For a large period of her life, Lindsey-Jane’s view was from 10,000 metres.

Known as “Linney” to family and friends, the All Hallows Mews retirement village resident spent more than 11 years working as an air hostess with the former airline company Ansett Australia in the 1970s and 80s.

“There were only about 26 or so of us then – we were called the ‘Country Club’ because we flew to country destinations in South Australia,” Linney said.

As an air hostess on regional routes around South Australia, with occasional interstate routes, Linney said she was fortunate to be a tourist in her home state.

“It was always my plan to join the Ansett main line and fly interstate,” she said.

“But I was so happy with the airline in South Australia and having a home base while also getting the chance to travel.

“I think the South East and going to places like Mount Gambier was probably a favourite of the runs that we used to do, but I was also very fond of Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln.”

Linney’s memories and experiences – thrilling landings, strange and odd passengers, and the heart-warming moments that unfolded in the cabin – stayed with her long after she hung up her uniform.

“I loved hopping on a plane for work or holidays. It was the sensation – I loved the take-off, the landing, and the experience of being with all the people.”

 

 

These memories were channelled into a book, which is part travel diary, part love letter to a profession that changed Linney’s life.

Her novel, Here, There and Everywhere: Memoirs of an Air Hostess, initially started as a series of stories published online through the story sharing platform Wattpad, before her friend, poet and author Jude Aquilina, suggested the episodic stories be combined into a book.

Jude edited the book and suggested Linney pitch it to Ginninderra Press for publication. The book was printed and published a year later in 2019.

Linney said she was proud of her book and all the hard work that went into it, as well as the response she had received from people who had purchased and read it.

“I am really pleased and proud of my little book,” she said.

“It gives me a lot of pleasure to see people reading it and enjoying it. The residents here [at All Hallows Mews] have read the copy that I donated to our common room.

“It is also on display in the Ansett Museum in Hamilton, Victoria.”

Six years on since her book was released, Linney said she has been keeping herself busy writing a sequel, called Here, There and Everywhere Else.

“It is going to include stories that I was not able to fit in the first novel,” Linney said, “as well as some new ones that I have since remembered.”

You can find out more information about Linney’s book, Here, There and Everywhere: Memoirs of an Air Hostess, on her publisher Ginninderra Press’ website.