Donald Moreton Kendell AM (1930 - 2001)

Born 1930 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Biography

Donald Kendell AM is Notable.

Donald Kendell AM was born in Victoria, Australia

Donald Moreton 'Don' Kendell AM was born in 1930 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He was raised on the family property near Lockhart, in southern New South Wales. While flying was an ambition, reality was farming and after finishing school at Geelong College, he returned to work the family farm.

At 19 years of age Don enrolled in flying lessons in Wagga Wagga and shortly thereafter obtained his Private and Commercial licences. At 22, he joined the Wagga Flight of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) No.22 (City of Sydney) Squadron.

Following a year’s trip around Australia in 1954 trying to find work as a pilot, Don left for England and joined British European Airways (BEA) flying DC3’s and later Viscounts. There, he met Eilish Burke, a special lady from Ireland and they married in 1956. Future opportunities with BEA were limited and in 1959 the Kendell family moved back to Australia to resume rural life at Lockhart and look for opportunities. After a hiatus of four years, Don established Premiair Aviation in 1965 in Wagga Wagga.

In 1971, Don convinced Ansett he could do a far better service between Melbourne and Wagga Wagga and on 18th October that year Kendell Airlines commenced its first scheduled service operating a seven seat Piper Navajo.

Don Kendell was one of the founders of the Regional Airlines Association of Australia and was invited to sit on various government advisory bodies. In 1992 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to regional aviation. Although having sold to Ansett earlier, as Managing Director, Don Kendell remained firmly in charge of the airline until his retirement in June 1997. However, he was never far from the airline he founded and continued as Non-Executive Chairman. Sadly the airline Don founded passed into Administration on 13th September 2001 when the Ansett Group collapsed.

He passed away of cancer on 14th October 2001.

Don was amongst the inaugural inductees into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2012. ^[1]

Kendell Airlines has lived on, successfully passing through Administration to become part of Regional Express. Many of his loyal staff continue the legacy he commenced.

Sources

1. ↑ AAHOF; accessed 7 Oct 2022