Australian VIP lined up for visit to honour hero explorer
AUSTRALIA'S top man in the UK is coming to Totnes to help the town celebrate the life of a hero explorer who went Down Under and never came back.
The Australian High Commissioner is dropping into Totnes for lunch to help mark the 150th anniversary of the famous Burke and Wills expedition.
Totnes-born John Wills was part of the ill-fated expedition which set out 150 years ago to cross the interior of the Australian continent.
Although they made it across the huge continent both Wills and Burke died on the way back.
This year Australia is launching major celebrations to mark the expedition.
And Totnes is joining in with its own celebrations.
Totnes town councillor Pruw Boswell revealed that the London-based Australian High Commissioner, John Dauth, will be arriving in the town on August 20 which is the day the Aussie expedition set out from Melbourne a century-and-a-half ago.
He will be staying for a special Burke and Wills VIP lunch in Totnes Guildhall as well as unveiling plaques as part of the town celebrations.
Mrs Boswell said: "We are very delighted that he has chosen to honour in this way this special day, and I am sure that it will go a long way to strengthen relationships between our two countries."
Wills was born in Totnes and his family had a home on The Plains just a few yards away from the Wills Memorial which was set up a few years after the expedition disaster.
The son of a local doctor, Wills was educated at St Andrew's Grammar School in Ashburton.
Totnes has been liaising with the Melbourne-based Royal Society of Victoria over joint celebrations.
The Australians have already sent Totnes an Aussie flag to fly as part of the various events that are planned – which include exhibitions and visits to local schools.
2 Comments
by marcea Colley, Totnes
Monday, June 07 2010, 11:10PM
“If Wills and Burke had listened to the Aboriginal people who tried to help them they would not have died there- read about what really happened in Totnes Museum- As a Nation we owe honour to the Explorers AND to the Local Peoples of that time, and their descendants, with apology for the Arrogance of that era- as in 'Burke and Wills web Aboriginal' Page states most eloquently- Australia is still not inclusive or appreciative enough of its Native people, the Traditional Owners, and the contempory struggles they face- this Celebration could be an ideal time to make amends and cross cultural links made- especially as it will be involving schools and big events.. The Aboriginal Flag needs to be flown with the Australian one, thankyou”
by Julian Hilton, Paignton
Tuesday, May 04 2010, 10:25AM
“Wills was my grandmother's grandmother's brother. I think that's great-great-great uncle.
Lois Child, who was the wife of the Headmaster at Dartington school, was my Grandmother's sister and I went to her funeral in Totnes some years ago to represent my Grandmother's side of the family.
It is a surprise to me to learn, having lived here for some twenty years, that although my grandmother's family hail from the North West (Southport) it seems the root of our family on the mother's side links straight back to the area where I now live. I wonder if there is a more direct relative of Wills living so close to his home town? Perhaps on Lois' side? Would be interesting to know.
Apart from my Mum of course, who is one generation closer, but lives a little further away in Colyton, East Devon :0).
We would be quite pleased to meet any other close relatives about...and are looking forward to the celebration of such a distinguished local hero.
Julian”