AS A young carpenter, freshly arrived from New Zealand to work on the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Tom Sonter never imagined he would be caught up in the story of Australia’s first aviation disaster.
A half-day ramble, however, through forest near Tumbarumba on October 26, 1958, ended up solving the mystery that shrouded the disaster.
In March 1931 the Southern Cloud, the “sister” aircraft to Kingsford-Smith’s Southern Cross, disappeared on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne and all eight lives of those aboard were lost, along with the plane.
For 27 years the final resting place of the Southern Cloud and its passengers was unknown until Mr Sonter accidentally came upon the wreckage that late October Sunday afternoon.
“I have to say that is was quite a shock,” he said.
“It was the last thing I expected to find and such an amazing chance that I did.
“The bush that had grown up around it was very dense and I really only knew it was there because I walked into it.
“(If I’d been) a few metres further away I probably wouldn’t have known it was there.”
Now, 54 years on from the discovery, Mr Sonter was the guest of honour at the 50th birthday celebrations of the Aviation Pioneers Memorial.
The memorial was established by Cooma Lions Club in 1962, and the club hosted the celebrations.
Local Lion Tony Mackenzie was very pleased to witness the affair and the rededication of the Southern Cloud Memorial, which houses relics from the aircraft.
Mr Mackenzie is the only Lion remaining who worked on the project, building the memorial.
“We built the whole thing on site,” Mr Mackenzie said.
“The cement walls and the winged roof that make it so eyecatching were cast into formwork we built here.
“It was a big – and heavy – undertaking at the time, but it’s become a noted tourist attraction for the whole region and we’re very proud of the Lions’ involvement in it over the years.”
An enthusiastic crowd enjoyed a sausage sizzle following the formalities, and many took the time to talk with Mr Sonter and review the enlarged pictures of the discovery site he brought with him.