Page 19 - Walter Scott

On one particular flight, he had been ordered to follow a course taking him from Australia to the
subcontinent, keeping close to the coast.

He chose to disobey the order. It was monsoon season, and he feared the craft would be caught
in a storm.

Instead he charted a course straight over the ocean, and when the plane landed he expected to
be disciplined; however, it then emerged that two other planes which did follow the coastal route
had failed to return.

When he returned home to Ballyronan, he helped to found a sand business called H&W Scott
Sand Merchants.

He was granted a private licence to fly in 1962, and three years later he launched a venture called
Emerald Airways, of which he was the chairman.
According to an edition of the magazine Flight International published in April 1966 it was based in
Belfast, had 20 employees, and a fleet of two planes (with another three on order) flying to the
Republic and Scotland.

A later edition of the magazine stated that by the end of 1966, Hibernian Airlines had acquired
control of the firm.

The following year, Walter decided to emigrate to Australia with wife Jean.
He started a roofing firm in eastern Australia, and then later a moved further north along the east
coast to Townsville where he set up Scott Brickworks.

“Now you might ask, why leave a very successful business and venture into the unknown in
another country,” his eulogy said.

“Maybe he was bored, or was it that he could foresee the troubles brewing in Northern Ireland and
settled for the more laid back lifestyle in Australia.”

Walter remained there for the rest of his life.

He died on October 19, aged 92. His funeral was on October 28 at Woongarra Crematorium
Chapel. He was cremated.

He is survived by Widow Jean, six children, 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.

Pericles