Click here for Senator the Hon Nick Minchin’s Speech.
South Australian regional airline Regional Express (Rex) has paid tribute to the late Pro Hart with the naming of its Rex Lounge at Adelaide Airport in his honour.
The Rex “Pro Hart” Lounge will be officially opened by Senator the Hon. Nick Minchin on Friday morning (13 July) in a special ceremony.
“Pro Hart was a great supporter of regional Australia and the way of life in the bush and it is fitting, as the regional airline providing access to regional centres right across south eastern Australia, that we commemorate his life’s work in this manner,” Mr John Sharp, Rex’s Deputy Chairman said.
The Rex “Pro Hart” Lounge has a permanent exhibition of Pro Hart’s paintings, sketches, photographs and memorabilia including one of his paint splattered T-shirts. The exhibition has been provided for display by the Hart family. Mrs Raylee Hart, Pro’s widow and his son, Mr John Hart will participate in the official opening.
To commemorate the opening and the exhibition, a special book has been published which details Pro’s life as well as an explanation of each of the items on display. The book was commissioned by Rex.
Mr Sharp said that Rex had had a long association with Pro Hart as the famous artist had travelled extensively on the airline from his home in Broken Hill.
“Pro and his family were regular travellers not only on Rex but on Kendell and Hazelton Airlines the forerunners of Rex. As a means of promoting his home town Pro painted a scene of the Broken Hill South Mine on the cabin door of one of Kendell’s Saab aircraft and donated a painting which was hung in the cabin. This painting is also part of the exhibition,” Mr Sharp said.
Senator Minchin, Mrs Raylee Hart and Mr Phil Baker, the Managing Director of Adelaide Airport will speak at the opening ceremony on Friday.
Rex Lounge is a facility designed for business and regular travellers providing a quiet and relaxing atmosphere to work or relax between flights. It provides refreshments, a bar, widescreen plasma TV, computer workstations with internet access, newspapers and magazines and comfortable seating. Membership of Rex Lounge is available through www.rex.com.au.
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional airline. It operates services to 33 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. From Adelaide Rex operates regular services to Broken Hill, Mount Gambier, Kingscote, Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Whyalla and Coober Pedy.
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