The British publication, Punch , marked Bert Hinkler's history making 16 day solo flight to Darwin in 1928 with this cartoon and a corny poem -Hinkle,Hinkle ,little star ... Since then, Darwin has shot the pesky patriotic kangaroo and the stars have been converted into the balls that hang outside pawnbrokers' shops. Today the momentous aviation event and others are part of a shabby , neglected display in the CBD.
***************************************************Behind a glass showcase in the Victoria Hotel arcade,off the Smith Street Mall, are priceless autographs and messages scratched and drawn on the stonework by pioneer aviators who stayed in the hotel. Also inside the container are spider webs and numerous gecko and other insect droppings. In the fading pictorial display of the famous aviators, national and international heroes in their day , what appears to be the adhesive backing is visible in linear streaks . When Little Darwin inspected the site this week the metal tubs in which are plants on either side of the display also contained empty cans, cigarette butts , other litter . Cobwebs were also visible at the top of the pictorial display. How can this neglect of a national treasure be allowed to exist without somebody in government, local government , the legion of local historians , political advisors and emeritus whatnots failing to notice ? This is a silly question, as the errors in the Darwin War Memorial attest . There is no signage in the Mall, experiencing difficult trading conditions, drawing attention to what should be a prized national aviation site. There is , however, an arrow pointing to the nearby toilets , hopefully they are not locked as troublesome passengers off cruise ships often complain about being caught short . Any tourist stumbling on the actual link with Australia's and the world's aviation history, part of our heritage , would be less than impressed by the present state of the display.
