$1m RFDS donation tribute to lost pilot
PILOT Brant Aldhamland dreamt of a life soaring the skies and saving lives with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Under an “extraordinary” gift of almost $1 million, his legacy will now help train RFDS pilots for decades to come.
“It’s incredibly humbling,’’ RFDS chief Meredith Staib said yesterday.
“We never cease to be amazed by the generosity of our benefactors.
“We’re very grateful. It shows a wonderful spirit of human kindness.’’
In her will, the late Jennifer Sibthorpe, 76, of Sydney, a former aviation worker, bequeathed almost her entire life savings to the RFDS in memory of her lost son.
It follows the almost $10 million donation of late Cape York grazier Geoffrey Carrick – the biggest ever private bequest in the history of the RFDS and one of the state’s most generous acts of philanthropy – in May this year.
Eight years ago, solo chief pilot Mr Aldhamland, 37, of Cairns, died when his aircraft crashed into the sea in heavy weather on a freight charter flight 26km north of Horn Island airport in the Torres Strait on February 24, 2011.
It took nine months before the wreckage was located on the seabed by a local crayfish diver but the pilot’s body was never found.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found “insufficient evidence” to determine the cause of the crash but linked it to a combination of fatigue, rain and poor visibility.
“His dream was to one day become a pilot with the RFDS,’’ family friend and executor of the will Jeff Schaffer said. “He was Jennifer’s only child and she was in a mess for a long while after his death, she never really got over his loss.
“She was very old-fashioned, never spent money on herself, all she wanted to do was donate everything she had to the RFDS and maybe get a plaque on the wall in memory of her son.
“We’re thrilled this foundation in his honour to help train young pilots is so much more.’’
Under the new RFDS Aircrew Mentoring Program two young pilots will be sponsored every year to work up the flying hours and experience to become an RFDS pilot.
“It’s sad we couldn’t share our vision with Jennifer of what will come out of her amazing gift,’’ the RFDS’S Ms Staib said.