It pays tribute to a man who had a passion for flying and a dream to fly and house his aeroplane at Tocumwal, which was to come true.
Captain Roger Miller passed away in 2019 and after discussion with his wife Patricia Ward a garden was designed and constructed at the site of the museum which he had actively promoted over many years.
It has been named Beaufort Garden in reference to Capt Miler’s hangar in the Tocumwal Residential Airpark and his uncle, a crew member on a Bristol Beaufort Bomber during World War II.
He also requested his wife and family that his ashes be scattered throughout the garden alongside that of his two beloved dogs, beagles Riga and Buddie.
Born in 1945 after the end of World War II, Capt Miller dreamed of becoming a pilot and flew with East West Airlines before Ansett where he was to become the youngest chief pilot it ever had.
He loved flying his Chipmunk at Tocumwal, which is housed today in the museum.
He particularly enjoyed the company of his fellow airmen and the opportunity to fly his own aircraft whenever he wanted, which could mean a weekly trip from Melbourne when possible.
With tributes from several flying ‘mates’ at the opening, came several insights into the man who had an absolute passion for flying and warmly described as the last of a generation of flyers who was hugely professional in every way.
Several guest spoke of their memories of Capt Miller:
“Anyone who knew him would never forget him,” one said.
“If it had wings and smelt of Avgas he loved it,” another remarked.
“He only flew one way, by the book,” said another.
Capt Miller’s son Nathan took to the sky with his dad as a youngster and inherently developed a similar passion and today after flying around the world for Ansett and Qantas has gone into general management with Virgin Australia, running a regional airline in Western Australia.
Nathan’s son and Capt Miller’s grandson Ethan, 21, is studying aviation in NSW and will soon complete his course to become the third generation of Miller men to fly.
Tocumwal Aerodrome, the home of the Murray Border Flying Club, will remain part of the Miller family, electing to retain Capt Miller’s old hangar situated at the end of one of the original runways, housing his beloved MGB, while his Chipmunk will continue to be on show in the museum.
The opening was attended by more than 50 people, many of whom were friends and associates of Capt Miller together with his family, wife Patricia, son and daughter in-laws Nathan and Sarah Miller, daughter Tanya Millmann and five grandchildren who flew in from Perth and Queensland to attend this poignant moment for their family.
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