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This article is about the Australian entrepreneur. For other uses, see Dick Smith (disambiguation). Dick Smith can refer to Dick Smith, Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith (director, early American film director Dick
Dick Smith AO
BornRichard Harold Smith
March 18, 1944 (1944-03-18) (age 64)
Roseville, New South Wales
NationalityFlag of Australia Australian
EducationNorth Sydney Technical High School
TitleOfficer of the Order of Australia
Known forEntrepreneur, businessman, aviator, philanthropist
SpousePhillipa McManarney
ChildrenTwo

Dick Smith, AO (born Richard Harold Smith on March 18, 1944 (1944-03-18)) is an Australian entrepreneur, businessman and aviator. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Roseville is a Suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. North Sydney Technical High School on Miller Street North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia first opened as St Leonard's Superior Public School (opening Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia on 14 February 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition An entrepreneur is a person who has possession over a company enterprise, or Venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome A businessperson (also businessman or businesswoman) is someone who is employed at usually a profit-oriented enterprise, or more specifically someone Philanthropy is the act of donating money goods services time and/or effort to support a socially beneficial cause with a defined objective and with no financial or material Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia on 14 February 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. An entrepreneur is a person who has possession over a company enterprise, or Venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome A businessperson (also businessman or businesswoman) is someone who is employed at usually a profit-oriented enterprise, or more specifically someone He is known for his qualities as an Australian patriot and philanthropist. Philanthropy is the act of donating money goods services time and/or effort to support a socially beneficial cause with a defined objective and with no financial or material [1]

Contents

Aviation

He learned to fly in 1972, graduating on a twin engine Beech Baron. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1976 he competed in the Perth to Sydney air race[2]. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 At the age of 33 he purchased his first helicopter, a Bell Jetranger. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout With it he made a record setting flight from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and return, 1185 km. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Lord Howe Island (ˈhaʊ is a small island in the Pacific Ocean east of the Australian mainland The helicopter opened new opportunities for exploring places otherwise innacessible. In 1978 he has found the wreck of the Kookaburra aircraft, which crashlanded in the Central Australian Desert in 1929. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [3]

His admiration for the early aviation pioneers led him to successfully attempt the first solo helicopter flight around the world. His flight begun in Fort Worth, Texas, on 5 August 1982, in a newly purchased Bell Jetranger 206B. Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventeenth-largest city in the United States. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout On 19 August, the 50th anniversary of James Mollison's solo cross of the Atlantic, Smith arrived at Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom where he met Prince Charles. Balmoral Castle is a large Estate house situated in the area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland known as Royal Deeside. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located From there he flew to London, where, later that day, the first stage of his flight ended, after 11752 km. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Second stage of his flight started on 13 September, London, and finished in Sydney, Australia, 3 October 1982, 23092 km later. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) [4] On 25 May 1983 the final stage of the flight started. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Not being granted permission to land in USSR, he had to land on a ship to refuel. His journey ended 22 July 1983, on the 50th anniversery of Wiley Post's solo flight around the world, in an aeroplane, 22 July 1933. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Wiley Hardeman Post ( November 22, 1898 &ndash August 15, 1935) was the first pilot to fly solo around the world Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Smith has been a vocal advocate for the civil aviation industry, and served as Chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority board twice: 1990 to 1992 and from 1997 to 1999. Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying representing all non- Military aviation, both private and commercial The Civil Aviation Safety Authority ( CASA) is the Australian federal agency responsible for the regulation of private and commercial flight Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

In February 2000, Smith and his co-pilot John Wallington became the first people to successfully complete an east-west crossing of the Tasman Sea by balloon, from New Zealand to Australia against generally-prevailing winds. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, some 2000 Kilometres (1250 Miles across New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island [5]

On 7 January 2006, Smith flew his Cessna from Sydney to Harihari on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island to mark the 75th anniversary of the first solo trans-Tasman flight by Guy Menzies in 1931[6]. Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Harihari, sometimes Hari Hari, is a small rural settlement in the Westland District of the West Coast region of New Zealand 's South Island Government The Westland District is governed by an elected Council, headed by an elected Mayor. The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. Trans-Tasman is an adjective used primarily in Australia and New Zealand, which signifies an interrelationship between both countries Guy Lambton Menzies ( 1909 - November 1, 1940) was the Australian Aviator who flew the first solo Trans-Tasman flight from

Business ventures

Electronics

Main article: Dick Smith Electronics

In 1968, Dick Smith founded a small electronics retailer Dick Smith Electronics. Dick Smith Electronics is an Australasian Electronics retailer founded in 1968 by Dick Smith. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dick Smith Electronics is an Australasian Electronics retailer founded in 1968 by Dick Smith. In 1982, he sold the business to Woolworths for $20 million[7], and the business still retained his name in the business title and a caricature of his image in the company's branding. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Over the years, his electronics company had many hostile fights with Radio Shack which tried to push him out of the market. RadioShack Corporation (formerly Tandy Corporation) (  is a chain of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of North America He fought back (once, by staging a demonstration outside their store) and often won by Australians supporting one of their own. Dick Smith Electronics entered the United States with stores in Northern California, but were closed in the late 1980s. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Australian products

Main article: Dick Smith Foods
Dick Smith Food's "Dickheads" matches
Dick Smith Food's "Dickheads" matches

Smith founded Dick Smith Foods in 1999, marketed as a crusade against foreign ownership of Australian food producers, particularly Arnott's Biscuits, which in 1997 became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company. Dick Smith Foods is a food brand created by Australian Entrepreneur Dick Smith to provide Australian owned and produced Dick Smith Foods is a food brand created by Australian Entrepreneur Dick Smith to provide Australian owned and produced Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Arnott's Biscuits Holdings (commonly known as Arnott's) is a subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company of America. Campbell Soup Company ( (also known as Campbell's) is a well-known American producer of Canned soups and related products Dick Smith Foods only sells foods produced in Australia by Australian-owned companies. [8]

Dick Smith Foods' products are often named to parody the items they compete with – for example, in competition with Redheads matches, Smith sells near-identically packaged matches called "Dickheads". Redheads is an iconic Australian brand of matches originally manufactured in Richmond Victoria by Bryant and May but now manufactured in Dickheads are a brand of matches released by Australian businessman Dick Smith in 1999. A chocolate biscuit called "Temptin'" competed directly with the established favourite Arnott's Tim Tam. Tim Tams are a Chocolate Biscuit made by Arnott's Biscuits, Australia. In 2003 Arnott's took legal action against Dick Smith Foods, resulting in an out-of-court settlement that required the "p" in the Temptin' logo to be increased in size. [9]

Publishing

Main article: Australian Geographic

In 1983 he published the book "The earth beneath me" which describes his solo helicopter flight around the world. The Australian Geographic is a quarterly geographical journal created by Dick Smith in 1985. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Two documentaries were also filmed during the flight, and a third one after. In 1985, Smith founded the magazine Australian Geographic, a National Geographic-style magazine focusing on Australia. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Magazines, periodicals or serials are Publications generally published on a regular schedule containing a variety of articles, generally The Australian Geographic is a quarterly geographical journal created by Dick Smith in 1985. Overview The NGS's historical mission is "to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's cultural historical and natural Smith didn't want to greatly expand Australian Geographic, but his friend and CEO Ike Bain convinced him to change his mind and soon it was a thriving business. A chief executive officer ( CEO) or chief executive is typically the highest-ranking corporate officer ( executive) or administrator

Stunts

Smith has also attempted a number of well-publicised practical jokes, the grandest of which was the "attempt" to tow an iceberg from Antarctica to Australia to obtain more fresh water. A practical joke or prank is a stunt or trick to purposely make someone feel foolish or victimized usually for humor An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater Ice that has broken off from a snow-formed Glacier or Ice shelf and is floating in open water In the early 1980s Dick Smith served as the conductor aboard a London double decker bus which jumped 25 Harley Davidson motorcycles. RM Routemaster profilejpg|thumb|right|Routemaster in profile]] The AEC Routemaster is a model of Double-decker bus that was introduced by Associated Equipment Company Harley-Davidson Motor Company ( formerly HDI is an American manufacturer of Motorcycles based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. The bus, driven by Hans Tholstrup, was an attempt to upstage Evel Knievel who was visiting Australia to jump a Harley Davidson over 24 London buses. This article is about the stunt performer For the wooden roller coaster by the same name see Evel Knievel (roller coaster Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel Dick Smith's presence on the bus was a last minute decision by himself. [10][11]

Awards

Dick Smith was awarded Australian of the Year in 1986. The Australian of the Year Awards commenced in 1960. From nominations received Australia Day Committees in each state and territory select several finalists Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) [1]

Smith was awarded the Baden-Powell Award in 1966,[12] the highest award in the Rover Section, after 14 years in the Scouting movement. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Rovers, formerly Rover Scouts, is the fifth and final section of Scouts Australia, and began in 1918

“I began as a Cub at eight and went right through to Rovers at age 23. I was very much a loner and Scouting gave me mateship, taught me organisation and how to motivate people. That's why I was able to be the success I am. ”

—Dick Smith[12]

Smith gained his amateur radio licence at the age of 17 and holds call sign VK2DIK. Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a Hobby and a service in which participants called "hams" use various types of Radio communications The verb license or grant license means to give permission The noun license is the document demonstrating that permission In Broadcasting and Radio communications a call sign (also known as a callsign or call letters, or abbreviated as a call, or otherwise [13]

Advocacy

In 2004, Dick Smith gave public support to the asylum seeker Peter Qasim, eventually released in 2005 by the Australian Government after seven years in detainment. Peter Qasim (بيتر قاسم was the longest-serving detainee within the Australian immigration detention system, having resided there for over seven years As of 2005 This support included a visit to Afghanistan seeking evidence of Qasim's claims. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, [14] [15]

Smith donated AU$60,000 in 2007 towards the campaign to secure a fair trial for Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks, who had been held in a U. David Matthew Hicks (born 7 August 1975 is an Australian who undertook combat training in Al Qaeda -linked camps and served with the ruling Taliban S. military prison in Cuba's Guantanamo bay for five years without charge, who then subsequently pleaded guilty. [16]

Smith is a prominent member of the Australian Skeptics, and has supported research into water divining. The Australian Skeptics is a non-profit organisation based in Australia which investigates Paranormal and Pseudoscientific claims using scientific Dowsing, sometimes called doodlebugging, divining or water witching, is a practice whereby dowsers attempt to locate hidden Water wells

References

  1. ^ a b National Australia Day Council - Australian of the Year Award (HTML). Award Recipients, Australian of the Year. National Australia Day Council. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  2. ^ Glines, Carroll V. ,Round-the-world flights, p 316 url="http://books.google.com/books?id=dTkgOHAYphUC&pg=PA316&lpg=PA316&dq=1976+perth+to+sydney+airrace&source=web&ots=9VrOlrzzDy&sig=VL9NNANJsuh_Z6kWEsjp3i34SbA#PPA316,M1"
  3. ^ Smith, D. , The Earth Beneath Me, ISBN 0 207 14360 6, p. 1-3
  4. ^ Smith, D. , The Earth Beneath Me, ISBN 0 207 14360 6
  5. ^ Speaker Dick Smith Full Biography - Speakers Bureau @ ICMI (HTML). Inform Communicate Motivate International (Australia). Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  6. ^ Madgwick, Paul. "Dick Smith recreates first solo trans-Tasman flight", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2006-01-08. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Retrieved on 2006-04-18. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland.  
  7. ^ Talking Heads. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-05-07. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Transcript. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  8. ^ Dick Smith Foods - Mission Statement (HTML). About Us. Dick Smith Foods. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  9. ^ Battle of the Biscuits: Dick Smith Foods & Arnotts declare a truce (HTML). Media Releases. Dick Smith Foods (2003-06-04). Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  10. ^ The Flying Omnibus (HTML). Motorcycle Gallery. Dropbears (2006-03-25). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  11. ^ Front Seat of the Race Bus (HTML). Millennium Ride (2002-04-11). See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  12. ^ a b Dick Smith - Scouts Australia (HTML). Famous Scouts. Scouts Australia. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  13. ^ QRZ.COM VK2DIK (HTML). QRZ. COM. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.
  14. ^ "Dick Smith to Save Peter Qasim - 6 Years in Detention", Perth Independent Media, 2005-03-01. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant  
  15. ^ "After 7 years, detainee wants job", The Australian, date.  
  16. ^ "Dick Smith donates $60,000 to free Hicks", NineMSN, 2007-02-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy  

Further reading

Preceded by
Paul Hogan		Australian of the Year
1986		Succeeded by
John Farnham
Paul Hogan AM (born October 8, 1939) is an Australian Golden Globe -winning actor and comedian most famous for his role as The Australian of the Year Awards commenced in 1960. From nominations received Australia Day Committees in each state and territory select several finalists John Peter Farnham, AO (born July 1, 1949) is a British-born Australian pop Singer.
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