The family of one of the Qantas founders with links to north-west Queensland is reaching out to family members ahead of the 100 years celebrations of the airline in the year 2020.
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Relatives of Alexander Kennedy are endeavouring to contact the various branches of the Kennedy families.
Alexander Kennedy was a former Cloncurry councillor who played an important role in the Qantas story.
His ashes are buried in a memorial near the property Devoncourt outside Cloncurry and his nephew Robert John Neil is buried in Mount Isa cemetery.
Alexander Kennedy arrived in Queensland from England in 1861 and owned Carlton Hills around the heads of East and West Leichardt.
Kennedy formed a partnership with Roger Sheaffe from “Devoncourt” south of Cloncurry.
In 1885 Kennedy was elected to the first Cloncurry Divisional Board and held a local government position for 30 years. In 1907 the Kennedy family moved from “Devoncourt” into Cloncurry
In 1895 Alexander’s son, Jack, discovered the mineral deposit which became the Duchess copper mine which they sold to a mining company.
In 1919 Kennedy met Paul McGinness who was preparing landing grounds for an air race from England to Australia.
McGinness worked with Hudson Fysh and Fergus McMaster on their dream of establishing an air service in western Queensland. Alexander Kennedy was approached to help finance the dream.
He is reported to have said “I know you well and believe in your judgement. I will put in two hundred pounds”.
McMaster said, “Make it two hundred and fifty pounds.”
Kennedy agreed with one condition – “that I am the first passenger when a regular service starts”.
At the time of this conversation, Kennedy was 83 years old.
In November 1922 Kennedy caught the train from Brisbane to Longreach and on November 3, 1922 climbed into the back seat of the Armstrong Whitworth FK-8 with Fysh as pilot.
Alexander held Ticket No. 1 on the first scheduled service from Longreach to Cloncurry.
Alexander great-great nephew Jim Kennedy is now looking for family members to contact him on 0447 372 032.