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Sir Hudson Fysh KBE DFC (1895-1974), founder of Qantas, was one of Australia's great aviation administrators. Born in Launceston, Tasmania, he enlisted at the beginning of World War I and served in the Australian Flying Corps as an observer, winning the DFC. In 1919 he qualified as a pilot. Later that year he was commissioned by the government to survey the Darwin to Longreach section of the Britain-Australia Air Race, which he had been prevented from entering by lack of funds. In 1920 Fysh and his companion on the survey, P. McGinnis, joined two others to form Queensland and Northern Territory Air Services Ltd (Qantas) with Fysh as general manager of the company. Qantas began to operate the Singapore-Australia air route in 1934, trading as Qantas Empire Airways. Six years later Fysh became a director of Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, which flew to and from New Zealand. He oversaw further expansion of Qantas before retiring as managing director in 1953 and chairman in 1966.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Timothy Fairfax AC 2003
Accession number: 2003.34
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On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Johanna McMahon revels in history and mystery in pursuit of a suite of unknown portrait subjects.
Sir William Dobell painted the portraits of Sir Charles Lloyd Jones and Sir Hudson Fysh, who did much to promote the image of Australia in this country and abroad.
Gael Newton delves into the life and art of renowned Australian photographer, Max Dupain.