Ivy May Pearce
Encyclopedia
Ivy May Pearce was one of the first female pilots in the southern hemisphere and a pioneer of the Gold Coast
, Queensland
(Dwyer, N. 1998). She was also noted for a number of fashion boutiques she established in the region and her association with Vogue
Australia.
, in the hope that the dryer climate may help her recover.
Pearce and her younger sister, Merle, lived in the Dalby Convent, as this was the only place their parents could find for them to stay. At the convent she began piano lessons, at which she excelled. On her return to Brisbane
she attended All Hallows Catholic School where she also learnt the cello and the violin. It was here that she also received her piano letters.
After leaving All Hallows, Pearce developed an interest in flying after her father gave her a Tiger Moth
plane. She was soon flying around her home town of Surfers Paradise and went on to become one of Australia's first aerobatic pilots, taking her first flying lessons aged only 16, and by 18, had her A-class pilot's licence.
Pearce was referred to as an aviatrix during the era of the 1930s. One of her best friends of that period was Gloria (née Osborne) Pritchett of Bundaberg, Queensland
. Gloria frequently flew with Ivy in a two seat configured biplane. Gloria was also a bridesmaid at Ivy's wedding to Ernest Jason Hassard. Gloria resided in Coronado, California
until she died in 2008.
She married Ernest Jason Hassard, nephew of Keith Virtue
, in 1937 at the age of 23.
Described as "one of the countries first aerobatic pilots" (Dwyer, N. 1998) and an aviatrix, in 1934 Pearce was runner up in the Courier-Mail Flying Scholarship behind the winner Harry Poulsen. Pearce "was the only female among five males who scored free lessons and a year's membership to the Aero Club" (Clare Mackenzie, 1993). Due to there being no other female pilots, let alone ones who could do loops in the air and were only 18 years of age, she had trouble finding a game passenger. Brisbane Catholic Archbishop James Duhig
volunteered. Pearce once said "I've never been absolutely sure whether he put his faith in me of the Almighty on that occasion".
She competed in the 16 December 1936 Brisbane
to Adelaide
air race. Pearce made national headlines as the youngest entrant who recorded the fastest time of any woman pilot, heavily handicapped and just two seconds behind the eventual winner. She beat Reg Ansett
, founder of Ansett Airlines. (Mackenzie (1993)]
In 1946 Pearce opened the first fashion boutique on the Gold Coast. She used her own design and later organised fashion parades for the region, being some of the first fashion parades for that area.
In the late 1950s she opened a beauty salon called 'Jollie Madame', named after her favourite perfume. By this time she had three children. Her marriage to Jason ended in 1950.
During the 1960s Pearce opened her third boutique, 'Ivy Hassard Fashions', which used to be at the ANA hotel site.
Due to her lung condition, she was not expected to live to child bearing age. She defied medical authorities and survived to be 84. On 26 April 1998 Ivy Pearce died, the lung condition finally claiming her life, leaving behind three children and numerous grandchildren.
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
(Dwyer, N. 1998). She was also noted for a number of fashion boutiques she established in the region and her association with Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
Australia.
Life
Pearce was born in Ipswich to George and Sarah-Ann Pearce and was raised in a succession of Hotels. At three years of age, in 1917, she fell ill with a lung condition that almost claimed her life. She struggled through life and by the time she was 6 her parents decided to send her to Dalby, QueenslandDalby, Queensland
Dalby is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, and is located approximately west of the state capital, Brisbane, at the junction of the Warrego, Moonie and Bunya Highways. Dalby is the administrative centre of the Western Downs Region and the centre of Australia's richest...
, in the hope that the dryer climate may help her recover.
Pearce and her younger sister, Merle, lived in the Dalby Convent, as this was the only place their parents could find for them to stay. At the convent she began piano lessons, at which she excelled. On her return to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
she attended All Hallows Catholic School where she also learnt the cello and the violin. It was here that she also received her piano letters.
After leaving All Hallows, Pearce developed an interest in flying after her father gave her a Tiger Moth
Tiger moth
Tiger moths are moths of the family Arctiidae.Tiger moth may also refer to:*de Havilland Tiger Moth, an aircraft; an aerobatic and trainer tailwheel biplane*de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth, an earlier monoplane produced by de Havilland...
plane. She was soon flying around her home town of Surfers Paradise and went on to become one of Australia's first aerobatic pilots, taking her first flying lessons aged only 16, and by 18, had her A-class pilot's licence.
Pearce was referred to as an aviatrix during the era of the 1930s. One of her best friends of that period was Gloria (née Osborne) Pritchett of Bundaberg, Queensland
Bundaberg, Queensland
Bundaberg is a city in Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Local Government Area of the Bundaberg Region and is a major centre within Queensland's broader Wide Bay-Burnett geographical region...
. Gloria frequently flew with Ivy in a two seat configured biplane. Gloria was also a bridesmaid at Ivy's wedding to Ernest Jason Hassard. Gloria resided in Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
until she died in 2008.
She married Ernest Jason Hassard, nephew of Keith Virtue
Keith Virtue
Keith Allison Virtue MBE was a pioneer Australian aviator. Sir Lawrence Wackett, in the Foreword of Keith Virtue's biography, writes that he was an experienced airman himself but he marvelled at the ability and skill of Keith Virtue and counts him as one of the greatest of the Australians who...
, in 1937 at the age of 23.
Described as "one of the countries first aerobatic pilots" (Dwyer, N. 1998) and an aviatrix, in 1934 Pearce was runner up in the Courier-Mail Flying Scholarship behind the winner Harry Poulsen. Pearce "was the only female among five males who scored free lessons and a year's membership to the Aero Club" (Clare Mackenzie, 1993). Due to there being no other female pilots, let alone ones who could do loops in the air and were only 18 years of age, she had trouble finding a game passenger. Brisbane Catholic Archbishop James Duhig
James Duhig
Sir James Duhig, KCMG was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane from 1917 until his death. At the time of his death he was the longest-serving bishop in the Catholic Church .-Early life:...
volunteered. Pearce once said "I've never been absolutely sure whether he put his faith in me of the Almighty on that occasion".
She competed in the 16 December 1936 Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
air race. Pearce made national headlines as the youngest entrant who recorded the fastest time of any woman pilot, heavily handicapped and just two seconds behind the eventual winner. She beat Reg Ansett
Reg Ansett
Sir Reginald Myles "Reg" Ansett KBE was an Australian businessman and aviator; best known for founding Ansett Transport Industries Limited, which owned one of Australia's two leading domestic airlines between 1957 and 2001...
, founder of Ansett Airlines. (Mackenzie (1993)]
In 1946 Pearce opened the first fashion boutique on the Gold Coast. She used her own design and later organised fashion parades for the region, being some of the first fashion parades for that area.
In the late 1950s she opened a beauty salon called 'Jollie Madame', named after her favourite perfume. By this time she had three children. Her marriage to Jason ended in 1950.
During the 1960s Pearce opened her third boutique, 'Ivy Hassard Fashions', which used to be at the ANA hotel site.
Due to her lung condition, she was not expected to live to child bearing age. She defied medical authorities and survived to be 84. On 26 April 1998 Ivy Pearce died, the lung condition finally claiming her life, leaving behind three children and numerous grandchildren.