Don Hammond
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of IFA Honorary member and friend, Don Hammond, 1st August 1937 – 30th July 2022
Don passed away peacefully on 30th July at the rest home where for some years he had lived with his wife, Joy. A small group of family and friends gathered for his funeral held on 11th August, they celebrated his love of his Scottish heritage with the coffin piped into the chapel playing Flowers of Scotland and his kilt and Kiwi blazer was drapped over the coffin.
Don in his earlier years was a keen surfer and sportsman and played Rugby league for New Zealand, representing his homeland on several overseas tours between 1961 and 1965. In 1964 he won the NZ Rugby League player of the year award. He played in 21 test matches including 6 as captain. In 2010 he was named on of NZ Rugby League’s Legends of the League.
Don started his aviation career as an apprentice with TEAL working on flying boats in Auckland in the 50’s. He progressed through Air NZ Engineering to become their Quality Manager and Air NZ representative in IFA. On his retirement from Air NZ Don stayed with IFA to become the Scholarship Administrator following in Len Gore’s footsteps in co-ordinating and supporting the winners and companies where they were placed and worked for their scholarship period. He attended numerous IFA Conferences, was a key advocate of airworthiness and supporter to the IFA Board and officers. With changes to the scholarship system he retired from the role in 2005 and was awarded an Honorary IFA membership to recognise the contribution he had made to IFA.
Finally we would like to pass on Joy’s message to the IFA membership – ‘Sorry to be the author of bad news, but it is important for us not to be sad that we have lost Don, but happy that we knew him, respected him, admired him and loved him, and to know that he loved us too.’
IFA Scholarship Administrator
1989 – 2005
IFA Honorary Member
2005 – 2022
