Ben Buckley: High country remembers larger than life figure

High country legend Ben Buckley has passed away “snug” under an Australian flag doona at his home.

Ben Buckley once landed his light aircraft at a local petrol station to be refuelled before flying it straight through the local footy posts on game day. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ben Buckley has been remembered as one of East Gippsland’s larger than life characters after courting controversy in his career as a commercial pilot and long serving councillor.

The Benambra crop duster died at home on Thursday, aged 85, after battling prostate cancer in recent years.

Mr Buckley grew up in Balnarring, but lived the majority of his life in the high country where he established his business, Alpine Aviation, in 1960 after obtaining his pilot’s licence at the age of 21 in New Zealand.

Ben Buckley flying over Benambra in 1998.

He was one of Australia’s longest-serving crop dusters and in 1967, along with fellow pilot, Bob Lansbury, they were credited with performing the first aerial bombing of a bushfire in Victoria when they spotted a plume of smoke coming up in the nearby area.

Mr Buckley also volunteered his services to operate an unofficial air ambulance service for sick and injured people before the establishment of Helimed.

He also rescued people lost in the high country from the air.

But there were also well documented brushes with aviation authorities including allegedly steering a plane underneath a bridge over the Snowy River, dumping fertiliser on the local football team as part of a story on A Current Affair in 1987 and lolly drops at the annual Hinnomunjie picnic race meeting.

He also famously once landed a light plane at the Benambra petrol station before taking off again and flying through the goalposts during a football match in town.

Mr Buckley had his licence taken away more than 10 times during his flying career.

He had an equally controversial career in local government that began in 1980 when he was elected to the former Omeo Shire where he had a brief stint as president.

Mr Buckley later served on East Gippsland Shire following council amalgamations in the early 1990s.

Despite regularly topping elections, Mr Buckley often butted heads with officialdom.

Controversies included refusing to sign a code of conduct introduced by the Victorian government and lifting the lid on a $16,000 conflict management program carried out by consultants paid for by council to resolve internal bickering.

He also stood multiple times for the Liberal Democrats at federal and state elections without success even though he was a staunch opponent of compulsory voting.

Benambra pilot and councillor Ben Buckley has passed away. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Buckley retired from local government in the lead-up to the 2020 election when his daughter Sonia was elected.

She said his health battles, including a recent mild dose of Covid, had taken their toll.

“He has had a very full life, there is no doubt about that,” she said.

“The whole set of events wore his body out in the end.

“He was a hardworking man all his life.

“I’m pretty sure he has done the most logged crop dusting hours anywhere in Australia.

“There have also been a few peoples’ lives he has saved.

“Back in the day there were no air ambulances so he would fly them to hospital.

“All those things, plus his political career, made him quite a legendary character.”

Mr Buckley played football for Benambra and was the club’s long-serving goal umpire at the end of his playing days.

He was doing timekeeping duties as late as last year.

MP Tim Bull said East Gippsland had lost one of its genuine characters.

“He gave decades of community service both as a councillor and as a member of a huge range of groups and organisations,” he said.

“He was larger than life, had a great personality and sense of humour.

“He will be sadly missed by everyone in East Gippsland.”

Mr Buckley is survived by six children and 10 grandchildren.