Combining my favourites.

History, Art and Nature are favourites. Combined they make winners every time. 

This is the first of the Art Beacons which has been installed in the Cameron Rocks Reserve and which we had the pleasure of exploring last weekend. The artist who was selected to produce his "Magnificent Flying Machines" is Kenji Uranishi. His work is inspired by two locals, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith after whom the road was named, and Maude "Lores" Bonney. Charles Edward Kingsford Smith was a fearless aviator who had visions of what aviation could mean to the world. He made many daring flights and "Smithy" as he was known has rightly earned his place in the history books. 

From the Australian Aviation, Hall of Fame 

Maude Rose "Lores" Bonney, AM, MBE was an Australian aviator and the first woman to fly solo from Australia to England.

Lores Bonney and her aircraft, My Little Ship, at Archerfield Aerodrome in 1932 before her round-Australia flight. Collection: Powerhouse Museum

This is an extract from her biography which I thought was lovely : 

"Aiming to be the first woman to fly from Australia to England, Bonney learned how to overhaul engines and had her aircraft modified for the journey. On 10 April 1933 she left Brisbane. Caught in a tropical storm on the twentieth, she attempted to land on the coast of an island off Thailand, near the border with Burma (Myanmar). As she approached a beach, a herd of water buffalo walked into her path, forcing her to land too close to the sea. Her plane overturned and came to rest in the water. Remaining unperturbed, she managed to free herself from her harness and get to shore. She had the plane salvaged and shipped to Calcutta (Kolkata), India, for repairs. On 25 May she resumed her flight and on 21 June landed at Croydon, England. If you want to read more go to http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bonney-maude-rose-lores-27042"

The artist said that he took inspiration from these two courageous aviators' pioneering spirit and passion for adventure, with the determined journey of an orchard swallowtail butterfly, the largest butterfly common to Brisbane, to produce the concept which has gone into the Art Beacons. 

https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_butters/Orch_butt.htm

The first two of Kenji’s 10 Art Beacons were installed at Cameron Rocks Reserve in mid-April 2019. The remaining eight Art Beacons will be located at key locations along Kingsford Smith Drive, as shown on the map below.

Click map to enlarge