4 days ago
Vintage plane Sugar Bird Lady used for remote medical work returns to Broome
A historical plane used to deliver medical clinics to remote areas of northern Western Australia in the 1960s has returned to Broome after being saved from the scrap heap.
The Mooney M20E was used by Royal Flying Doctor nurse and pioneering pilot Robin Miller to administer polio vaccines in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields from 1966 to 1975.
Ms Miller was dubbed the Sugar Bird Lady, and the restored 62-year-old plane bears her nickname.
It was flown back to Broome from New South Wales by owner Fred Clej on Thursday, ahead of ceremonies honouring Ms Miller's legacy.
But the piece of aviation history was almost lost in 1999.
"The guy that owned it before me landed wheels up and it was virtually written off," Mr Clej said.
The aviation enthusiast spent a year restoring the light plane, which he described as "nimble and a joy to fly".
Ms Miller was an award-winning nurse who grew up in Broome and Perth, and was nicknamed the Sugar Bird Lady because polio vaccines were administered on sugar lumps.
She was regarded as a pioneer female pilot and mechanic in the 1960s and made nine overseas ferry flights to bring new planes back to Australia.
At a time when plane registration changes were barred, an exception was made in 1968 for Ms Miller to keep her original initials VH-REM, which stands for Robin Elizabeth Miller, on her second plane, the Mooney.
Ms Miller, the daughter of acclaimed writer Mary Durack, died from melanoma at the age of 35 in 1975.
The vintage Sugar Bird Lady touched down in Broome on Thursday after four days flying from New South Wales.
Mr Clej said it was an honour to return the plane to the Kimberley town.
"It's been on my bucket list to fly it back here. The family are touched by having it here because it brings a lot of memories," he said.
Its arrival was greeted by school children, aviation enthusiasts and Ms Miller's siblings, John Miller and Marie Megaw.
"It's emotional to see it back here," Ms Megaw said.
"To think that people remember Robin is really wonderful, and she deserves to be remembered.
The inaugural Sugar Bird Lady scholarship was awarded on Friday night to a nursing student at Notre Dame University in Broome by the Air Force Association of WA.
"I hope it will inspire nursing and flying in the Kimberley and Pilbara," association director Charles Page said.
Mr Page said it was the first time the organisation had named a scholarship for a female aviator and given such a prize north of Perth.
"It is significant. All her efforts and adventures over the years were amazing," he said.
A public ceremony will be held on Saturday at Ms Miller's grave in Broome Cemetery.
"Robin was an excellent pilot. She could handle the dirt strips out in the bush," Mr Clej said.
"There's a lot of history there, and it's good to keep it going."
Mr Clej will fly the plane home to NSW next week.
