Tourism Innovators
Rodolph Lysaght Wigley (1881-1946) and his son Henry (Harry) Wigley were key players in the development of Mount Cook, one of New Zealand's premier tourist areas. Rodolph formed the Mount Cook Company in 1912, leasing the Hermitage from the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts in 1921 and expanding its facilities. One of the first to offer group packages to tourists, Rodolph boldly opened The Hermitage in winter, an unheard of occurrence before this time. He promoted downhill skiing, and in 1923 became the first to climb Mount Cook in winter. In 1906 he became the first to travel by motorcar from Timaru to Mount Cook. In 1920, he bought five aircraft for sightseeing and formed the NZ Aero Transport Company. In October that year he flew on the first one day flight from Invercargill to Auckland.
Sir Henry Wigley continued in the spirit of his pioneering father, acquiring his father's passion for flying. After completing his pilot training in Canterbury he joined the family firm, flying during the week and taking locals on sightseeing joyrides at the weekends. When World War II broke out Harry volunteered to join the Air Force, first training as a flying instructor before serving as a fighter pilot in the Pacific from 1944 - 1945. Like his father, Harry was a true pioneer with tremendous foresight. He was an inventor and pilot of the first ski plane, mountain climber, skier (a national downhill skiing champion), family man and co-founder of Mount Cook Airways (with his father in 1961).
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
