ONE of Port Stephens’ most adventurous women has written a memoir of her time as a hot air balloonist.

Corlette resident Ruth Wilson began her 47-year flying career in 1975 with her first balloon flight in New Zealand.

She won the inaugural Australian Ballooning Championship in 1979 then represented Australia in a further five world championships and other international competitions.

Ruth was recently presented with the prestigious Swiss Federation Aéronautique Internationale Paul Tissandier Diploma for serving the cause of aviation by Ms Pip Spence, CEO/Director, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), at an aviation forum in Sydney.

Her memoir ‘Conquering Clouds’ was launched in March attracting positive reviews.

Libby Harkness, the ghost writer of the best-selling memoir Turia Pitt’s ‘Everything to Live For’, recently wrote that ‘Conquering Clouds’ is an “unputdownable memoir of a remarkable woman”.

This book has it all – from impoverished childhood, death-defying adventures, failed romances and international fame as a balloonist, Ruth proves she conquered far more than clouds.

Ruth told News Of The Area, “I have spent my life as a traveller with homes in USA, Japan, New Zealand, Canada and throughout Australia – Byron Bay, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and now I am living in Corlette.”

Tomaree Library will host a launch of the book with a talk by Ruth on Monday 2 May from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

At the launch Ruth will talk about the various clouds she has conquered throughout her life that led her to write her story.

“I have written Conquering Clouds to help me find my biological father, to inspire others not to be swayed by age when deciding to embrace challenges, to share my brother Ron’s story, a Vietnam vet, and as a legacy for my grandchildren,” Ruth said.

You can find more on Ruth’s story at www.ruthwilson.net.

 

By Marian SAMPSON