Spotlight: Deborah Lawrie
DEBORAH LAWRIE – AUSTRALIA’S TRAILBLAZING PILOT
In 1979, Deborah Lawrie made aviation history — and changed the skies forever.
When Australia’s major airlines said women didn’t belong in the cockpit, Deborah pushed back. Armed with talent, training, and sheer determination, she became the first woman to be employed as a pilot by a major Australian airline — but only after a public and painful legal battle that put gender discrimination on trial.
Deborah’s case against Ansett Airlines under the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act became a national flashpoint for equality in the workplace. Her victory wasn’t just personal — it opened doors for women across industries, proving that “not hiring women” was no longer justifiable.
But her story doesn’t stop there. Deborah went on to build a long and accomplished career as a commercial pilot, flying both domestically and internationally for over 40 years. In 2019, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to aviation and advocacy for women in the field.
Now, her fight for flight is coming to the stage.
FLY GIRL, a bold new Australian comedy by Genevieve Hegney and Catherine Moore, charts Deborah’s extraordinary journey with humour, grit and heart. It’s a celebration of resistance, resilience and one woman’s refusal to stay grounded.
Don’t miss the world premiere of FLY GIRL, playing 17 Oct – 22 Nov.