50 years ago it was stupid; now it would be impossible

Post date: Mar 16, 2015 8:10:42 AM

Been a bit of media interest in a 50 year old news story about the appropriately named former javelin thrower Reg Spiers. Reg had been Australian javelin champion; on track for Olympic glory but career cut short due to arm injury. Of course in the 1950s and 1960s Olympic and Commonweatlh contestants were all amateurs -ie they weren't paid.Anyway in 1964 our man Reg ended up working at Heathrow and missing his wife and daughter in Adelaide. Wanted to get back for daughters birthday but he had no money

Developed a plan to post himself to Australia - got a builder friend to create a crate and he did the trip inside a crate. Eventually ended up in Perth and then hitchhiked to Adelaide.

In his excitement at getting home he forgot to let his friend now he had arrived and friend alerted authorities fearing Reg had died.

You might think there would be a happy ending - but unfortunately Reg used his smuggling skills to become a drug trafficker.

The reason it has created media interest now is that son has written a book. News is obviously best marketing strategy