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 Charles Kingsford Smith |
Ellen was free-spirited and had wanted to do things with her life that women could not in those days. These ideas became stronger after her separation from Fred. She taught young Jean the idea, radical for its time, that to succeed in the world she could compete with men in male pursuits. At the time flying was the most daring, dangerous and exciting activity on earth: modern, largely untested and spectacular. Only men did it. When Ellen started taking Jean to watch the flying boats at the Kohimarama Harbour, the outings were as much for her mother as they were for Jean. Jean's interest in flying grew. Fred and Jean went to hear Australian ace Charles Kingsford Smith speak at a celebratory dinner in Auckland in 1928 after his flight across the Pacific. Here she announced to both her astounded father and the bemused Australian flying ace (who had stopped to chat to the pretty teenager) "I'm going to learn to fly." Jean's interest became part of the fight between her warring parents. Her father thought it was far too dangerous for a girl, but her mother did everything she could to help Jean learn to fly. |