We have some pretty awesome Aussies, who’ve done some pretty special things – enough to be awarded the Australian of the Year. So why not honour them with a geo-series that starts at The Australian of the Year Walk, then visits a relevant place of interest for each group of Aussies and finally a short walk to GZ.
For our group of Writers, Australia is represented in different ways: its rich history, its flora and fauna, and its delicate future. There are a number of other AOTY winners who’ve been writers, but they’re reserved for other caches in the series.
1980 Australian of the Year –Manning Clark AC
State: Australian Capital Territory
Historian
Manning Clark was educated at Melbourne Grammar School, the University of Melbourne and Oxford University. His first academic appointment was in Melbourne, but he spent the majority of his career at Canberra University College and the Australian National University. Clark is best known for his epic six-volume A History of Australia, which was published between 1962 and 1987. He wrote with great narrative flair and his history was a work of literature as much as a work of historical scholarship. It was also often provocative: in 1978 volume four included a strong attack on Anglo-Australian conservatism and materialism.
Clark was pleasantly surprised by his Australian of the Year award: ‘At a time when the pursuit of wealth once again infests the ancient continent of Australia, you choose a man who believes passionately that Australians can create a society where all people can take their place at the banquet of life.’
At the posted coordinates, you will see a plaque of our first AOTY. Look next to the photo - there are four lines.
For K = Second Line, Second Word, First Letter (convert letter to a digit, where A=1, B=2…J=0).
For L, from the description above, the provocative Volume 4 was published in 197L.
Now wander along the Australians of the Year Walk.
1979 Australian of the Year – Harry Butler CBE
State: Western Australia
Conservationist and Naturalist
Perth-born Harry Butler trained as a teacher before commencing a career as an environmental consultant in the 1960s. He worked for corporate clients and government bodies and undertook a major study of Western Australian animals. From 1976 to 1981 he presented the popular ABC television series In the Wild.
When accepting his Australian of the Year award, he remarked: ‘I suppose my voice, the grotty clothes, and the beat up fingernails characterise the sort of man Australians imagine as the typical Australian.’ Butler was convinced that conservation and development were not incompatible: ‘I’ve achieved more by working with mining companies and other developers than I ever would have lying down in front of bulldozers.’ In the 1980s he was criticised by many for his work as a consultant on the Franklin River Dam project and his support for mining in Kakadu National Park. Butler once observed, ‘I am a little different to most conservationists.’
Here you will see a plaque of our second AOTY. Look next to the photo - there are four lines.
For M = Second Line, Second Word, First Letter
For N, from the description above, 198N was the last year Harry presented his TV show.
2007 Australian of the Year – Tim Flannery
State: New South Wales
Scientist, Writer and Thinker
Born and educated in Melbourne, Tim Flannery studied English literature before embarking on a remarkable career as a zoologist, palaeontologist, explorer, writer and environmentalist. After gaining degrees in earth sciences and zoology, he worked for a range of institutions including the University of Adelaide, South Australian Museum, Australian Museum and Harvard University. Flannery is best known for his ecological history of Australia and New Zealand, The Future Eaters (1994), and his internationally acclaimed study of human induced climate change, The Weather Makers (2005). An accomplished communicator, Professor Flannery described in clear and accessible language the science of climate change and its likely consequences for a fragile planet. The Weather Makers has been translated into over twenty languages.
With climate policy looming as a significant issue in an election year, the Australian of the Year called for greater action from the Australian Government to reduce carbon emissions, saying ‘there’s no doubt this Government’s been dragging the chain.’
Here you will see a plaque of our third AOTY. Look next to the photo - there are four lines.
For P = First Line, Third Word, Third Letter minus Fourth Line, Third Word, Fourth Letter (convert letter to a digit, where A=1, B=2…J=0).
For Q, from the description above, in 1994, Flannery published "The Future ?" (how many letters?).
WP2 is at S35 1L.P(K+M)Q E149 0(N+Q).QM(K+N)
WP2 Checksum S28 E33
Relevant place of interest for the AOTY
At WP2, you will be standing near a long wall that forms part of the dedication to a famous piece of writing - one that helped shaped the start of Australia's federation and modern day democracy. You will see some Aussies with rather strange 'hair styles'! (Nb. In this area, you might also collect some information for one or two other caches.) Now look for information about some of our great Australians.
Great Australian - initials A.I.C. He died in 190R. Now read his two-line description. For S = Second Line, Tenth Word, First Letter, where A=1, B=2…J=0.
Great Australian - initials C.H.S. She was born in 182T. Now read her four-line description. For U = Fourth Line, Second Word, First Letter.
Great Australian - initials J.H.S. He was born in 184V. Now read his ten-line description. For W = Seventh Line, Third Word, First Letter.
GZ is at S35 1(V+W).SVR E149 0R.(U+W)T(T+U)
Checksum S30 E39