Overview

There was only one survivor of the ill-fated Burke and Wills Expedition from Melbourne to the north coast of Australia which began in 1860. The expedition is usually described as a dismal failure...but was it? This is the story of a phenomenal surveyor, William Wills. It is told by a modern day surveyor who walked in Wills' footsteps and visited places never before seen by other researchers. He discovered a surprising truth. Follow the adventures of two investigative explorers as they unravel a mystery using Wills' original notes. David Hillan and his photographer wife, Yvonne Hill, discover the truth about Burke and Wills' journey towards the coast. Was Camp 119 really their furthest camp north?

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9780648700722

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Reviews

It changed my view about the Burke and Wills story Gill McMillan Manager This book exemplifies the inquisitive and enquiring nature of a surveyor and David's work has been rewarded by the uncovering of evidence that would have escaped the attention of the untrained eye Dr George Bennett M Surv Melb, PhD NSW, FIS Aust, FIN, Professor of Surveying University of NSW It is the clearest explanation of latitudes and longitudes I have ever read Frank Miller Commodore SA Sea Rescue Squadron The photographs by Yvonne and her stories of what happened to them along the way make you feel you're right there with them on the adventure. The fact that, by following Wills' original survey notes they were able to find previously undiscovered trees marked by Burke and Wills, is amazing Phillip Child History addict

"""It changed my view about the Burke and Wills story"" Gill McMillan Manager ""This book exemplifies the inquisitive and enquiring nature of a surveyor and David's work has been rewarded by the uncovering of evidence that would have escaped the attention of the untrained eye"" Dr George Bennett M Surv Melb, PhD NSW, FIS Aust, FIN, Professor of Surveying University of NSW ""It is the clearest explanation of latitudes and longitudes I have ever read"" Frank Miller Commodore SA Sea Rescue Squadron ""The photographs by Yvonne and her stories of what happened to them along the way make you feel you're right there with them on the adventure. The fact that, by following Wills' original survey notes they were able to find previously undiscovered trees marked by Burke and Wills, is amazing"" Phillip Child History addict"

Author Information

The author, David Hillan, became a registered Surveyor in NSW in 1952 and later in other States of Australia. During this time, he was engaged on a wide variety of surveys covering marking original country sections, townships, engineering surveys, air photo control for map making, tunnel alignment surveys and reconnaissance for major projects. The work in marking out sections involved the search for blazed trees of early surveyors from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His work on photographic tunnel cross sections won a prestigious award in a professional journal in 1955. This technique has subsequently been used extensively overseas. In the mid-seventies he developed an original photographic survey method to determine flight paths of aircraft for the control of noise. A paper on this was presented to a Parliamentary Select Committee. He was involved in maritime search and rescue for more than thirty years and some of the techniques used in that activity have been utilised in this investigative research. In addition, he was an Olympian, having been section manager for his sport at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as well as manager of many other international teams. Co-author and David's wife, Yvonne Hill, worked in South Australian secondary schools for thirty-eight years, retiring as a Class 1 Principal. She is a multi-award-winning photographer and has given more than thirty years voluntary service to the South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron in searches at sea as well as working for seventeen years as chief radio operator during search and rescue operations. An Olympic target rifle shooter, she was also, for many years, coach for both Olympic and Paralympic shooters. Winner of twenty international medals, including gold and silver at the 1982 World Championships, she was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2015 for her services to her sport and the community. After retiring from international competition, having competed at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, the 1982 World Championships in Venezuela, the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and also the 1986 World Championships in East Germany, she was manager and/or coach for many overseas teams both Olympic and Paralympic. She recently retired from the board of Target Rifle Australia and is currently Junior Vice President of the Australian Photographic Society.

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