Edward John Connellan CBE AO (1912 - 1983)

Born 24 Jun 1912 in Donald, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 26 Dec 1983 at age 71 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Biography

Eddie Connellan CBE AO is Notable.

Eddie Connellan CBE AO was born in Victoria, Australia

Edward 'Eddie' John Connellan was born on 24th June 1912 in Donald, Victoria, Australia. He was the eldest of the seven children of Thomas Connellan and Lucy Glowrey. ^[1] The family operated farming and grazing property in Donald, but later moved to the Riverina District in New South Wales. Eddie completed his secondary education at Xavier College in Melbourne and for a brief time was a school teacher in Victoria before resigning to follow his dream of establishing a cattle station in the Northern Territory. While teaching, Eddie gained his private pilot’s licence in July 1936.

In 1937 he prepared an important report on the aerial freight possibilities for northern Australia. In 1938 he undertook two aerial surveys of the Northern Territory to investigate pastoral land for the government and to select a cattle station for himself, his brother and two friends. In 1939, just months before the commencement of the Second World War, Eddie agreed to a three-year trial of an air mail service between Alice Springs and Wyndham in Western Australia. He also provided valuable aviation services for the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Alice Springs. Throughout the war, Eddie developed and consolidated his air routes, culminating in Connellan Airways being formally registered in July 1943. In June 1944 he became a founding member of the Northern Territory Development League. In the post war years Connellan Airways grew, acquiring new routes and equipment. In February 1951 it became a limited company with many of the shares held by station people and staff. In 1963 Connellan Airways became a regular public transport operator and in 1970 the name was changed to Connair. Connair was sold to East–West Airlines in 1980 with the routes and services continued by the larger airline trading as Northern Airlines.

In 1953, for services to aviation, Eddie was awarded the Queen’s Coronation Medal. In 1957 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year’s Honours List, for services to civil aviation in Northern and Central Australia. In 1965 he was awarded the Oswald Watt Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution to general aviation. In 1978 he was promoted to Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) and in 1981 appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to aviation and the community.

He was inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2017. ^[2]

In 1981 Eddie established the Connellan Airways Trust. It was officially launched on 11th February 1983 at the Central Australian Aviation Museum. The Trust aims to encourage knowledge and education in outback Australia and awards of over $150,000 to suitable applicants each year.

Aged 71 years, he passed away on 26th December 1983 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory is buried in the memorial cemetery in Alice Springs adjacent to a museum dedicated to Eddie and Connellan Airways.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #19669/1912
2. ↑ Australian Aviation Hall of Fame; accessed 13 Oct 2022