Michelle Payne, Melbourne Cup winning Jockey with Mr. & Mrs. Aviation Writer at the launch of her book "Life as I Know it", soon to become a movie ! She is a lovely young lady !!!

Pat Farmer and I met when he was the Federal Member for Macarthur. We were in a meeting with Camden Mayor Patterson to discuss the possible transfer of the Australian Aviation Museum from Bankstown Airport to Camden Airport in an effort to promote more visitors to the area. Several years later, than...

Nigella Lawson, Journalist, TV Personality, Gourmet Chef and Food Writer. I had the pleasure of meeting Nigella at a Sydney Literary Luncheon, and found her to be both beautiful and charming.

At a recent Literary Luncheon I had the honour and privilege of meeting Australian of the Year (2015) Rosie Batty, whose 11 year old son Luke was murdered by his father. Rosie has become a tireless advocate for the awareness of domestic violence, and ways to prevent the weekly deaths of battered w...

Ken Follett, author of the hugely successful "Pillars of the Earth", third in world sales volume to the Bible and Lord of the Rings, among many great titles. I met Ken at a Book Launch in Sydney.

Long time and very popular TV Presenter, Cricket Lover, Author and Photographer Ray Martin. We first met at function for the Bradman Museum in Bowral, thereafter at a Winery in Bowral to launch his published collection of photographs.

Andre Rieu with AviationWriter and wife Lesley. The event was a concert in Brisbane where we ere able to spend an afternoon and have Dinner with Andre and his orchestra. The event was hosted by Channel 9's Richard Wilkins, who had to fly back to Sydney that evening, having just been informed of the...

Andre Rieu's beautiful opera singer Carmen at the after concert Dinner, with the entire orchestra mixing with invited guests.

Former Pop Singer, Channel 9 Television Presenter and Author Richard Wilkins with Mr. and Mrs. AviationWriter

AviationAuthor with the late Sir Jack Brabham OBE, Australia's most successful Formula One Racing Driver (3 times World Champion) and Constructor.

British actor, author, comedian (Monty Python Series) and television travel presenter Michael Palin. I had the good fortune to meet Michael on two occasions in Sydney, both book launches and, thanks to my dear wife, will hopefully meet Michael again at his concert in March !

Another "jumper" !!! Actor Michael Caton in a Dream Sequence for the TV Series "Packed To The Rafters". This photo was shot in the Australian Aviation Museum's CAC Nomad fuselage, which was specially painted for the episode by Channel 7, then returned to it's normal camouflage livery !

Brilliant Author Di Morrissey (left) with Mrs. Aviation Author !

TV Actors Martin Sacks (Blue Heelers) and Saskia Burmeister shooting as Casablanca theme scene for Marie Claire magazine at the Australian Aviation Museum.

Former Australian Cricket Captain Ricky Ponting filming a TV Commercial for Rexona, which included "parachuting" from a DC-3 at the Australian Aviation Museum.

The wonderful Flautist Jane Rutter. She is performing a Concert in Hobart, on behalf of Qantas Pathfinders. Once a year Qantas donate the use of a Boeing 737, Shell donate the fuel and Pilots and Cabin Crew donate their time to fly the Deaf and Blind Children from North Rocks to a different destin...

AviationWriter with Hollywood Actress Jane Fonda, wife of CNN Owner Ted Turner.

Former Television News Presenter Ross Symonds with Olympic Gold Medal Athlete Cathy Freeman

Terri Irwin, widow of Australian naturalist and icon Steve Irwin at the launch of her book on husband Steve. In 2006 Terri, an American by birth, was awarded an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia.

US Actor James Caan starred in many movies including the Godfather and Misery. I flew from Dallas to Los Angeles with James when returning from a Confederate Air Force Air Show in Midland, Texas.

Sir Peter Ustinov, Radio Personality, Academic, Film Actor, Theatre Actor, Television Actor, Director, Television Personality, Playwright and Journalist. I met Sir Peter on two occasions on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. On arrival at LA I walked from the aircraft to the Customs Hall with hi...

I had the pleasure of meeting the brilliant Barry Humphries at a Book Launch. Sadly his friend Dame Edna Everage could not make it that day !

Sir Roger Moore KBE, who first came to fame as "The Saint", then of course became very famous for his many James Bond roles. I met Sir Roger and his charming wife Luisa Mattioli at the launch oh his latest book "My Word Is My Bond". Sadly, Sir Roger passed away on the 23rd of May 2017

The remarkable Michael Crawford CBE, known for years as the simple sole Frank Spencer in "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em", later a spectacular success as the star of "Phantom of the Opera" !!! I met Michael during a concert in the Hunter Valley.

Her beautiful home of Norfolk Island was where I first met Colleen McCullough. She was hosting a luncheon for the visit of a Qantas Pathfinders group, just arrived from Sydney by chartered 737. Each year, Pathfinders raise funds for the Deaf and Blind Children Institute by organising flights to any...

Kathy Lette, wonderful Comedian and author. Husband Jeffey Robinson is an internationally recognised Human Rights Lawyer. We met a Dymocks Book Launch, temporarily interrupted by the ABC's crazy "Chaser" crew who were following Kathy around creating as much mischief as possible !

Sir David Attenborough, Broadcaster, TV Personality and Naturalist. Just managed to catch Sir David as he was about to leave a book signing session at the ABC.

The amazing Roald Dahl, a man I had the privilege of meeting many years ago. Although best known for his brilliant stories for children, Roald Dahl also served as an RAF Fighter Pilot on Spitfires in Malta during WWII.

The wonderful Bill Peach AM, Journalist, TV Presenter, Founder and Host of Bill Peach Journeys. My wife and I travelled on 10 Bill Peach Journeys and enjoyed ,,,,every one, particularly when Bill joined the tour. Sadly Bill passed away in August 2014 from Cancer, and has been very much missed.

I met James Patterson at a recent Literary Luncheon. This amazing Author has sold over 3 million books, including 1 million eBooks ! James is on a mission around the world to encourage Parents to help their children become avid book readers, believing it will be a great asset to them in later life...

Australian Film Director Gillian Armstrong, noted for many films including her most successful, "My Brilliant Career". I met Gillian on a flight from LA to Sydney.

Miguel Maestre, popular Chef on The Living Room. I met Miguel walking with his lovely family in Martin Place.

Sometimes you meet media personalities in the most unusual places. Had a brief chat with Tina Arena recently in a Sydney furniture warehouse !

Aviation Author with Steve Jacobs, TV Channel 9 Weather Presenter, at HMAS Albatross, Nowra NSW during an air show.

Amanda Keller OAM is a well known journalist, radio and television presenter, and media personality. Currently the the host of the popular TV Show "The Living Room".

Wilbur Addison Smith is a South African novelist specialising in historical fiction about the international involvement in Southern Africa across four centuries. We met when he visited Australia to promote his book "River God".

Actor, Author and Illustrator Richard Roxburgh, star of the TV Series Rake and many more productions including Blue Murder, the story of the notorious Detective Roger Rogerson. Although we have met on two earlier occasions, this photo was taken at the recent launch of Richard's Children's Book, Arti...

One of my favourite Authors, I had the pleasure of meeting Bryce at a Book Launch held in the Southern Highlands. This was shortly after he moved to Burradoo near Bowral for a time (his wife apparently did not like it), before moving finally to live in Canberra.

I met the three-weight world champion and a boxing trainer Jeff Fenech thanks to an engine failure on a Qantas flight from LA to Sydney. The aircraft diverted to Honolulu, where we were put up for the night, flying home the next day. Jeff and I sat next to each other on the bus taking us to our va...

Dr. Robert Ballard. Best known for the discoveries of the wrecks of the RMS Titanic in 1985, the battleship Bismarck in 1989, and the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in 1998. Meeting Robert after a lecture on finding the Titanic, I surprised him by asking "How many WWII aircraft did you come across du...

Popular TV Personality Paula Duncan, being assisted on to the wing of Harvard 07 (the last aircraft Aviation Author flew) during a promotion for Colgate Palmolive. The "Assister" is Bruce Simpson, now a Qantas Captain and Chief of the Airbus Fleet. Bruce flew the first Qantas A380 Nancy Bird to Au...

Former Channel 9 60 Minutes Senior Reporter the late Richard Carelton meeting Jack Curtis , Australia's and possibly the world's oldest still current DC-3 Captain. Taken on an Anzac Day Commemoration at the Australian Aviation Museum, this was one of the last photographs taken of Richard before his...

The giant ex Wallaby Rugby Union Player, Prolific Author, Columnist and Media Personality Peter Fitzsimons with (left) AviationWriter and Australian Aviation Museum Senior Volunteer Roger Gallagher. Peter was filming a documentary for Foxtel on his story of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and other Aus...

Infamous Stockbroker and Entrepreneur, the late Rene Rivkin. We met on a flight from LA to Sydney when I offered to change seats to allow Rene's son to sit next to him.

Tara Moss is a Canadian-Australian author of 11 bestselling fiction and non-fiction books, a documentary maker and presenter, journalist, former model and UNICEF national ambassador for child survival. We met when Tara was wearing yet another "Hat", Patron of Pathfinders, a charity group formed by ...

Aviation Author with the late James Strong AO, former CEO of Qantas Airways from 1993 to 2001. James sadly passed in March this year, aged 68.

John Romain, Managing Director and Chief Pilot of the Aircraft Restoration Company, Duxford has acquired considerable aerobatic and formation flying skills, plus those necessary to fly larger aircraft such as the Blenheim and B-25. In the last ten years John has flown over 85 different types of air...

Former RAAF Spitfire Pilot Ted Sly DFC, who passed away on the 30th of November this year aged 95 flew in the UK, the Phillipines, the Western Desert and Borneo with such notable WWII Pilots as "Bluey" Trustcott, Neville Duke, Paul Brickhill (author of Reach For The Sky) and Bobby Gibbes. Decoration...

Ted Sly, DFC I met Ted on several occasions as we are both members of the Spitfire Association (NSW). The first meeting was a number of years ago in Canberra, at a special function to meet former Castle Bromwich Chief Spitfire Test Pilot Alex Henshaw MBE. In 2007 Ted decided he wanted to fly again ...

AviationAuthor with former WWII B-29 Crewman Mac Palmer at Confederate Air Force HQ in Midland, Texas. Mac's favourite saying "I'm so old I don't buy Green Tomatoes" ! His brother was sadly killed in Australia when demonstrating a B-57 (US version of the Canberra Bomber) to the RAAF at Laverton, V...

Air Commodore William H "Bull" Garing, CBE DFC DSC (US) RAAF. Two of the RAAF's major successes during the war in the Southwest Pacific from 1941 to 1945 were at Milne Bay in August 1942 and in the Bismarck Sea in March 1943. For these two actions the RAAF's commander on the scene was Group Capt...

Carolyn Grace became the world's only current Spitfire Pilot when her husband Nick, who restored the aircraft over a 5 year period, was sadly killed in a car accident. I met Grace at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford where she was raising funds to keep the Spitfire, ML-407 airborne, a very expensive ...

The late Alex Henshaw MBE. During WWII, Alex Henshaw was the Chief Spitfire Test Pilot at the Vickers Armstrong Castle Bromwich Works in Birmingham. He test flew over 2000 Spitfires, Seafires and 300 Lancasters, and is the only pilot known to have successfully barrel rolled a Lancaster ! Alex and ...

Alex Henshaw at his lovely home Abborfield in Newmarket UK, with Aviation Writer and wife.

AviationWriter with Mike Johnson, son of the famous WII Battle of Britain Spitfire Fighter Pilot Johnny Johnson. We met at the Australian Aviation Museum, where I gave Mike a copy of "The Boats I Flew".

Air Vice Marshal James Edgar "Johnnie" Johnson CB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar (9 March 1915 – 30 January 2001) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot and flying ace. Johnson was credited with 34 individual victories over enemy aircraft, as well as seven shared victories, three shared probables, 10 da...

Years ago I had the great pleasure of meeting Aviation Artist Robert Taylor, renowned internationally as probably the best Aviation Artist in the world !

The Legendary Douglas Bader. Robert Taylor told me that a number of good natured "critics" say they count the rivets on his aircraft paintings to make sure he got it right !!!

Ed Maloney came to Australia many years ago with a delegation of US Aviation Museum CEOs and Curators. I met Ed at the Australian Aviation Museum, Bankstown Airport Sydney. One of the pioneers of the preservation of vintage airplanes, Edward T. Maloney, has died at the age of 88. Maloney has been c...

My favourite still operational aircraft at the Planes of Fame Museum is the Northrop Flying Wing.

Kermit Weeks owns one of the largest private collections of flight-worthy historic aircraft in the world, most of which are at his Fantasy of Flight facility in Polk City, Florida. The collection contains over 140 civilian and military planes, including rare originals as well as reproductions of his...

The Short Sunderland en route from Calshot in the UK to ultimately arrive in Polk City, Florida

Over more than 20 years of overseas and domestic travel I was fortunateenough to meet such diverse personalities as Film Stars, Directors, Musical Comedy Entertainers, TV Personalities, Authors and "Persons of Interest", and will add both their photos and stories as time permits !

Names you may recognise include : Long Distance Runner Pat Farmer, Ken Follett (Author), Rosie Batty (Author and Australian of the Year 2015), Miguel Maestre (Celebrity Chef on Channel 10s The Living Room) • Jane Fonda (Actress), James Patterson (Author), Sir Roger Moore (The Saint, James Bond) • Sir Peter Ustinov Film and TV, Author) • James Caan (Godfather and Misery) • Michael Palin (Author, Monty Python and World Traveller) • Peter Fitzsimons (Author) • Simon Winchester (Author) • Jack Brabham (Motor Racing) Shane Warne (Cricket) • Merv Hughes (Cricket) • Ricky Ponting (Cricket) • Ian Healey (Cricket) • (the Late)

Bryce Courtney (Author) • Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) • Wilbur Smith (Author) • Tara Moss (Author) • Kathy Lette (Author) • Cathy Freeman (Athletics) • John le Carre (Author) • Pat Farmer (Pole to Pole Runner and Author) • Colleen McCullough (Author) • Brant Webb and Todd Russell (Trapped Beaconsfield Miners) • Nigella Lawson (Celebrity Chef and Author) • Mary Moody (Author) • Sue Williams (Author) • Geraldine Brooks (Author) • Pamela Stephenson (Entertainer, Author, wife of Billy Connelly) • Martin Sacks (Actor) • Richard Glover (Broadcaster, Author) • Jane Rutter (Popular Flautist) • Michael Crawford (Actor, Comedian, Star of Phantom of the Opera) • Andre Rieu (The Johann Strauss Orchestra) • Brett Freeman (Author) • Sir David Attenborough KBE • Bill Peach (ABC Presenter, Bill Peach Journeys), Ray Martin (TV Presenter) • Richard Roxburgh (Actor, Author) • The late Bryce Courtney AM

The aim of these albums is not to "show off". Like many of us, I have accrued a mountain of photographs and stories over the years and, as I have now moved to a new location, decided that it was time to "cull" many of the photographs and preserve the rest.

They all represent great memories for me and I hope, at least in part, an interest also for those who take the time to view these Albums.

You may recognise these people...