Bert Hinkler’s Avro Avian left England on 7 February and arrived in Darwin on 22 February 1928, fewer than 16 days later. Newspapers and the public became increasingly excited after he passed India, and tumultuous crowds would greet him in his home town of Bundaberg and several other cities.
After the Newcastle Herald called him “Hustling Hinkler”, this popular song quickly appeared.
‘Hustling Hinkler’ sheet music
Courtesy National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn1488676-s1-e-cd
Della was consumed with Hinkler-mania. The closer the airman flew to Australia, the more enthusiastic she became. She took particular delight in singing the ‘Hinkle Hustle’ at the top of her voice and choreographing appropriate actions. It was a little number she performed at every opportunity between lessons, and the class wasted no time in joining her. The moment a nun vacated the platform, Miss Sotheby and chorus would claim that spot as their stage, singing and dancing over and over until warning signals sent them scurrying back to their seats and the next sister entered the room.
– from A Distant Prospect, by Annette Young, Chapter 4.
- View the sheet music at the National Library of Australia.
- Read more: Our heroes of the air, National Film and Sound Archive.
- Listen to Hustling Hinkler sung by Len Maurice (1928, Columbia 0954).
(NFSA 191192)
- Look inside A Distant Prospect at Amazon