Flight instructor Audrey Kendell has made her start in the aviation industry just a short distance from where her grandparents founded Wagga's own airline 54 years ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Since starting at the Regional Express Australian Airline Pilot Academy at Wagga Airport, Audrey has driven to work every day down Don Kendall Drive, named in honour of her late grandfather.
Don, along with Audrey's grandmother Eilish, started the company that became Kendell Airlines as a small charter and flying school business in 1965, which traded as Premiair Aviation from 1967.
"I grew up in Dubai and returned to Australia to finish year 11 and 12 but this is my first aviation job and I just coincidentally got a job with Rex," she said.
"It wasn't intentional at all, it just happened to be a decision between going up north or a move that was more reasonable.
"It was the opportunity to work in an airline environment as well, as the pilot academy is part of Rex."
Premiair started regular services between Wagga and Melbourne in 1971 after Ansett withdrew from the route.
The company was was renamed Kendell Airlines in 1983 and made significant expansions during the 1980s.
The Kendell family departed the airline after it was sold to freight company TNT and Rupert Murdoch's News Limited in 1990.
Ms Kendell's role at Wagga is to teach Australian and international pilots, and there are still a few people in Wagga's aviation community who worked for Kendell Airlines.
"There are a couple of old boys who say 'yeah, I used to work with your grandad back in the day," she said.
"It's pretty cool to meet them and be a part of that.
"A lot of people have said 'your grandfather would be proud' and things like that.
Ms Kendell's new employer is also linked to her family's former businesses as Kendell Airlines emerged from the collapse of Ansett Airlines in 2001 to become part of the Rex group.
"A lot of the original Saab (aircraft) are from Kendell Airlines. We were the first company to bring Saabs in to Australia," she said.
Ms Kendell will also be offering Super Cub aircraft rides as part of the Wagga City Aero Club's open day today from 10am to 5pm.