LETTER TO THE EDITOR [Miss Flinders]

Having been told that, paraphrased, “the QVMAG has no plans to rationalise material in its collections” the news about the historic ‘Miss Flinders’ is perplexing to say the least.

If an “industry safety requirement” looks anything like “the trees are diseased” in a bureaucratic world view it might not be coincidental.

Earlier in 2019 the institution had a ‘quiet clean out’ that one would think contravened the trust invested in the QVMAG but no feathers were ruffled in that process – not a one concerningly!

Australia’s Infrastructure Department has entrusted the city’s Councillors, the QVMAG’s Trustees, with the custody of this ‘cultural artefact’ and it looks very much like ‘the hired help’ is acting alone to rid themselves of the obligations that come with trust. It’s not a good look!

That this might be linked to ‘The Audit’ its especially worrying. If we consider what might be discovered that has never been catalogued, the QVMAG’s increasing lack of accountability and the wall of secrecy thrown up around its operations is a worry.

What else is there to come? The hired help is apparently on the hunt for opportunities to rationalise QVMAG while the Councillors/Trustees are looking the other way, or are at the beach, wherever? It hardly bears thinking about.

Ray Norman

Launceston

Reference: https://images7250.blogspot.com/2019/12/qvmag-clean-out-2019.html

“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine

“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept” David Morrison

IN THE EXAMINER: Miss Flinders plane to be removed from QVMAG display

• Tarlia Jordan

An aircraft that pioneered some of the nation's aeronautical history is set to be removed from display.

The historical Dessoutter Miss Flinders has been on hanging display at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk for the past decade.

However, the City of Launceston council said it is an industry safety requirement that the plane be removed from hanging display after ten years. Owned by the federal Infrastructure Department, the plane is now looking for a new home.

The newly-formed Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society, based at the Launceston Airport is looking at ways to ensure the plane stays on display in Launceston.

Chairman Andrew Johnson said the plane had quite an interesting history, being the first commercial aircraft for Iona Airways in Ireland. It was then purchased by two men who flew the plane from the UK to Australia.

"That's where My grandfather, Lawrence Johnson, purchased the aircraft," he said.

"He then started up an aerial service between Launceston and Flinders Island. He saw there was a need for both mail and passenger transport and that an airline would be beneficial. He started that up in 1932.

At the same time, the Holyman brothers had started flying and were in competition, before both agreed to amalgamate to form Tasmania Aerial Services.

"That continued on in the early 1930s servicing the islands. The Holymans had all the shipping and had some money behind them ... then it became Holyman Airways and then they formed ANA airlines which became one of the major airlines in Australia and Anset Airlines," Mr Johnson said.

"Miss Flinders is from humble beginnings and was a major part of aviation in Australia."

Mr Johnson said the historical society would look to find a solution to keep the plane in the state. A business case is being put together by the group to firstly store the aircraft, and then to look at developing some sort of space to put it on display.

"It would be a shame to see it go to the mainland or anywhere else. This is where it should be," he said.

The council's chief executive Michael Stretton said The Miss Flinders had played an important role in helping tell the story of Tasmanian aeronautic history.

"We are sad to see it go, however we must adhere to best museum practice in taking it off display," he said.

"We hope to invite the community along to watch what we expect to be a fascinating de-installation and will provide updates leading up to the event."

A federal government spokesman said it was aware the museum no longer wished to display the aircraft and will consider the aircraft's future.