Harvey Else at release of his book Helicopter pilot: On the edge

                                       Vale    HARVEY ELSE   1928-2022

It is with much sadness I wish to advise you of the passing of Harvey Else

Harvey else passed away on Monday night in Mayo Hospital.

Harvey had been ill for some time and had just returned from Lake Macquarie Hospital a few days ago, Harvey mas married to Lilian Bidner and they have three children  Julie (deceased) Tanya and Roger who lives in Wingham.

The Else family operated Service Station and garage in Cundletown which they sold 

in 2013.

Harvey was interested in movie photography and some of his films featured on ABC and Channel 10. He commenced his photographic career with his fathers 9.5 mm movie camera graduating to 16mm with sound. He has taken many films of events and features around Taree and later moved into Digital photography, filming many events for our Rotary Club  on DVD .

He learned to fly at Old Bar around 1946 with his long time friend Colin King.     

Harvey  was a Foundation member of Manning River Aero Club  in 1960 and was its first Flying Instructor.

Harvey began his commercial flying  career with Airfast Group in 1964 as trainee Helicopter pilot while flying fixed wing . . Harvey flew with Airfast in Solomon Is, Cape York Peninsular, Antarctic, 1964-65 flying Beaver fixed wing Aeroplane.

Harvey flew helicopters doing survey work in Papua New Guinea, Central Australia.

Harvey flew Helicopers in Antartica in 1968-69 doing survey work as well as emergency supply of supplies to French Antarctic station at Dumont d’Urville. Harvey has two features named after him in Antarctia, Else Nunataks and Else Platform in recognition of his work in Antarctica.

He flew Helicopters doing survey work in the Simpson Desert, around Pine Gap and off Queensland coast from Gladstone,

Harvey had a number of incidents in his flying career in New Guinea and in Bass Strait involving forced and crash landings also in central Australia.

Harvey was involved in rescue work during southern Tasmanian bush fires.

Harvey underwent intensive training in 1968 to become a helicopter check  and training captain . Later he carried out this role with Airfast operation within Australia as well as South-East Asia, Papua new Guinea and the Solomon Is.

After Harvey turned to Cundletown in 1972 to run Family Garage and resume as as CFI Manning River Aero Club. Harvey continued to carry out Helicopter work on a casual basis.

One of Harveys jobs was a helicopter pilot for filming of film Mad Max in 1981 shot around Broken Hill. In 1986 Harvey underwent quadruple artery by-pass but achieved an Australian first by having his commercial licence restored.

During a flying career that spanned 45 years  Harvey logged 12,00 hours on fixed wing and 4,500 hours on helicopter. Harvey published his Autobiography in 2018 and received his Order of Australia in 2019 for his services to Aviation Industry and people of Taree..

Harvey enjoyed an eventful and productive life in aviation and did extensive work in photography field. Harvey joined Rotary in 1994 and was an active member of Rotary Club Taree and other local organisations. He will be missed by family and many friends.  

Max Carey

Harvey Else Funeral Service  Manning Great Lakes Memorial Garden Chapel ,  2 pm Tuesday 15 March