Wally Shiers AFM & Bar: a vital member of the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU epic flight in the England to Darwin 1919–1920 Great Air Race. Reserve at Netley South Australia

            Wally Shiers AFM & Bar

This reserve at Netley, on the southern side of Adelaide Airport, is a tribute to Wally Shiers who was Mechanic/Flight Engineeer on the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU on its epic flight from England to Darwin in the 1919–1920 Great Air Race. 
He accompanied Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith, along with mechanic Jim Bennett: the two highly skilled mechanics were of invaluable support as they maintained and repaired the aircraft, sometimes overnight, during stops.

Wally Shiers was born in Norwood South Australia. 
Aged 23 years as Trooper Number 27 he served in the Light Horse Regiment during World War One and was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps' No1 Squadron.
He had embarked from Australia 22 June 1915 on the 'Vestalia'. 

After the race Wally married and lived in Sydney. He worked with Airlines of Australia and during World War Two he manufactured parachutes.

After the death of his wife 'Wally' (Walter Henry Shiers), returned to Adelaide to live with his brother at Hilton. He died 2 June 1968 and is buried in the Military Graves Section,'Derrick Gardens'in the Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena.

In 2019, to coincide with the epic flight centenary, Wally and Jim Bennett were inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

This reserve is located adjacent the Brown Hill Creek Wetland Patawalonga Catchment. The wetland is managed jointly by the City of West Torrens and Adelaide Airport.

Taken on: July 31, 2025

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D7500 « less

Sets appears in: • West Beach, Henley Beach, Grange, Largs Bay South Australia • Aviators / Aviation

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Camera: Nikon D7500, f/8.0, 1/250 sec, 18mm (=27mm), ISO 110 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7500
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
ISO:	110
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
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