Dick Smith

Dick Smith is a very famous businessman in Australia. He was born in Sydney in 1944.
He had two interests: The bush and the radio. After he left Tertiary Studies he worked for an electronics firm. In 1968 he started a electronics business that was later called "Dick Smith Electronics." He sold this in 1982 to do publishing, exploration, aviation and philanthropy.
He also had interests in magazines and began the quarterly magazine, "Australia Geographic" in 1986.
He went on a lot of flights and was very interested in the Scouts, bush walking, conservation and mountaineering.
Through his energetic self-promotion and his high-profile activities, Smith has become a recognised public figure.
On his "Tour of Honour" he held meetings where he talked about how young people shouldn't take alcohol and cigarettes.

This is the logo for Dick Smith Electronics

When adventurer Dick Smith had just finished his first hot-air balloon trip crossing from New Zealand to Australia, he landed in the surf 50 meters from the shore. More than 300 people turned out on the ten mile beach to watch the arrival, which was the biggest thing in " Iluka's" (the town's) recent history.

He finished 17 hours ahead of schedule and Dick became the very first in the w hole world to fly a hot-air balloon against the wind for 2,500km from New Zealand to Australia.

"It was incredibly exciting," he said," We skimmed the waves and I thought we were going to be drowned."

The crossing took 55 hours and 12 minutes, it was nearly a day less than the expected for the three to six-day trip.

The people in Iluka were so excited because this was the biggest event they had ever seen.

The journey was inspired by a $1,000,000 bet with an advertising man, Mr. John Singleton and it was initially given only a 10 percent chance of success.

Mr. Smith said he thought he would drown as the balloon touched down in the water, ending an exciting, but terrifying trip.