Remembering Jon and Philippa Broad

Jon Broad, 51, and daughter Philippa Broad, 21, Hamilton.

Jon’s sister Philippa shared these memories relating to her brother and niece, in March 2024.

The events of the evening of 28 November, 1979, will be forever etched in my memory. Just the week before I had visited my brother, Jon and niece, Philippa. Talk turned to their upcoming flight to Antarctica which they were both so looking forward to. I vividly recall saying to them, ‘I wish you weren't going as surely it would be preferable to step foot on this icy continent rather than fly over it’. However, they were both adamant that the views they would get, and the experience would be the chance of a lifetime. I know I repeated my doubts to my husband when I returned home. Did I have a premonition? I really don't know but I do know that those words haunt me to this very day.

My brother, Jon, was the eldest in our family and took over the mantle of head of the house after our father died in 1943 at the age of 52. Jon was just 16, my other brother Tim was 13 and I was four. Times were very hard during and after the Second World War. When Jon expressed a wish to pursue a career in the medical field the only way he could attain this was through a scholarship. This provided some funding for him, but he needed to work part time and, in the holidays, to make up the short fall. After six years of study, he graduated with a MBChB. He spent a year paying back his scholarship fees by working as the doctor in Collingwood. This achievement imbued in him not only the value of a sound financial background but maturity beyond his years. After being widowed at a young age my mother leaned on him for practical advice and to my younger brother and I he was our mentor and guide.

Marriage to Margaret and the birth of their daughter, Philippa, brought so much joy to the family. As the years passed Jon and Philippa developed a shared interest in not only the Antarctic but the environment in general. During his student days Jon had scaled several of the peaks in the Southern Alps and developed that interest with his family on many walks and trails throughout the country. It was what brought Philippa to choose to study Earth Sciences at Waikato University and graduate at the age of 21. Both had avidly read of the Antarctic explorers Shackleton, Scott, and Amundsen. To view the terrain from above would be the nearest they could come to understanding this vast icy continent. The Air New Zealand scenic flights were the enticement that were part of Philippa's 21st birthday present from her family. Ironically Jon had tried to book an earlier flight but could only get seats on the flight leaving on the 28 November.

Jon and Philippa were in the prime of their lives. Jon was an anaesthetist with a small private practice in Hamilton. Philippa had her future planned out through research with a desire to see more of the world.

The night of 28 November and the days that followed became surreal. That night I had seen my sister-in-law on television as staff were ushering waiting family members at Auckland airport to a private area. What could I do? I knew they had close friends in Auckland and through the police they were able to go to the airport and provide comfort to Margaret. My younger brother who lived in Wellington flew up to Auckland the next day and drove Margaret back to Hamilton. He and his wife stayed with her until I could arrange for leave and for my family to be cared for.

How could a plane from the safest airline in the world simply disappear? Then it was found with no survivors and the reality of what had happened, the finality of the disaster set in. Looking back on those early days I feel we were in a state of disbelief. So many friends, neighbours and unknown people came to the house with gifts of food, flowers, and sympathy. Some stayed a short while, others simply left their offerings. Jon's colleagues and friends were marvellous liaising with the team in Auckland responsible for the identification and return of loved ones. They eventually informed us that Philippa had been found and her remains returned to Auckland. No part of Jon has ever been found and he lies forever on Mt Erebus.

The decision was made to hold a memorial service for them both at the chapel of St Paul's School in Hamilton where Jon had been the doctor. A few days later Philippa's remains were returned to us. We held a private family cremation. Philippa's ashes were returned to Mt Erebus, and she too lies there with her father.

The remaining days of 1979 were numbing. My husband was wonderfully supportive, but we were all coming to terms with our grief, my three children in their own way and myself just trying to get on with life. We supported Margaret and her son over the Christmas period in our home in Rotorua. When she returned to Hamilton, friends took over the care. In those days there wasn't the understanding or pastoral care available to those in need. People whom I thought were friends would see me in the street and cross over the road. I can only guess that they didn't want to be part of what could be a difficult conversation. I wanted to talk about Jon and Philippa, so did that within my family as well as in my place of work. It helped to articulate about them both particularly Jon's work ethic and dedication to his field of expertise and Philippa's determination to excel in all that she undertook. The goodness in them both.

The disaster had and still has far reaching effects to this day on our family. My other brother who was devastated by the accident changed the course of his life and moved overseas. Sadly, he has since died but I'm sure he never recovered from his loss. Margaret, Jon’s widow, is now almost 99 years of age and is in care. She has no recollection of her family. There is no doubt that a tragedy such as Erebus changes one's outlook and perspective on life. There are so many occasions which arise to which you simply, ‘Have to get on with it’. My children were 14, 11 and 10 at the time and they too have their own story to tell. Their memories of that time being as fresh as when it happened.

Those of us who were left to mourn had to find our own way of getting through each hour, day, week, month and year and for many that is ongoing. Thank goodness we now have victim support and are encouraged to express our feelings. Perhaps that is one of the good things that have come about due to the enormity of the Erebus disaster. There is certainly more understanding of grief, and the impact sudden trauma can have on us all. It is one of the reasons I am so supportive of the proposed Erebus Memorial. As no part of Jon was found, his name is on the Air New Zealand Memorial at Waikumete Cemetery but nowhere is Philippa mentioned. To have their names together, memorialised forever, a place for families to remember in quiet contemplation those we lost would bring so much peace to so many.

Read more memories like this: Reflections on Erebus series.

See also, passengers and crew from Flight TE901 (Manatū Taonga)