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Eric was demobilised and was eventually recruited
(in December 1949) by the then Department of Civil Aviation as an air traffic controller operating out of Brisbane's
Eagle Farm airport.
In 1952 Eric married Carmen and then promptly whisked his new wife away to Papua New Guinea - it was there the
Felmingham's shared the enjoyment of living in their first home...
...it was a grass hut.
After 3 years stationed in PNG and serving out of Lae,
Madang and Port Moresby aerodromes Eric was posted back to Australia and returned to the Eagle Farm airport (as it
was called back then).
Eric commenced work at Archerfield aerodrome in 1961 which soon became his pride and joy. He was the Officer in Charge
(the Boss) from 1966 through to 1978.
In addition to being airport manager he was responsible for air traffic control and a regular duty roster in the
briefing office (now abandoned) as well as the control tower duties. He was also called on to relieve at Coolangatta
airport on several occasions.
One of the very few perks he was able to achieve as the airport OIC was when carrying out the mandatory daily
runway inspections he also happened to include the collection of a bucket full of fresh mushrooms (when in season)
from the then "all-over-grass" runways.
In 1962 Eric renewed his interest in flying again and joined the Royal Queensland Aero Club where he remained a member
right up to the time of his departure.
Eric grabbed any opportunity to get aloft whether that be flying the family to Lightning Ridge for the weekend or
flying for a local radio station for their road traffic watch reports.
During the late 60's through to mid '70's Archerfield was the base for a number of Warana Air Races with Eric joining
the air-race committee where he helped for a number of years including the Hinkler Bicentennial Air Race held in 1988.
In September 1976 Eric - along with his close flying friend Wal Read - entered the Hinkler 1000 Air Race (Archerfield
to Cairns) where they came in 2nd. They then entered the Tom McDonald Air Race (Cairns to Horn Island and
return) flying in an almost worn-out Citabria with the registration VH-SLO where they were rewarded with a 1st.
place
In 1978 Eric returned to Eagle Farm and took up duties
as the civil/military coordinator for a couple of years before retiring early due to a hearing problem. He was then
able to travel overseas and look-up the many friends he had made in Canada during the war years.
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