How has Jean Batten influenced our world?

Answer 1

Jean Batten (1909 - 1982) was born and grew up in New Zealand. In 1929 she moved to England and took up flying.

In May 1934, Batten successfully flew solo from England to Australia in the Gipsy Moth. Her trip of 14 days and 22 hours beat the existing England-to-Australia record of English aviatrix Amy Johnson by over four days

Jean Batten has influinced our world by telling us that the key to every thing is not giving up and she has shown that anyone can do something if they stick to it.

Answer 2

Jean Gardner Batten CBE (15 September 1909-22 November 1982) was a New Zealand aviatrix. Born in Rotorua, she became the best-known New Zealander of the 1930s, internationally. In 1934 she flew solo from England to Australia. For this achievement and for subsequent record-breaking flights, she was awarded the Harmon Trophy three times from 1935 through to 1937. in 1924 she was enrolled into a secretarial school and studied Ballet and piano and at the age of 18 wanted to become a pilot. Batten was created Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1936. In 1938, she was the first woman to be awarded the medal of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, aviation's highest honour. World War II was the end of her flying adventures, and she retired from public life. She became a recluse and died alone in a hotel on Majorca, from complications from a dog bite. Because of her striking looks and her reclusive tendencies, she became known as the "Greta Garbo of the skies". A house in Macleans College and Westlake Girls High School is named after her, as is a primary school in Mangere, Auckland, as with Batten (Blue) house from the house system at Orewa College, New Zealand. Five streets in New Zealand are named after her (in Auckland, Christchurch, Mount Maunganui,Wellington and her birthplace of Rotorua). The historic Jean Batten building on the Auckland street has been incorporated into the design of the new Bank of New Zealand head office. The Auckland Airport International Terminal is named after her. A bronze sculpture of Jean Batten is now located in the main terminal of the Rotorua Airport and a small park in the middle of the city is also named after her.