Gertie's Gulls Multi-Cache
Earthbound Chief: Five years is a pretty good innings for this cache. Time to retire.
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This is the first in an anticipated series featuring Aviators of Moorabbin.
Gertrude Josephine McKenzie (1904-1960) was Mayoress of South Melbourne when her husband, Roderick, was Mayor. After his death in 1946 she decided to pursue her interest in aviation.
She gained her private pilots licence in 1937. Her poor treatment by aviation authorities spurred her to action and saw her outperform her male colleagues while learning the ropes and excel in her exam results. Gertrude learned to fly at Essendon and became known as 'Mac'. Her first aircraft, a DH-60 VH-UGS had on the cowl M.O.B.A.(My Own Bloody Aeroplane). All of Mac’s aircraft were labelled as such , painted on the cowl after their names and registrations. She also owned a red Moth Minor, VH-AAM. At the time of her death, Mac’s school operated a fleet of eight aircraft. Five DH-82 Tiger Moths, a DHC-1 Chipmunk, an Auster and a Piper Tri Pacer. They were all named, apart from Tri Pacer VH-GMH. The Tigers were VH-GMA “Faith”, VH-GMB “Hope”, VH-GMC “Charity”, VH-GME “Aires” and VH-GMF “Patience”. The Chipmunk VH-GMD “Mischief” and the Auster J/1N “Alpha", VH-GMG “The Ugly Duckling”. Seven of the aircraft still survive today. Her first plane was destroyed by fire in 2006 at Barwon Heads as it was nearing the end of a 16 year restoration.
In 1954, she decided to enter another male dominated area, local politics. She had started the McKenzie Flying School, known as "The Gulls” and had opened opened flying schools at Benalla and Shepparton as well as starting a parachute school at Moorabbin. It seemed Mac was up for a new challenge.
There was such opposition to a woman running for council that she was quoted in a local newspaper as saying, “The idea that women can’t occupy public office went out with button-up boots.” She won election to council in 1955 but Councillor McKenzie wasn't welcomed warmly by all her fellow councillors. In her mayoral candidacy a few years later, even though she had the support of the local media, there were still questions as to how a woman could possibly do the job. That vote was initially declared a tie but Gertrude noticed a miscount prompting the chairman to call for a recount. She won and was duly announced the first female Mayor of Mordialloc. During her year in office Gertrude was diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery followed.
At the completion of her term she admonished the council, asking that when (not ‘if’) another woman takes on the role of mayor, "Don't do to her what you did to me. Don't give her all the sorrow and grief that I had at the start of the municipal year”
Gertrude eventually had to resign from council due to her deteriorating health. She died just three months later, aged 56. She was survived by her son, Graeme.
Those who knew her described her as feisty, forthright and strong willed. She pushed for what she believed was right and correct and had incredible leadership qualities. There was a plaque placed on Gertrude's grave in Cheltenham Memorial Park in December 2010 to mark the 50th anniversary of her passing. Up until then her grave had been unmarked.
The posted co-ordinates should take you to the entrance of a park named in her honour. At the listed co-ordinates you will need to find,
The year she was Mayor is: A B C D
The years she was councillor was: E F G H - I J K L
(KL - GH) x B x C = Z Z Z
(GH x D) - (D + J) = Y Y Y
You are heading to S 37 59 ZZZ E 145 05 YYY
You are looking for a 200ml sistema container.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures