HOW SURVIVORS WERE FOUND ON A HERO’S HUNCH
Stinson hinterland crash: 85 years ago today
NOBODY should have survived the crash of a brand new Stinson plane into the rugged bushland of the Gold Coast Hinterland.
Seven men were aboard the craft when
it went down in torrential rain and authorities believed all had perished when it failed to land at its destination in Lismore.
But one man, Bernard O’reilly, believed the plane had crashed near his remote property and there was a chance of survivors being found.
Thanks to him, two men were saved and one of Australia’s most remarkable stories of survival was etched into the history books.
Saturday marks 85 years since the Stinson crash, yet interest in the story of Mr O’reilly’s incredible battle against the odds and elements continues to draw in crowds at his historic retreat, now a tourist attraction.
His great nephew, Shane O’reilly, said he was delighted that people continued to make the pilgrimage to the O’reilly’s Rainforest Retreat to hear the story or retrace the 1937 journey.
“We have a replica of the plane on our front lawn and it gets a lot of interest,” he said.
“People come up here to hear the story.
“It is a great true story of human endeavour and mateship coming together.
“We are glad that people want to learn about it and we actually have two walks to retrace the journey planned for this year.”
The Stinson Model A, named City of Brisbane, took off from Brisbane’s Archerfield Airport early on the afternoon of February 19, 1937, bound for Sydney, via a stopover in Lismore.
Flown by chief pilot Reginald Haslam “Rex’” Boyden and first pilot Beverley G. M. Shepherd, it had five passengers – Joe Binstead, William Walden Fountain, John Seymour Proud, James Graham and Jim Westray.
It crashed in the hinterland after 2pm that day during bad weather, and was reported missing after it failed to arrive in Lismore.
The early searches focused on northern NSW but Bernard O’reilly did not believe the plane would have been able to fly over the mountain range in the weather and determined it would have crashed within Queensland.
After eight days and no sign of the plane, Mr O’reilly entered the treacherous Lamington National Park in the Mcpherson Ranges in search of the wreck and with hopes of finding survivors.
On the second day of his journey, the bushman discovered the wreck and two injured survivors – Mr Binstead and Mr Proud – as well as the body of Mr Westray, who had perished while trying to find help.
Mr O’reilly made the 16km trek through the bush to find help and returned with a search party.
He had fought in the Middle East and Pacific with the 9th Division during World War II. After the war he returned to the hinterland, and died in Beaudesert on January 20, 1975.
Mr Proud was the last survivor of the crash, dying in 1997 at age 90.