RUTH Wilson flew a hot air balloon over the Swiss Alps at night as a 75-year-old, she learned to fly an aeroplane at 55, she has worked in the corporate world and brought up a family. Login or signup to continue reading Now at 81, the Corlette retiree is being honoured with one of the greatest accolades. The hot air balloon pilot has been awarded an Order of Australia medal (OAM) in the Kings Birthday Honours for her service to hot air ballooning.
After 49 years of aviation, she says it's the perfect opportunity to reflect on her achievements. "While my heart and soul is still in the sky, my head and my feet are on the earth this year, so winning this recognition has just helped me get over the grief of walking away from flying," she said. Ms Wilson was born in North Queensland and has had homes in the United States, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.
It was in New Zealand where she found her destiny to be a balloonist while working as a journalist in 1975. "I was looking for interesting people to interview for magazine stories and I was introduced to one of only two balloon pilots in New Zealand. He took me on my first balloon flight and as soon as I stepped into the basket I knew I had found my destiny," she said.
Within a matter of months she had her first sponsored hot air balloon and well, the rest is history. "I've been in the air ever since - 49 years - that's half my life," she said. "I'm grateful and privileged to have found my passion and my purp.