Gday...

1839  -     George Grey's expedition is saved by friendly Aborigines

Sir George Edward Grey, born 14 April 1812, was Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony (South Africa), Premier of New Zealand and a writer. Prior to his political career, however, he was an explorer to one of Australia's remotest regions - the northwest.

His first expedition to the area was in late 1837, but was beset with numerous problems including Aboriginal attack and intense heat and humidity (in some areas, over 50 degrees C) compounded by lack of water. He departed on his second expedition to the northwest in February 1839. After discovering the Gascoyne River, the longest in Western Australia, Grey's party continued southwards in two whaleboats. The boats were wrecked in the pounding surf near today's Geraldton, necessitating an arduous journey on foot. Leaving weaker members of the party behind to be rescued later, Grey took five of his men and set off to make a final dash for Perth. They finished all their provisions in four days, and for the next three days, travelled without food or water. They were sustained briefly by a pool of liquid mud until, on 20 April 1839, friendly Aborigines found the party and gave them enough food to regain their strength to continue the journey.

In all, the expedition covered five hundred kilometres on foot. Meanwhile, all but one of the men who had been left back near Geraldton survived to be rescued by a relief party.

1862  -     Louis Pasteur completes the first test of pasteurisation. 

1908  -     Two trains collide at the Sunshine railway station in Victoria, Australia, killing 44 people. 

1999  -     Twelve students and a teacher are killed in the Columbine High School massacre in the USA. 

Cheers - John