Paul McGINNESS is perhaps best known for being a flying ace and a co-founder of the Australian airline company QANTAS, but there is a connection with Morawa as he farmed here for a period of time between 1924 and 1934.
Paul Joseph McGINNESS was born on 4th February 1896 in the district of Ballangeich, Western Victoria, the youngest of 10 children. His parents were James Patrick McGINNESS and Catherine TAAFFE.
In September 1914, with the outbreak of World War 1, Paul McGINNESS enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and was initially assigned to B Squadron, D Troop of the 8th Light Horse regiment. In February 1915 McGINNESS and the rest of the 8th Light Horse regiment embarked on the troop transport ship Star of Victoriabound for Egypt and Gallipoli. The group were not part of the first landing on the beaches of Gallipoli on 25th April 1915, but instead arrived about 3 weeks later on 19th May.
McGINNESS was one of the few who survived the disastrous charge at The Nek in August 1915. He was promoted to Corporal in September of that year, and later to Sergeant in October, even though he was only 19 years old.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli the 8th Light Horse regiment returned to Egypt and fought in the Desert Campaign. In April 1916 McGINNESS was notified that he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for deeds performed in Gallipoli, and was presented with the medal in March 1917. McGINNESS had long had a yearning to fly, ever since being a child and in May 1917 applied to join the Australian Flying Corps. He was turned down but in June he transferred to the 3rd Light Horse and applied again for the Flying Corps in July and this time was accepted.
McGINNESS graduated from the flying school in November 1917 and became a Second Lieutenant with the 67th (Australian) Squadron RFC. This became known as the No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps from January 1918. For 5 weeks in January-February 1918 McGINNESS served with a secret air detachment run by Colonel Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He returned to the 1st Squadron Australian Flying Corps in March 1918 flying reconnaisance and patrols over the next few months. During this time he met fellow airman Hudson FYSH, whom he would later start QANTAS with.
In August 1918 McGINNIS was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his brave and gallant efforts in downing enemy aircraft and attacking enemy ground targets despite coming under heavy fire. He managed to get through the war relatively unscathed and returned to Australia when the war ended.
McGINNESS's enterprise in starting QANTAS with Hudson FYSH and grazier Fergus McMASTER is well documented, with the company coming officially into being in 1920. However, differences began to arise between FYSH and McGINNESS and in October 1922 McGINNESS resigned and left QANTAS. He was just 25 years old.
Paul McGINNESS moved to Western Australia in 1923 and decided to take up farming. He had grown up on a farm in Victoria so he wasn't a complete novice. He met and married Dorothy BAXTER in September 1924 in Perth and after a short honeymoon the couple moved to Morawa. Dorothy stayed at a boarding house in Morawa whilst Paul lived in a tent on the property he had selected, Mount Morawa, now known as Mount Marvel, and cleared the raw land. Eventually some 1500 acres of land was cleared and fenced, wells sunk and equipped with windmills for water supply, and stock of 2,000 sheep purchased as well as 6 draught horses and one riding horse. There was also a milking cow. McGINNESS borrowed money from the bank to also purchase a Twin City tractor, a Smith drill, a Beaver disc plough, a Sunshine harvester, a second-hand Chevrolet truck, and an engine to run the shearing shed and chaff cutter. A home of mud and cement bricks was built by Paul for his family using a plan from the 'Veteran Housing Project' files. Once the house was liveable, Dorothy moved to the farm to be with her husband. The first wheat crop was sown and a small vegetable garden started near the house.
The first crop was a success with a bountiful harvest. the money raised from this and the first shearing was enough to pay back the bank loan and to employ a man to help work the farm. The couple's first child, Dorothy was born in December 1925. Their second daughter, Helen Pauline was born in April 1928.
Once the farm was established, Paul McGINNESS spent time in the community, helping to develop the township of Morawa itself. He was a member of the Morawa Agricultural Society in its foundation year of 1929, and donated a Cup which was won by Pindawa Pastoral Company, Canna. He helped to clear the Morawa Golf Course and was a foundation member of the Golf Club. He also served as a Morawa Road Board member in 1931-32.
Poor seasons from 1928 onwards and the onset of the Great Depression ended both McGINNESS's time on the farm as well as his marriage. Managers were installed on the farm, though it remained his until his death in 1952.
When World War Two commenced Paul applied to join the RAAF, and with the rank of Squadron Leader, he became Messing Officer at Melbourne Headquarters of the Air Board. On leaving the RAAF Paul took up tobacco farming at Northcliffe, WA in the years 1951-52, but this was ultimately unsuccessful. His early death at 56 years old occurred on February 26th, 1952 and he was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery, WA, with only his first wife Dorothy and daughter Pauline in attendance.
Recommended reading: The Man Australia Forgot. P. J. McGinness by Pauline COTTRILL.