Don Kendell
Encyclopedia
Don Kendell AM
(19 January 1930 – 14 October 2001) was the founder and Chairman of Kendell Airlines, now a part of Regional Express Airlines
. His love of flying led to the creation of Kendell Airlines and its continuing success.
, aviation held a fascination for Don. He recalled that as a seven-year-old he ran barefoot for nearly a mile through paddocks full of Saffron Thistle just to watch a biplane
take off.
He attended Geelong College after a period at bush schools but returned to his parents' property near Lockhart
, New South Wales, to help during a drought in 1946. But the flying bug was strong and in 1949 at the age of 19, Don took flying lessons in Wagga Wagga and soon obtained his licence.
After a period in the RAAF
Reserves, successful barnstorming trips around western Victoria flying Tiger Moth
s and a round Australia odyssey looking for flying work, Don set off for England in 1955.
There he sat for and passed his commercial pilots licence and started working for British European Airways
flying Herons
, DC3
s and later turboprop Viscounts
. While in the United Kingdom he met and married Eilish Burke.
He returned to Australia and farming in 1959 but the aviation bug soon took hold again and in 1965 he and his wife moved to Wagga Wagga to become partners in a small flying business.
After buying out their partners, Don and Eilish Kendell set up Premiair Aviation with two Piper Cherokee
aircraft. The company was incorporated in 1967 and the name changed to Kendell Airlines in 1971. Since then Kendell has grown steadily despite setbacks caused by rural downturns and the oil crisis.
In a business notorious for a very high failure rate, Kendell Airlines prospered and grew while many other companies came and went. Don Kendell's individual style and integrity earned him enormous respect and admiration throughout the airline industry. He remained firmly committed to regional Australia and resisted attempts to move the airlines head office from Wagga Wagga
.
He had a simple philosophy: Offer a reliable, frequent service at the best possible price. He believed that there is no room for sentiment in the airline business if a route does not pay then you cease to operate it. It is a yardstick that stood him in good stead.
In 1992, Don Kendell was made a member of the Order of Australia
(AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to aviation.
In June 1997, he had retired as Kendell Airline's managing director but had remained as the non-executive chairman for the airline including Ansett's two other subsidiaries, Aeropelican and Skywest Airlines
, until 31 December 2000.
He is survived by his wife Eilish, two sons, Guy and Miles, and two daughters, Mary and Sarah ; as well as his grandchildren Jennifer, Ben, Audrey, Fraser, Bronte, Shani, Adam, Samir, Michael and Max.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(19 January 1930 – 14 October 2001) was the founder and Chairman of Kendell Airlines, now a part of Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Pty Ltd is an airline based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It operates scheduled regional services. It is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group of companies and serves New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, North Queensland and Tasmania...
. His love of flying led to the creation of Kendell Airlines and its continuing success.
Personal life
As a small boy on his parents' wheat and sheep property in south western New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, aviation held a fascination for Don. He recalled that as a seven-year-old he ran barefoot for nearly a mile through paddocks full of Saffron Thistle just to watch a biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
take off.
He attended Geelong College after a period at bush schools but returned to his parents' property near Lockhart
Lockhart, New South Wales
Lockhart is a town and a Local Government Area in the Riverina Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the location of the Lockhart Shire Council offices. At the 2006 census, Lockhart had a population of 837 people.-History:...
, New South Wales, to help during a drought in 1946. But the flying bug was strong and in 1949 at the age of 19, Don took flying lessons in Wagga Wagga and soon obtained his licence.
After a period in the RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
Reserves, successful barnstorming trips around western Victoria flying Tiger Moth
Tiger moth
Tiger moths are moths of the family Arctiidae.Tiger moth may also refer to:*de Havilland Tiger Moth, an aircraft; an aerobatic and trainer tailwheel biplane*de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth, an earlier monoplane produced by de Havilland...
s and a round Australia odyssey looking for flying work, Don set off for England in 1955.
There he sat for and passed his commercial pilots licence and started working for British European Airways
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
flying Herons
De Havilland Heron
The de Havilland DH.114 Heron was a small, propeller-driven British airliner that first flew on 10 May 1950. It was a development of the twin-engine de Havilland Dove, with a stretched fuselage and two more engines. It was designed as a rugged, conventional low-wing monoplane with tricycle...
, DC3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
s and later turboprop Viscounts
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
. While in the United Kingdom he met and married Eilish Burke.
He returned to Australia and farming in 1959 but the aviation bug soon took hold again and in 1965 he and his wife moved to Wagga Wagga to become partners in a small flying business.
After buying out their partners, Don and Eilish Kendell set up Premiair Aviation with two Piper Cherokee
Piper Cherokee
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
aircraft. The company was incorporated in 1967 and the name changed to Kendell Airlines in 1971. Since then Kendell has grown steadily despite setbacks caused by rural downturns and the oil crisis.
In a business notorious for a very high failure rate, Kendell Airlines prospered and grew while many other companies came and went. Don Kendell's individual style and integrity earned him enormous respect and admiration throughout the airline industry. He remained firmly committed to regional Australia and resisted attempts to move the airlines head office from Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
.
He had a simple philosophy: Offer a reliable, frequent service at the best possible price. He believed that there is no room for sentiment in the airline business if a route does not pay then you cease to operate it. It is a yardstick that stood him in good stead.
In 1992, Don Kendell was made a member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to aviation.
In June 1997, he had retired as Kendell Airline's managing director but had remained as the non-executive chairman for the airline including Ansett's two other subsidiaries, Aeropelican and Skywest Airlines
Skywest Airlines
Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
, until 31 December 2000.
Death
Don Kendell died on 14 October 2001, in Wagga Wagga, at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer.He is survived by his wife Eilish, two sons, Guy and Miles, and two daughters, Mary and Sarah ; as well as his grandchildren Jennifer, Ben, Audrey, Fraser, Bronte, Shani, Adam, Samir, Michael and Max.
External links
- History of Kendell Airlines Spirit of Ansett