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![THROWBACK THURSDAY: 29 local children boarding a bus to attend a free dental clinic in Raymond Terrace. THROWBACK THURSDAY: 29 local children boarding a bus to attend a free dental clinic in Raymond Terrace.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/15c12415-a802-4c59-a286-4af72d8992d9.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Forster postmaster Don McPherson and Lions Club president Ian McLaughlin THROWBACK THURSDAY: Forster postmaster Don McPherson and Lions Club president Ian McLaughlin](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/6a3fcf9c-a3fc-40e9-a8fc-ffeba0a0e1d4.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Glad Bassler was the first passenger on Air Great Lakes inaugural flight to Sydney on Friday January 18, 1980. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Glad Bassler was the first passenger on Air Great Lakes inaugural flight to Sydney on Friday January 18, 1980.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/27e83a41-e6a7-4b37-871c-966204292f20.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Jacqueline Mingay, 12, from Newcastle, John Mingay, 10, from Newcastle and Elizabeth Preedy, 11, from Sydney enjoying a canoe trip. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Jacqueline Mingay, 12, from Newcastle, John Mingay, 10, from Newcastle and Elizabeth Preedy, 11, from Sydney enjoying a canoe trip.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/8ffdf168-7e74-4fe8-8940-713522aa4190.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Lisa Mingau, 7, of Newcastle and Rebecca Stikes, 9, of Sydney. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Lisa Mingau, 7, of Newcastle and Rebecca Stikes, 9, of Sydney.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/5e181025-9132-42ed-ad01-c28b0e4c095a.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Karen Cook, 16, of Sydney and Michelle Boggs, 4, from Bowral. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Karen Cook, 16, of Sydney and Michelle Boggs, 4, from Bowral.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/11ab7fea-c17c-4e04-a797-d38e68469e7f.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Flag event at the NSW Junior Country Surf Titles on Forster Main Beach in January of 1980. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Flag event at the NSW Junior Country Surf Titles on Forster Main Beach in January of 1980.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/0825210e-accd-435b-b637-dabc28b2a139.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Lyn Bowen and Kerry Simpson of Newcastle on holidays in the Great Lakes. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Lyn Bowen and Kerry Simpson of Newcastle on holidays in the Great Lakes.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/2038658b-6317-498b-9197-ee80965410c4.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Wendy Jones and Anny Jones soaking up the sun. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Wendy Jones and Anny Jones soaking up the sun.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/e109fdf8-8021-4d2c-8140-b57bf57563b1.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Michelle Pallett, 9, and Mathew Pallett, 9, of Goondiwindi playing a game of pool with David Frazer, 8, of Newcastle. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Michelle Pallett, 9, and Mathew Pallett, 9, of Goondiwindi playing a game of pool with David Frazer, 8, of Newcastle.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/c1fb04fa-83f3-4ca7-87d0-fa3359710f17.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Keith Martin of Forster and Jack Symonds from Ingleburn hold a 70cm sea snake they found at One Mile Beach. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Keith Martin of Forster and Jack Symonds from Ingleburn hold a 70cm sea snake they found at One Mile Beach.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/45185963-830d-449e-b386-f49a4f0e69a5.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: 25 years in a blackberry patch had done little to improve the apperance of this poor 1948 Sunbeam Talbot. The vehicle was rescued in 1980 by Chas Haddon of the vintage car museum. THROWBACK THURSDAY: 25 years in a blackberry patch had done little to improve the apperance of this poor 1948 Sunbeam Talbot. The vehicle was rescued in 1980 by Chas Haddon of the vintage car museum.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/707867da-8509-4ceb-a791-429571e276e6.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Forster's team stand at ease during the march past at the NSW Country Junior Surf Titles. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Forster's team stand at ease during the march past at the NSW Country Junior Surf Titles.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-WwnxjMJnfFasTcWZ8LkR3Y/fa0f5318-7be6-4c51-8571-8fc75f352e51.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
From the front page of The Cape Hawke Advocate, Thursday January 24:
SEVEN years of work to secure a commuter air license between Forster Tuncurry and Sydney came to fruition on Friday January 18, 1980.
The first morning flight from Sydney arrived at Wallis Island at 8am and minutes later was taking the first Forster passengers to the big smoke.
The then pilot and director of Air Great Lakes Ian Allen, said the introduction of the service was a tribute to the tenacity of the people and organisations of the area who had given both himself and local area manager Ian Darwin unfailing support over the years.
Sydney shareholder Dudley Dunn of Davey Air Services said at the time he felt the service would be most successful catering not only for the people of the Great Lakes area but also those of Sydney and southern centres wishing to travel north.
Mr Darwin said the response to the service had been far in excess of what was anticipated with some flights entirely booked out already.
One of the first passengers on Air Great Lakes inaugural flight to Sydney was Glad Bassler (pictured in gallery above).