Tribute to Don from Phil Vabre

By now you may have heard the sad news of the passing of Don Workman of Akuna Station, near Waikerie in SA, in a tragic accident on Christmas Eve 2006 near Mount Gambier. According to media reports, Don crashed whilst taking off in his Auster J.1A1 Autocrat VH-ALO.

I photographed Don and VH-ALO a few months ago at the AAAA Auster Rally at Wangaratta (attached). He was one of a crowd of helpful fellow AAAA members who generously assisted me with some plug trouble.

 From the Akuna Station website: “Don Workman came to Akuna in 2004 as the property manager. Don had spent many years visiting Akuna Station as a guest of property owner Peter Teakle. His love and understanding of the Australian outback made the offer to manage the property, too tempting to refuse. So he left the fishing industry he had been a part of most of his life and moved to Akuna.” 

Vale Don.