Edward John ("EJ" or "Eddie") Connellan AO,

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(24 June 1912 – 26 December 1983) was an Australian aviator who founded

Connellan Airways Connellan Airways (later Connair) was an airline headquartered in Alice Springs, Australia. It operated scheduled flights as well other air transport services throughout the Northern Territory from 1939 to 1980. History The company was fo ...

and was a pioneer of aviation in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

Early life

Connellan was born on 24 June 1912 at Donald in western Victoria, the eldest of seven children to his parents Thomas and Lucy Connellan. At Donald the family owned farming and grazing property. Connellan's station life continued when the family moved to the Riverina district of New South Wales. From 1927 to 1929 he boarded at Xavier College in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

to complete his secondary education. After school he became a teacher with the Victorian Education Department, but resigned in July 1933 to go into business. Flying became a passion and he gained his private pilot's licence on 8 July 1936.

The Northern Territory

Perceiving business opportunities in the

, in October 1937 Connellan prepared a report, "Notes on proposals for Aerial Freight Transport in Australia", with the aim of assisting the development of remote regions of northern Australia. In 1938 he undertook two aerial surveys of the Northern Territory to investigate pastoral land for the government, and to select land for a cattle station for himself, his brother and two friends. An area he identified as suitable for his pastoral property was eventually established as Narwietooma Station in 1943. During the survey he met the Federal Minister responsible for the Northern Territory, John McEwen, and discussed the role of air services in the region. Connellan agreed to a three-year trial of an

air mail Airmail (or air mail) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail, and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be the ...

service between

Alice Springs Alice Springs ( aer, Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, the name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (''née'' Al ...

and Wyndham in

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

, which attracted a subsidy from the federal government. The mail run commenced on 11 July 1939 and was worked on a fortnightly return basis. Connellan also negotiated a contract to provide an Alice Springs-based Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Connellan Airways

In the midst of World War II Connellan consolidated his air services, which had grown viable and included more routes, and registered

on 23 July 1943. In June 1944 Connellan became a founding member of the Northern Territory Development League. In the post war years Connellan Airways grew, acquiring new routes and equipment. In February 1951 it became a

limited company In a limited company, the liability of members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by Share (finance), shares or by guarantee. In a company limited by ...

, with many of the shares held by station people and staff. In 1963 Connellan Airways became a regular public transport (RPT) operator. In 1970 the name was changed to Connair. Connair faced financial difficulty in the 1970s and was sold to East-West Airlines on 14 March 1980. It went into liquidation shortly after. Along with three other employees, Connellan's eldest son Roger was killed on 5 January 1977 when a disgruntled ex-employee flew a stolen plane into the Connair building at Alice Springs Airport in what became known as the Connellan air disaster.

Connellan Airways Trust

The Connellan Airways TrustConnellan Airways Trust official website
/ref> was started by Connellan towards the end of his life. When Connellan Airways was sold in 1980, there were 50 shareholders, with the Connellan family holding slightly more than 50%. Most shareholders agreed to contribute 47% of their receipts from the sale to the Trust. It was established by a deed of trust dated 12 June 1981 and officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony on 11 February 1983 at the Central Australian Aviation Museum. The Trust aims to encourage knowledge and education in

outback The Outback is a remote, vast, sparsely populated area of Australia. The Outback is more remote than the bush. While often envisaged as being arid, the Outback regions extend from the northern to southern Australian coastlines and encompass a n ...

Australia. In 2004–05 A$140,308 was granted to 140 applicants.

Awards and death

In 1953, for services to aviation, Connellan was awarded the Queen's Coronation Medal. In 1957 he was made an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the New Years Honours List, "for services to civil aviation in Northern and Central Australia". In 1965 he was awarded the Oswald Watt Gold Medal for his "outstanding contribution to general aviation". In 1978 he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1981 appointed an Officer of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

"for services to aviation and the community". Connellan died on 26 December 1983, at the end of the year the Trust was opened. He is buried in the memorial cemetery at Alice Springs, adjacent to the cemetery is a museum dedicated to Connellan and Connellan Airways.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Connellan, Edward John 1912 births 1983 deaths Australian aviators Officers of the Order of Australia Commanders of the Order of the British Empire People from Donald, Victoria