Mossgreen
The John Fisher Collection of Aviation History - 367 lots
The John Fisher Collection of Aviation History
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Auction House:
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Reference:#MG138
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Description:A TRIBUTE TO JOHN FISHER O.A.M.
John lived his life according to his favourite quote by American writer and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau,
’The mass of men lead quiet lives of desperation. I wish to live deliberateIy, ....and not when I come to die, discover that I have not lived’
As a pilot, solo-aviator London-Sydney, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of The Old Aviators Flying Museum, John's life was full and adventurous.
In 1996, he embarked on a remarkable adventure, a sob flight from London to Sydney in his beloved Tiger Moth aircraft. He planned and executed the trip him5elf, learning to fly only four years beforehand and had spent only 350 hours in the air when he stepped into the cockpit. He broke ten aviation records on the epic, 42-day journey and his name was inscribed alongside that of Amy Johnson and Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith on the Aviation's Stone of Fame in Darwin.
Some years later, John's sense of adventure led him to undertake another ambitious journey from London to Sydney, in The London to Sydney Marathon Car Rally, in which he competed in his 911 Porsche.
He also competed in several Sydney to Hobart yacht races, climbed and trekked in New Zealand, Nepal, Pakistan and India and rafted in the wilderness of the Franklin River. Scuba diving, Canoeing, caving, Triathlon competitions, parachuting, skiing and rowing were also among the many other physical and mental challenges he set himself.
Ap perfectionist by nature, John was well suited to his chosen career in accounting and he spent more than 20 years as a Senior Partner at Coopers & Lybrand / Pricewaterhouse Coopers. He went on to be a mentor, advisor and board member to numerous other businesses.
John was also a passionate philanthropist and advocate for child welfare here and overseas. He gave his time to the Youth Council, UNICEF and other, similar foundations in Asia and was a founding member of the Hoc Mai Foundation, which delivers medical and educational services in Vietnam, and was influential in implementing a basic loan facility to disadvantaged villages.
In 2000 John received an OAM for his services to youth and contribution at board level to the Hoc Mai Foundation.
John’s most recent passion was collecting for the Old Aviators Flying Museum, which he founded in 2010. He purchased two hangers and was building another, and scoured the world for old aircraft parts, wartime implements and instruments with a focus on pre-1950 aircraft, most specifically De Haviland built planes, He was also preparing to restore old Tiger Moths with the assistance of volunteers.
John’s life was cut tragically short when he died at Maryborough in January 2012 as a result of an accident in his beloved Tiger Moth, along with passenger David Oxley.
Now, five years on from his death, his entire aviation collection, which includes a Vampire Jet, a Chipmunk, several Tiger Moths and a Jackaroo, an anti-aircraft gun and a range of memorabilia is available to other passionate aviators and collectors.
We hope that, in finding new homes for the pieces in this auction, that the new owners will gain as much enjoyment from them as John did. -
Sale(s):30 Apr 2017 ~ 12noon
Maryborough Cafe Gallery
Maryborough Railway Station
Station Street
Maryborough, VIC 3465 Australia -
Viewing:01 Apr 2017 ~ 10am - 5pm
Maryborough Airport
Leviathan Road
Maryborough, VIC 3465
Australia
29 Apr 2017 ~ 10am - 5pm
Maryborough Airport
Leviathan Road
Maryborough, VIC 3465
Australia
30 Apr 2017 ~ 9am - 11am
Maryborough Airport
Leviathan Road
Maryborough, VIC 3465
Australia
Prices realised in this sale include buyers premium of 26.400%.
