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This film shows a number of different aviation scenes, mainly from Palmerston North's Milson Airport and the Taieri Airfields (Dunedin). They were shot and compiled by Wally Smith. Wally Smith was born in 1910. He joined the NZBS in Dunedin and bought an 8mm movie camera about the same time. In 1947, he moved from Dunedin to Palmerston North with the family joining him in 1948. On arrival they lived in the Empire Hotel until a house could be found. As part of his job he archived all broadcasting matters and installed aerial and transmitters, including over-seeing the construction of the Mt Wharite TV transmitter. Wally retired in 1972-1973. Over the last years of his life, aged 81-91, he chronicled 36 editions of "Broadcasting - Infancy of Radio in NZ" which now resides in the Hocken Library. He also compiled his (and some of his friends and family's) "memories" which are held in the Ian Matheson City Archives. While most of them centre on Palmerston North, they cover stories from all over NZ on a myriad of topics - from "Eeling with Greta" to "Memories of Electric Tramways" to "Radio in my Life". At home movie-making was one of his many hobbies along with astronomy (telescope building), aircraft and amateur radio.

Identification

Object type
Video
Date
1946 to circa 1950
Digitisation ID
2016V_2013-45_013326
Format
DVD (video disc)
Held In
Coolstore

Creation

Created By
Place
Palmerston North

Object rights

Taxonomy

Community Tags
aircraft,
airport,
flight,
flying,
milson,
plane,
travel,

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