Saturday, March 18, 1944. : Dick Smith, Australian businessman, entrepreneur and aviator, is born. Dick Smith was born on 18 March 1944 in Roseville, Sydney. In 1968, he founded electronics retailer Dick Smith Electronics, which he sold to Woolworths in 1982. A multi-millionaire, he generously supports charities whilst also encouraging the growth of the Australian product market. To that end, he has launched a range of products which are entirely Australian made and Australian owned, such as Dick Smith foods, which he founded in 1999. Dick Smith has made a number of firsts as an aviator. In 1983, he made the first solo helicopter flight around the world, landing on container ships at sea to refuel. In 1987, he made the first helicopter flight to the North Pole, and he was the first person to fly around the world via the poles in 1989. In 1993, he made the first non-stop balloon crossing of the Australian continent, and in 2000 he made the first Trans-Tasman Balloon flight. Other achievements include founding the magazine Australian Geographic in 1985, a National Geographic-style magazine focusing on Australia. Smith was named Australian of the Year in 1986. In 1992, he was awarded the Lindbergh Award, an annual world-wide award given to one individual for lifetime achievement for a balance between technical advancement and environmental preservation.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 05:35:05 +0000
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