Miller was born in 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of Septimus and Helen Miller and he attended Xavier College as a young man where he became friends with Sam Calder whom he would remain friends with for the rest of his life. After he left college he made friends with Edward Connellan, another man who would become a huge part of his life and he introduced him to Calder.[4]
When World War II broke out Miller and Calder immediately volunteered for the RAAF but first flew to Alice Springs to help Connellan establish Connellan Airways; which Miller helped finance (on a secured loan basis),[5] with the assistance of his wealthy grandfather Henry Miller.[6] Miller, with the other staff, helped build the Connellan hangar and construct the airstrips and flight paths.[4]
World War IIEdit
Miller was called up early in the war, initially as a pilot instructor and then as a pilot on a Catalina squadron based in the Top End. In this squadron Miller once flew 11 hours of an 18 hour flight on only one engine after the aircraft had been severely damaged by Japanese air-aircraft fire at Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. The navigational instruments had also being damaged and the crew had to jettison fuel and ammunition as they flew over enemy territory through heavy rain.[4] For this event Miller was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for 'bravery in combat'.[7]
Life in the Northern TerritoryEdit
Post-war Miller moved to Alice Springs to work again with Connellan, where he flew the Wyndham mail runs.
In 1947, on a trip to England to purchase two Rapide aircraft's, Miller met and married Anne Fletcher at Yeovil in Somerset and following their marriage the two flew the planes home. This was a difficult trip as fuel had to be left a aerodromes 88 km (55 mi) apart across Europe and Asia and the planes had no radios. They reached Alice Springs on 6 May 1948.[4]
In 1951 Miller, alongside Milton Willick, established Argadargada Station 400 km (250 mi) north east of Alice Springs. They had a difficult time with the property, losing 1,300 head of cattle in 1953-54 to gidgee poisoning. In 1954 Calder joined the partnership and became the manager before they sold the station in 1964.[8] Miller also bought a share of Hamilton Downs Station in 1952 and built a new homestead, he eventually acquired sole ownership in 1968. In 1972 Miller donated the ruins and site of the old Hamilton Downs homestead to the Apex Club of Central Australia, who turned it in to Hamilton Downs Youth Camp, which officially opened on 11 March 1978.[9][3]
Miller died after a long illness in 1990 and is buried at the Alice Springs Garden Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and their four children; Helen, Andrew, Jacinta and Paul.[4]
Miller Road in Alice Springs is named for Miller.[2][4]
ReferencesEdit
^"Alice Springs Garden". www.ozburials.com. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^ ab"Place Names Register". www.ntlis.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^ ab"History". www.hamiltondownsyouthcamp.org.au. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^ abcdefPetrick, Jose. (1989). The history of Alice Springs through street names. Petrick, Jose. Alice Springs, N.T.: J. Petrick. ISBN0731644379. OCLC 27577058.
^"He Serves the Out-back". Centralian Advocate (Alice Springs, NT : 1947 - 1954). 30 August 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^Donovan, Peter, "Connellan, Edward John (Eddie) (1912–1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 20 November 2019
^"| The Australian War Memorial". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^Forrest, Peter (15 February 1985). "Station History: Argadargada". Centralian Advocate.
^Forrest, Peter (6 July 1984). "Station History: Hamilton Downs". Centralian Advocate.
^"Preserving and Sharing Territory's Cultural Heritage". Mirage News. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
External linksEdit
Territory Chats: Damian Miller, Alice Springs (Charles Darwin University)
October 21, 2023
damian, miller, aviator, ronald, nevill, damian, miller, known, almost, exclusively, damian, miller, february, 1915, 1990, pilot, pastoralist, spent, much, life, alice, springs, miller, helped, found, connellan, airways, well, argadargada, hamilton, downs, sta. Ronald Nevill Damian Miller known almost exclusively as Damian Miller 10 February 1915 20 May 1990 1 was a pilot and pastoralist who spent much of his life in Alice Springs Miller helped found Connellan Airways 2 as well as Argadargada and Hamilton Downs Stations 3 Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II 3 Life in the Northern Territory 4 Legacy 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditMiller was born in 1915 in Melbourne Victoria the son of Septimus and Helen Miller and he attended Xavier College as a young man where he became friends with Sam Calder whom he would remain friends with for the rest of his life After he left college he made friends with Edward Connellan another man who would become a huge part of his life and he introduced him to Calder 4 When World War II broke out Miller and Calder immediately volunteered for the RAAF but first flew to Alice Springs to help Connellan establish Connellan Airways which Miller helped finance on a secured loan basis 5 with the assistance of his wealthy grandfather Henry Miller 6 Miller with the other staff helped build the Connellan hangar and construct the airstrips and flight paths 4 World War II EditMiller was called up early in the war initially as a pilot instructor and then as a pilot on a Catalina squadron based in the Top End In this squadron Miller once flew 11 hours of an 18 hour flight on only one engine after the aircraft had been severely damaged by Japanese air aircraft fire at Kavieng Papua New Guinea The navigational instruments had also being damaged and the crew had to jettison fuel and ammunition as they flew over enemy territory through heavy rain 4 For this event Miller was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in combat 7 Life in the Northern Territory EditPost war Miller moved to Alice Springs to work again with Connellan where he flew the Wyndham mail runs In 1947 on a trip to England to purchase two Rapide aircraft s Miller met and married Anne Fletcher at Yeovil in Somerset and following their marriage the two flew the planes home This was a difficult trip as fuel had to be left a aerodromes 88 km 55 mi apart across Europe and Asia and the planes had no radios They reached Alice Springs on 6 May 1948 4 In 1951 Miller alongside Milton Willick established Argadargada Station 400 km 250 mi north east of Alice Springs They had a difficult time with the property losing 1 300 head of cattle in 1953 54 to gidgee poisoning In 1954 Calder joined the partnership and became the manager before they sold the station in 1964 8 Miller also bought a share of Hamilton Downs Station in 1952 and built a new homestead he eventually acquired sole ownership in 1968 In 1972 Miller donated the ruins and site of the old Hamilton Downs homestead to the Apex Club of Central Australia who turned it in to Hamilton Downs Youth Camp which officially opened on 11 March 1978 9 3 Miller died after a long illness in 1990 and is buried at the Alice Springs Garden Cemetery He was survived by his wife and their four children Helen Andrew Jacinta and Paul 4 Legacy EditThe Central Australian Aviation Museum has a Damian Miller Room 10 Miller Road in Alice Springs is named for Miller 2 4 References Edit Alice Springs Garden www ozburials com Retrieved 20 November 2019 a b Place Names Register www ntlis nt gov au Retrieved 20 November 2019 a b History www hamiltondownsyouthcamp org au Retrieved 20 November 2019 a b c d e f Petrick Jose 1989 The history of Alice Springs through street names Petrick Jose Alice Springs N T J Petrick ISBN 0731644379 OCLC 27577058 He Serves the Out back Centralian Advocate Alice Springs NT 1947 1954 30 August 1947 p 3 Retrieved 20 November 2019 Donovan Peter Connellan Edward John Eddie 1912 1983 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University retrieved 20 November 2019 The Australian War Memorial www awm gov au Retrieved 20 November 2019 Forrest Peter 15 February 1985 Station History Argadargada Centralian Advocate Forrest Peter 6 July 1984 Station History Hamilton Downs Centralian Advocate Preserving and Sharing Territory s Cultural Heritage Mirage News 30 June 2019 Retrieved 20 November 2019 External links EditTerritory Chats Damian Miller Alice Springs Charles Darwin University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Damian Miller aviator amp oldid 1177294694, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
