Australian Geographic Society 2014 Special Award

By AG STAFF October 27, 2014
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A special award has been presented to Dick Smith for 50 years of commitment and contribution to adventure and exploration

It has been 50 years since Dick Smith first attempted to climb the formidable rock spire of Balls Pyramid (near Lord Howe Island), which set him upon a life of adventure in both the physical world and in business.

His physical feats have included his 1982-83 solo flight around the world in a helicopter, his solo helicopter flight to the North Pole in 1987, his pole-to-pole circumnavigation in a Twin Otter aircraft in 1988-89 and his non-stop balloon crossing of Australia in 1993 to name just a few.

Then there are bold enterprises in the world of commerce – his founding of Dick Smith Electronics, the Australian Geographic journal and Dick Smith Foods, for example.

There have also been spirited forays into the world of ideas, including his high-profile questioning of prevailing beliefs on population growth and perpetual-growth economics. All in all, it’s been 50 years lived with in the spirit of adventure and we honour that commitment this year with a special award.