In April 1933, a cocktail party was held at “Montana” in Jordan Terrace, Bowen Hills. Hosting the event was Maude ‘Lores’ Bonney and her husband Harry. Its aim was to give Mrs Bonney an opportunity of saying au revoir to her friends prior to her epic flight to England.
Among the guests were Captain and Mrs Charles Matheson. Captain Matheson, a former WWI aviator, had taught her to fly.
Also present was Mrs. Bert Hinkler who had been widowed earlier that year when Bert went missing in Italy. The champion Bundaberg aviator was a cousin of Mr Bonney’s and inspired Mrs Bonney to begin flying lessons.
Mrs Bonney flew the 20,000 km between Brisbane to Croydon (outside London) to become the first woman to fly from Australia to England. No wonder the new Riverwalk, which is a standout feature of the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade, merits the name of Lores Bonney.
