Glen Innes’ own Nancy Elaine Williams sadly passed away on the 16 November 2024.
Nancy was born on 18 October 1934 and raised at the family property “Taylorville”, Blair Hill, Glencoe. In 1945 the family moved into 44 Church St, Glen Innes where they remained for the next 50 years.
From the age of 15 Nancy was a well-known and respected staff member of Fayle’s Pharmacy, and played singles tennis as well.
However, Nancy brought pride and fame to the Glen Innes Aero Club and the town as a whole, by becoming the first licenced lady pilot between Newcastle and the Queensland border on the 14 June 1954 aged 20. As reported in “The Beardies Heritage”.
She went on to fly in many pageants and air shows throughout the state, then being employed by the Tamworth Aerodrome as a Ferry Pilot and Club Secretary – a position held by very few women in Australia.
A large gathering of family and friends attended her funeral in Tuncurry NSW on the 29 November 2024, where she and husband David Witten had retired.
Nancy Elaine Williams was certainly a trailblazer of her time.
