In the 1920s Nancy Bird rose to pre-eminence in Australian aviation as one of the pioneers in the aero-medical aviation. She has maintained her profile in aviation and is regarded as Australia's unofficial international ambassador for women in aviation.

In 1958 she renewed her licence which had lapsed 20 years before and travelled to America for the Powder Puff Derby, a cross country flying race. She flew in this race three times coming fifth in her first race and becoming the first non-American to win a trophy in the event.

'This trophy was presented to Nancy-Bird by George A Levy Inc. of the United States of America for her contributions to the 'Powder Puff Derby' in 1977.

References
Nancy Bird, My God It's a Woman, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1995
Blue File, Powerhouse Museum, 96/324/1

Geoff Barker, March, 2007

This trophy was presented to Dame Nancy Bird Walton, an Australian aviation pioneer.

Trophy, 'Powder Puff Derby', from the Nancy Bird Walton collection, metal / wood, made by George A Levy Inc, America, 1977

'Powder Puff Derby' commemorative trophy made of metal and wood. A chromed statuette of a woman with arms and wings raised above her head appears on the right section of the trophy. To the rear left of this is a horizontal wooden mount with blue metallic plaque showing a map of the United States of America. The base of the trophy is rectangular and is also made from wood. It is lacquered. Underneath the base is a circular hole from which the figure of the woman has been screwed in.

Made: George A Levy Inc; Tampa, Hillsborough county, Florida, USA; 1977


Owned: Walton, Nancy Bird; ; 1977 - 1987

On the blue metallic plaque is a silver map of the United States of America with the text, 'POWDER PUFF / DERBY / COMMEMORATIVE / FLIGHT / 1947 1977 / Transcontinental All-Woman / Air Race' with the names of the flight stopovers made including (from the west to east sides of the country), 'Palm Springs', 'Tucson', 'El Paso', 'Midland', 'Dallas', 'Shreveport', 'Jackson', 'Monweville', 'Thomasville' and 'Tampa'. Other US states are also etched in small silver print. On the base is also a black circular sticker with gold print, 'TROPHIES - AWARDS / GEORGE A LEVY / INC. / 2614 W KENNEDY / 877-8279 / TAMPA, FLORIDA'.

87/1277

1977

170 mm

140 mm

67 mm