Aviation pioneers to be honoured at Shellharbour gala dinner

Four outstanding pioneers will be inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHoF) at a gala dinner in March.

Tickets are now available to attend the dinner to be held at the AAHoF museum, upstairs at the HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport on Saturday evening 14 March.

The latest inductees are Bill Bristow, Greg Dunstone, Billy Hart and Sir Ivan Holyman with the Regional Aviation Association to receive the AAHoF Southern Cross award.

Chairman Greg Hood AO said since its inception in 2011 AAHOF has honoured 61 Australians who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of Australian aviation and aerospace.

“AAHOF has also recognised 12 organisations through our Southern Cross Award," Mr Hood said. 

The 2026 dinner will recognise the following:

Bill Bristow AM, from Brisbane, was the founder of Angel Flight Australia, a charitable organisation that provides free, non-emergency flights and ground transportation to assist rural and remote Australians in accessing specialist medical treatment. 

Angel Flight was born in 2003 from Bill’s recognition of the challenges faced by people in country areas who needed to travel long distances for medical care. 

When he retired from Angel Flight in 2019 it had grown to include over 3,000 volunteer pilots and 4,000 ground volunteers, having completed more than 47,000 flights and transported over 100,000 passengers. 

 Greg Dunstone, from Canberra, is a highly experienced Australian aviation engineer who provided aerospace engineering expertise for more than 46 years to Airservices Australia.

He played a pivotal role in transforming the nation's air traffic management systems through his leadership in radar and surveillance technologies. 

Greg is globally recognised for his pioneering work in Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADSB) technology. He initiated Australia's first ADSB trial in 2003, leading to the country's achievement as the first to implement nationwide ADSB coverage. His work led the implementation of ADSB which is now widely utilised throughout the world not only by air traffic management service provision organisations, but also enhanced situational awareness in the cockpit, enabling pilots to gain a much better mental model of traffic that might be in close proximity, thereby greatly enhancing aviation safety.

William "Billy" Hart, from Sydney, was a trail-blazer in Australian aviation, particularly known for his pioneering flights and contributions to promoting aviation in the country during its infancy. 

Billy was the first Australian-born person to fly an aircraft solo in Australia, near Penrith NSW in 1911 and gained Australia’s first pilot’s licence, Aviator’s Certificate No 1, issued by the Aero Club of NSW on 5 December 1911 (under the authority of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain). He had a dual career as a dentist.

He taught himself to fly, an impressive feat at a time when aviation was still in its experimental stages and was instrumental in sparking public interest in aviation by performing demonstration flights which drew large crowds, helping to popularise the idea of flight in Australia.

Sir Ivan Nello Holyman (1896–1957) was a pioneering Tasmanian businessman and aviation leader, best known for founding Australian National Airways (ANA), which became a cornerstone of Australia's domestic and international air travel. 

During the First World War he was wounded four times, mentioned in dispatches, and awarded the Military Cross for gallantry near Jeancourt, France, in 1918.

As its Managing Director Sir Ivan transformed ANA from 1936 into a major domestic airline, known for its modern fleet and extensive network. He is credited with the introduction in Australia of air hostesses, free in-flight meals and the automatic insurance of passengers!

Regional Aviation Association wins Southern Cross award

The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1980 to represent and advocate for the interests of regional aviation and related support businesses across Australia.

RAAA has some 120 members including airlines, airports, engineering and flight training organisations, finance and insurance firms, and government entities across all Australian states and territories. 

RAAA members directly employ over 10,000 people, many in regional areas. Collectively, they generate more than $1.5 billion in annual turnover, transport over two million passengers and move more than 23 million kilograms of freight each year. 

AAHoF chairman Greg Hood said RAAA highlights issues such as the high cost of operating regional services, reliance on government subsidies, and the need for sustainable aviation policies. 

Book dinner tickets 

Booking details for the 2026 Australian Aviation Hall of Fame gala induction dinner on Saturday 14 March 2026 can be found on the web or via this link to AAHoF ticket sales.

The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame honours those individuals and organisations whose contributions have advanced aviation and aerospace in Australia.

 AAHOF is a not-for-profit public company located upstairs at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society’s HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport at Albion Park Rail NSW.

 The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame is grateful for the support of sponsors Viva Energy Australia, the AMDA Foundation, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), QBE Aviation Insurers, Maygars Hill Winery and Norton White Lawyers. 

​AAHoF is committed to preserving the history of aviation in Australia and inspiring its future.