a pivotal role in shaping Australian aviation. Born in Launceston, Tasmania, in 1895, Fysh overcame a troubled childhood marked by family instability and health issues. He enlisted in the Australian Light Horse and served at Gallipoli before transferring to the Australian Flying Corps, where he flew reconnaissance missions in the Middle East during the Great War.
After the war, Fysh, alongside fellow veteran Paul McGinness, embarked on an ambitious venture to connect remote parts of Australia by air. In 1920, they established Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd (Qantas) with the support of local graziers. Fysh piloted the airline’s first scheduled passenger flight in 1922 and was instrumental in launching the Flying Doctor Service and Australia’s first international airmail routes.
Kieza chronicles Fysh’s leadership as he guided Qantas through the Great Depression, World War II—during which the airline conducted dangerous missions for the Allies—and into the jet age, overseeing the acquisition of Boeing 747s. The biography will show how Qantas evolved from a modest bush airline into a symbol of national pride for Australia.
Join us at the Club to discuss and share opinions on this incredible story about a very real Australian hero.
If you’d like to join Book Club this month, please email [email protected]
