General News
4 April, 2025
Guest speaker flies by to greet Probus
Maryborough Probus hosted an inspiring guest speaker this week, with Captain Lisa Norman sharing her experience as an international pilot.
Nearly 30 Maryborough Probus members attended the session on Tuesday morning, where Ms Norman shared insights into her journey of becoming a pilot and the challenges she encountered as a female in the industry.
Ms Norman made history in 1989 when she became the first ever pilot to fly a nonstop commercial flight from Perth to London.
“People still get shocked, I come out of the flight deck, they see I’ve got four gold bars, and they go ‘oh, you’re a woman,” she said.
“I’ve flown into some countries and made radio calls followed by no response. My male colleague would make the same call, and get a response.”
After leaving regional Victoria to study and work in Melbourne, she eventually pursued aviation, an interest already part of her family.
“I left school not knowing what I wanted to do. In Melbourne I used to watch these light aircrafts taking off and landing, I thought maybe one day I could get a pilots licence. My grandfather was a pilot in World War II, my mum’s father, and my uncle was a pilot,” she said.
From the days of passengers being allowed to smoke on the aircraft to mid-flight visits in the cockpit, members discussed insights and experiences from their own overseas travels.
Still working in the industry, Ms Norman talked about many other changes in recent decades and advances that have occurred in the industry since she started.
“All the time, people talk about getting rid of the pilot and to have unmanned flights. But I keep saying, we’ve been doing unmanned flights for a while...I’ve had all female crews,” she said.
As the session finished with a Q&A discussion, members gave their enthusiasm and admiration.
One of them, her mother and long time Maryborough Probus member, Jill Hunter, expressed immense pride in her daughter’s achievements.
“I’m a bit proud, dad is up there looking at her. She’s got her father flying on one wing and her uncle on the other,” she said.
While Ms Norman has worked in every continent, including one of her favourite destinations, Antarctica, she still frequently returns to Moonambel to see her mother, who has always been one of her biggest supporters.
“She’s a very special lady...When I told mum I wanted to be a pilot she just said ‘you’ve got it in you.’ I come back here a lot and see her,” she said.
Ms Norman emphasised the importance of perseverance, encouraging others to purse their passion regardless of societal expectations.
“I’m very fortunate to have this career. I wanted to be part of a change, and I’m a big believer in making a difference. You can do anything you want, if you believe you can achieve,” she said.
The Maryborough Probus club continues its tradition of hosting esteemed guest speakers each month.