By Elizabeth Jurman
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on November 11, 1989
An Australian flag came out of the aeroplane first. Then Gaby emerged smiling and looking slightly embarrassed.
Gaby Kennard greeted by her son James (6) at Bankstown Airport.Credit: Peter Rae
It had taken her 99 days - not to mention years of planning - but Gaby Kennard had done it.
When her single-engine Piper Saratoga touched down at Bankstown Airport at 9.30 am yesterday, she became the first Australian woman to have flown around the world solo.
“I’m overwhelmed,” she said. “I’m just so thrilled to be back.”
Gaby Kennard after arriving at Bankstown Airport. November 10, 1989.Credit: Peter Rae
As a crowd of about 300 looked on and applauded through the drizzling rain, Ms Kennard was officially welcomed home and congratulated.
The official party included the Premier’s wife, Mrs Kathryn Greiner, solo world sailor Kay Cottee, Dawn Fraser, Cliff Young and Senator Bronwyn Bishop.
Mrs Greiner thanked Gaby, on behalf of the people of NSW, “for giving us something we can emulate. We need to rekindle that sense of adventure and spirit.”
And Kay Cottee told her: “I know how hard it is, it takes years of planning.”
Present also was Peter Norvill, the first Australian man to have flown around the world solo. His welcome-home party in June last year had consisted of a lone public relations representative.
Mr Norvill said he considered yesterday’s event as a sort of belated homecoming and was glad to see it happen for Gaby.
Among those who took the day off yesterday to welcome Ms Kennard were Mr Peter Novetky and Mrs Irene Ruprecht.
Mr Novetky said: “I think in all these days of rockets and bombs it’s fantastic for someone to achieve something like this.”
And although Mrs Ruprecht was not able to see Gaby because of all the cameras, she said that she was happy just to be there and “be part of the emotion”.
Later, there was an eight-car motorcade for Ms Kennard, from The Rocks up George Street to the Town Hall, where a crowd of about 1,000 saw her presented with the key to the city by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Alderman Jeremy Bingham
Along the route, some admirers, who were short of ticker tape, had improvised with pieces of torn newspaper.
Ms Kennard said yesterday that she had persevered because of personal ambition, but also a desire to inspire others to achieve their dreams.