Public memorial to farewell legendary local aviator MAX HAZELTON

Late aviation pioneer Max Hazelton AM OB will be farewelled at a public memorial service to be held, fittingly, at the Orange Airport on Friday, June 16.

Max, who passed away on April 9 just three weeks short of his 96th birthday, has long been regarded as one of Australia’s greatest aviation pioneers, whose legendary exploits revolutionised regional and agricultural aviation.

From humble beginnings in a paddock at Toogong, near Orange, Max planted the seeds of his aviation dream as a crop duster pilot, pioneering the spraying of cotton crops at night to avoid the winds that made daytime flying near impossible.

His exploits in rural aviation led to the development of Hazelton Airlines which grew to become a major regional operator employing 270 people and carrying 400,000 passengers a year to 23 remote and regional centres. Hazelton Airlines is one of the two-component airlines of today’s Rex Airlines.

Max’s legendary exploits revolutionised regional and agricultural aviation.

He set flying endurance records, locked horns with Bob Hawke and the ACTU by defying a union ban to fly live merino sheep out of Australia, flew medical mercy flights, fought bushfires and campaigned vigorously for Sydney Airport’s third runway. Along the way, he brought safe, a ordable and reliable air services to regional areas.

For his contribution to aviation, Max was awarded an

OBE in 1980 and an AM in 1991.

Hundreds of family and friends, local, state and federal MPs, municipal leaders, and members of the aviation community from across Australia are expected to attend the public memorial service next week.

A variety of speakers will pay tribute to Max’s life and his lasting legacy in regional and agricultural aviation.

The service will be held in a hangar adjacent to the Max Hazelton Aero Centre at Orange Airport on Friday June 16 and begin at 10.30am.

All are welcome to attend the service which will be followed by a morning tea. Please register attendance at bit.ly/3CbvLyJ