Captain Geoff White

Biography of Captain Geoff White.

My Great Grandad, by Mackenzie Hulse.

INTRODUCTION

My biography is about my Great Grandad, Captain Geoff White.

I liked to call him Great Grand Pops.

EARLY LIFE

My Great Grandad was born in Tongala, New South Wales in Australia in 1927.

His birthday was 28th of September. Great Grandad's father - Stanley - had immigrated to Australia from England after the war when he met Great Grandads mum - Kathleen - who was from New Zealand. His family did farming in Australia. Grandad came to New Zealand in 1933 when he was 6 years old.

The family moved to Christchurch first, where Kathleen was from originally.

One of Great Grandads interests when he was little was becoming a pilot for New Zealand Royal Air Force. Great Grandad played with two bits of wood and a stick in the backyard playing take off and landing. He really loved playing with planes.

Great Grandads inspiration to fly came from the London to Melbourne Air Race 1934. Great Grandad read about this in the papers and was inspired. Campbell Black won with a comet plane.

Great Grandad moved to Pukekohe at age 9, and then to Auckland where he went to Mt Albert Grammar school. In 1943 Great Grandad left Mt Albert Grammar and had a job in Auckland City while waiting to get into the Royal NZ Air Force. Which he joined soon after.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

Great Grandad was a Captain for 35 years and was remembered as being a wonderful boss, and a lovely man who was very supportive. He is well known for his flying career. Great Grandad was the first pilot to fly passengers to the Pacific Islands on the Teal Flying Boats. Grandad also had some hobbies he liked to do he did… family tree genealogy, stamp collecting, coin collecting and finishing on his boat.

Later in life Great Grandad volunteered for Senior Net and taught computer skills to the elderly in New Zealand and later in Australia.

Great Grandad flew a plane for his 90th birthday and he was a wonderful Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad.

CONCLUSION

Great Grandad passed away in Albury New South Wales where he lived in a retirement home.

Next year, in April, we will be travelling to Dunedin at Easter to hold a special memorial service for Great Grandad as he passed away in lock down when our family could not travel.

REFERENCE LIST

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongala

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacRobertson_Air_Race

https://www.airhistory.net/text/events/macrobertson-melbourne-air-race-1934.php