Dick Smith (entrepreneur)

Dick Smith
Born Richard Harold Smith
18 March 1944
Roseville, New South Wales
Nationality Australian
Education North Sydney Technical High School
Known for Entrepreneur, businessman, aviator, philanthropist, political activist.[1]
Title Officer of the Order of Australia
Spouse(s) Phillipa McManarney
Children Two

Richard Harold "Dick" Smith, AO (born 18 March 1944) is an Australian entrepreneur, businessman, aviator, and political activist.[1] He is the founder of Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic, and was selected as the 1986 Australian of the Year. In 2010 he founded the media production company Smith&Nasht with the intention of producing films about global issues.

Business ventures

Electronics

In 1968, Dick Smith founded electronics retailer Dick Smith Electronics as a small car radio installation business in the Sydney suburb of Artarmon, New South Wales. In 1982, he sold the business to Woolworths for $22 million,[2] and the business still retains his name in the business title.

Dick Smith Electronics entered Asia in 1978 with a store in Hong Kong's tourist shopping hub, Tsim Sha Tsui, and the United States with stores in Northern California and Los Angeles, but these were closed in 1980 and the late 1980s, respectively. It has since expanded to employ over 2,000 people. It has co-sponsored AFL club the Richmond Tigers since 2008.

On 31 January 2012 Woolworths Limited announced that after the results of a strategic review it would close up to 100 Dick Smith stores and sell the business.[3]

On 27 September 2012 Woolworths announced that the private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners would purchase Dick Smith Electronics for $20M [4] with the transition between Woolworths and Anchorage being finalised on 27 November 2012. It was later reported that this was only part payment with Anchorage Capital Partners paying a further $74 million to Woolworths making the total payment $94 Million.[5]

Australian products

Main article: Dick Smith Foods

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 only sells foods produced in Australia by Australian-owned companies.[6]

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" with the text on the rear stating "We would have to be complete dickheads to let most of our famous Australian brands be taken over by foreign companies. Brands such as Vegemite, Aeroplane Jelly, Arnott's, Speedo and Redhead Matches are in overseas hands. This means the profit and wealth created goes overseas and robs our children and grandchildren of a future".[7] A chocolate biscuit called "Temptin'" competed directly with the established favourite Arnott's Tim Tam. 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.[8]

Publishing

Main article: Australian Geographic

In 1983 Smith published the book "The Earth Beneath Me" which described his solo helicopter flight around the world. Two documentaries were also filmed during the flight, and a third one soon after. In 1986, Smith founded the magazine Australian Geographic, a National Geographic-style magazine focusing on Australia. Smith did not want to greatly expand Australian Geographic, but his friend and CEO Ike Bain convinced him to change his mind and soon it was a successful business.

Aviation and adventures

In 1964, Smith sailed with a group of Rover Scouts to Balls Pyramid in the Pacific Ocean – the highest sea spire in the world. He and the group failed to climb the Pyramid; however in 1979 Smith returned, climbed to the top, and formally claimed the land for Australia by unfurling a flag.

Smith learned to fly in 1972, graduating to a twin engine Beech Baron. In 1976 he competed in the Perth to Sydney air race.[9] At the age of 34 he purchased his first helicopter, a Bell Jetranger II. With it he made a record-setting flight from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and return, 1,185 km. The helicopter opened new opportunities for exploring places otherwise inaccessible. In 1978 he found the wreck of the Kookaburra aircraft, which crash-landed in the Central Australian Desert in 1929.[10]

In 1982-83 Smith successfully completed the first solo helicopter flight around the world.[11] His flight began in Fort Worth, Texas, on 5 August 1982, in a newly purchased Bell Jetranger 206B. On 19 August, the 50th anniversary of James Mollison's solo crossing of the Atlantic, he arrived at Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom where he met Prince Charles. From there he flew to London, where, later that day, the first stage of his flight ended, after 11,752 km. The second stage of his flight started in London on 13 September, and finished in Sydney, Australia, 3 October 1982, 23,092 km later.[12] On 25 May 1983 the final stage of the flight started. Not being granted permission to land in USSR, he arranged to land on a ship to refuel. His journey ended on 22 July 1983, the 50th anniversary of Wiley Post's solo aeroplane flight around the world on 22 July 1933.

Smith's first attempt to reach the North Pole, in 1986, failed. He had to give up just 670 kilometres short of his destination because his navigation equipment was beginning to fail and visibility had dropped to almost zero. Smith made two more attempts to reach the North Pole in his JetRanger Helicopter. The third attempt, in April 1987, was successful, but required that he refuel in parts of the Arctic Circle where fuel was not available. He had the fuel delivered in a DHC-6 Twin Otter.[13]

In 1988/89 Smith flew a Twin Otter aircraft VH-SHW (registered after his hero, Sir Hubert Wilkins) vertically around the world, landing at both the North and South Poles.[14]

In October 1991 Smith was the second person to fly over Mount Everest.[15]

In 1992 Dick and Pip Smith circled the summit of Mount Everest and took photographs. In Australian Geographic (January–March 1993) Dick wrote: 'The experience was unbelievable and I felt privileged to be one of the very few people to obtain permission from the Nepalese government to fly over the summit."[16]

In 1992 Smith made another helicopter flight around the world, this time with his wife Pip. He bought a twin-engine Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. At their journey's end Dick and Pip had flown more than 39,607 nautical miles (73,352 kilometres) and they had taken more than 10,700 photographs. These are a valuable record of what our planet looks like in the last decade of the 20th century. He said, "I hope that many of the areas will be photographed again in 10 years time from exactly the same position".[16]

Smith and his co-pilot John Wallington made the first trip across Australia by hot air balloon on the 18th June 1993.[17]

In November 1995 Smith climbed the most remote of the seven summits, Carstensz Pyramid in Irian Jaya with Peter Hilary and Greg Mortimer.

Smith has been a vocal advocate for the civil aviation industry in Australia, having been appointed by Prime Minister Bob Hawke to be Chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority from February 1990 to February 1992. He also served as Deputy-Chairman and Chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority from 1997 until his resignation in 1999.

Smith was Chairman of the Council for the Centenary of Federation from December 1996 to February 2000. He was appointed to this position by the then Prime Minister, John Howard.

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.[18]

On 7 January 2006, Smith flew his Cessna Grand Caravan from Sydney to Hari Hari 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.[19]

On Tuesday 26 August 2008 Smith, with his wife Pip, completed a two and a half year drive around the world. The journey of 40,361 kilometres was made by road vehicle.[20]

Stunts

Smith has also attempted a number of well-publicised practical jokes, including the "attempt" to tow an iceberg from Antarctica to Australia to obtain more fresh water in 1978.[21] In the early 1980s Dick Smith served as the conductor aboard a London double decker bus which jumped 15 motorcycles. The bus, driven by Hans Tholstrup, was a humorous poke at Evel Knievel who had visited Australia in 1979 and jumped his motorcycle over buses.[22] Dick Smith's presence on the bus was a last minute decision by himself.[23][24]

Achievements

[26]

Awards and honours

Smith was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours of 1999, for his services to the community, charity and business.[27]

Smith was awarded Australian of the Year in 1986.[28][29] At Smith's Australian of the Year Presentation he suggested that publisher Rupert Murdoch might like to take a year off, come back to Australia and share some of his expertise by heading the Treasury or the Reserve Bank.[30]

Smith was awarded the Baden-Powell Award in 1966,[31] the highest award in the Rover Section, after 14 years in the Scouting movement.

“ 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[31]

Smith gained his amateur radio licence at the age of 17 and holds call sign VK2DIK.[32]

In 1992 Smith received the United States' Lindbergh award.[33] The Award, "is given annually to individuals whose work over many years has made significant contributions toward the Lindbergh's concept of balancing technology and nature."

Smith was named an Australian Living Treasure in 1997.[34]

In 2000, Smith was named the 2000 Adventurer of the Year by the Australian Geographic Society, after he made a trans-tasman balloon trip from New Zealand to Australia.[35][36]

In 2010, Smith was the Patron for the 100th Anniversary of the Wireless Institute of Australia, including being the major speaker at the annual general meeting in Canberra on 27 May 2010. The next day, he hosted AGM attendees at his country property near Gundaroo, New South Wales.[37]

On 29 June 2010 Smith accepted the commission of Rear Admiral of the Lake Eyre Yacht Club.[38]

In December 2011, Smith was appointed as a Consulting Professor in the Department of Biology, School of Humanities and Sciences of Stanford University California by Dean, Richard P.Saller.[39] This was made in recognition of his many years of work in relation to environmental issues including his 2011 book, Dick Smith's Population Crisis.[40]

In May 2013, Smith was commemorated in the species' name of the newly described fossil koala relative Litokoala dicksmithi. The paper's editor Karen Black honoured him as

“ Australian aviator, adventurer and philanthropist for his long-term financial support of Australian scientific endeavour and in particular fossil research at Riversleigh.[41] ”

In October 2014, Dick Smith received a Special Australian Geographic Society Award for 50 years of adventure.[42]

Involvement in public affairs

In 2005, Dick Smith gave public support to the asylum seeker Peter Qasim. Qasim was released later in 2005 by the Australian Government after seven years in detention. This support included the offer to visit India seeking evidence of Qasim's claims.[43][44]

He paid a large share of the ransom to free Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan and Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout who were both being held hostage in Somalia.[45]

Smith is a founder and a patron of the Australian Skeptics. In July 1980, Smith collaborated with renowned skeptic James Randi to test water divining, offering a prize of $40,000 for a successful demonstration.[46]

In June 2008, he offered a $50,000 award for investigative journalism into the Government purchase of Super Seasprite helicopters, after the contract was cancelled at a cost of A$1.1 billion.

In response to a large increase in pertussis cases during a 2008/09 outbreak,[47] Smith funded a national ad in The Australian encouraging parents to "Get The Facts" and derided the Australian Vaccination Network as an anti-vaccination organisation.[48]

In February 2012 Smith expressed himself skeptical of the purported Energy Catalyzer Cold fusion device. On 14 February, he offered the inventor Andrea Rossi one million US Dollars if he were to repeat the demonstration of 29 March of the year before, this time allowing particular care to be given to a check of the electric wiring of the device, and to the power output. The offer was declined by Rossi before the lapse of 20 February acceptance deadline that had been set by Smith.[49][50]

Smith has subsequently offered one million US dollars "to any person or organisation that can come up with a practical device that has an output of at least one kilowatt of useful energy through LENRs (low energy nuclear reactions)." The offer remained open until January 2013.[51]

Political activism

Smith donated A$60,000 in February 2007 towards a campaign to secure a fair trial for then Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks who had been held in a U.S. military prison in Cuba's Guantanamo Bay for five years.[52] Smith said he wanted Hicks to get "a fair trial, a fair go".[52] Fresh charges, including attempted murder, had been filed against Hicks earlier that month.[53] Hicks pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in March 2007 as part of a plea bargain,[54] and was released from custody in December 2007.[55]

Smith financially assisted Australian Greens leader Bob Brown after he was left with a $240,000 anti-logging court bill after losing a case he brought against Forestry Tasmania.[56] A failure to pay would have resulted in Brown having to declare bankruptcy, and therefore lose his seat in the Senate.[57]

In 2011 Dick Smith expressed support for action on climate change, including the introduction of a carbon tax, and criticized the response to actor Cate Blanchett speaking out on the matter. He stated that "in their editorials [News Limited journalists] say they accept that human-induced climate change is a real danger ... yet their news pages and opinion pieces are full of endless attacks on politicians and others who support putting a price on carbon."[58] Smith has produced a documentary Ten Bucks a Litre calling for the development of electric cars, concerned at rising fuel prices.[59]

Population policy activism

In August 2010 Smith announced he would be devoting himself to questions of global population, overpopulation, and alternatives to an endless economic growth economy. He produced and appeared in the feature length documentary Dick Smith's Population Puzzle[60] broadcast by public network the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, questioning the desirability of Australia's rapid population growth. In the documentary, Smith calls the campaign the most important thing he has ever done in his life.[61] It was subsequently distributed on DVD. The same year, he established the production company Smith&Nasht with producer Simon Nasht.

In August 2010 he announced the Wilberforce Award of A$1 million to a person under 30 who attracted his attention by advocating alternatives to population and consumption growth.[62]

In May 2011, Dick Smith published his book on the subject, Dick Smith's Population Crisis: The dangers of unsustainable growth for Australia.[1][40] In 2013 Smith&Nasht revisited the topic of overpopulation with the release of an hour-long documentary film called The Vasectomist.

The Dick Smith Party

In March 2015, the media announced that Dick Smith had registered The Dick Smith Party, but would not be running as a candidate himself. The party intends to target the senate and will run on a platform of curbing unnecessary regulation and population growth.[63]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Smith, Dick (30 May 2011), "The idiocy of endless growth", The Age (Melbourne), retrieved 6 March 2011
  2. ↑ "Talking Heads". http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1913699.htm. 5 July 2007. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 September 2007. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ "Woolworths to sell Dick Smith Electronics"
  4. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-27/dick-smith-sold-to-private-equity/4283098
  5. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/from-20m-to-344m-dick-smith-for-sale-20131114-2xizx.html
  6. ↑ "Dick Smith Foods - Mission Statement". About Us. Dick Smith Foods. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  7. ↑ Patrick Barkham. Aussie icons under siege, guardian.co.uk, Monday 26 February 2001.
  8. ↑ "Battle of the Biscuits: Dick Smith Foods & Arnotts declare a truce". Media Releases. Dick Smith Foods. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  9. ↑ Glines, Carroll V., Round-the-world flights, Potomac Books, Incorporated, 2003 ISBN 9-781-574-88448-7, p. 316
  10. ↑ Smith, Dick. The Earth Beneath Me, Angus & Robertson Publishers (1983). ISBN 0-207-14630-6, pp.1-3
  11. ↑ Powerhouse Museum. "Bell 206B Jetranger III helicopter flown by Dick Smith, 1982. Statement of significance". Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved 8 June 2014. The Bell Jetranger III helicopter, Dick Smith Australian Explorer, was flown by Australian businessman and adventurer Dick Smith on the first solo circumnavigation of the world in a rotary wing aircraft in 1982/3.
  12. ↑ Smith, Dick. The Earth Beneath Me, Angus & Robertson Publishers (1983). ISBN 0-207-14630-6
  13. ↑ Robert Gott. Makers & Shakers, Heinemann Library, 1998. p. 38 ISBN 1-86391-878-7
  14. ↑ Robert Gott (1998). "10: Further adventures". Makers & Shakers (PDF). Heinemann Library. pp. 38–41. ISBN 1-86391-878-7. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Bruce, David (22 October 1991). "Dick Smith Over The Top". The Age. Retrieved 15 February 2012. Note:As posted on balloonflight.com.au
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Robert Gott. Makers & Shakers, Heinemann Library, 1998. p. 46 ISBN 1-86391-878-7
  17. ↑ "Crossing of Australia by hot air balloon". Australian Geographic. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "Speaker Dick Smith Full Biography". Inform Communicate Motivate International (Australia). Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  19. ↑ Madgwick, Paul (1 August 2006). "Dick Smith recreates first solo trans-Tasman flight". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2006.
  20. ↑ Dick and Pip Smith (26 August 2008). "Stage 9 - Tuesday 26 August 2008 - Day 107". Diary. Dick and Pip Smiths Overland Adventures. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "The Sydney Iceberg". museumofhoaxes.com. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Evel Knievel". Stevemandich.com. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 30 February 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ↑ "The Flying Omnibus". Motorcycle Gallery. Dropbears. 25 March 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  24. ↑ "Front Seat of the Race Bus". Millennium Ride. 11 November 2002. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  25. ↑ "Crossing of Australia by hot air balloon". Australian Geographic. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  26. ↑ "Dick Smith's BIO" http://www.dicksmithfoods.com.au/dick-smiths-bio 2013-16-1
  27. ↑ "SMITH, Richard Harold (Dick)", Officer of the Order of Australia. It's an Honour (www.itsanhonour.gov.au). "For service to the Community, particularly as a benefactor to charitable organisations, to business and commerce, and to the aviation industry"
  28. ↑ "National Australia Day Council - Australian of the Year Award". Award Recipients, Australian of the Year. National Australia Day Council. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  29. ↑ Lewis, Wendy (2010). Australians of The Year 1960 - 2010. Pier 9 Press. ISBN 978-1-74196-809-5.
  30. ↑ 1960-2010 Australians of the Year, Murdoch Books Australia, ISBN 978-1-74196-809-5
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Dick Smith". Famous Scouts. Scouts Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  32. ↑ "VK2DIK". QRZ.COM. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  33. ↑ "Lindbergh Award, Dick Smith (1992)". Lindbergh Foundation (www.lindberghfoundation.org)
  34. ↑ "Australian Living Treasure". Award Recipients. National Trust of Australia (NSW). Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  35. ↑ "Dick Smith, Australian, Electronics, Retail & Aviation Magnate". AussieTycoon. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  36. ↑ "AG Society Adventure Awards". Australian Geographic. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  37. ↑ "The WIA Centenary Patron". Jim Linton VK3PC, 2 June 2010, Retrieved 3 June 2010
  38. ↑ "Smith becomes Rear Admiral of Lake Eyre Yacht Club", Adelaide Now, 1 July 2010. "The clubhouse sits in the small town of Marree, 685km north of Adelaide, on the edge of the desert in SA. Its members can only sail on the very rare occasion when floodwaters from other states turn the salt beds into vast inland lakes."
  39. ↑ "Consulting Professor in the Center for Conservation Biology". Stanford University. Retrieved 4 February 2011
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Dick Smith's Population Crisis: The dangers of unsustainable growth for Australia" (PAPERBACK). Allen and Unwin. June 2011. ISBN 9-781-742-37657-8. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  41. ↑ Black, Karen H.; Julien Louys; Gilbert J. Price (May 14, 2013). "Understanding morphological variation in the extant koala as a framework for identification of species boundaries in extinct koalas (Phascolarctidae; Marsupialia)". Journal of Systematic Paleontology (London: Taylor & Francis): 1–28. doi:10.1080/14772019.2013.768304. ISSN 1478-0941.
  42. ↑ "Australian Geographic Society 2014 Special Award". www.australiangeographic.com.au, 27 October 2014
  43. ↑ "Dick Smith flies to Baxter detainee's aid". ABC News Online. 1 March 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  44. ↑ "After 7 years, detainee wants job". The Australian.
  45. ↑ Smith, Dick, Brennan ransom came from Aussies, retrieved 6 March 2011
  46. ↑ James Randi. "Australian Skeptics Divining Test". Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  47. ↑ "Pertussis in Australia". Center for Disease Control. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  48. ↑ Hall, Louise (16 August 2009), "Vaccine fear campaign investigated", The Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 16 August 2009
  49. ↑ E-Cat Proof Challenge: $1,000,000 is a "Clownerie"? (Updated), Forbes, February 2012, downloaded 19 February 2012
  50. ↑ Fax copy of the letter (downloaded 19 February 2012)
  51. ↑ US $1 Million Reward for First Successful One Kilowatt or More LENR Demonstration, Retrieved 3 July 2012
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Dick Smith donates $60,000 to free Hicks". NineMSN. 18 February 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  53. ↑ Alexander Downer and Philip Ruddock (3 February 2007). "Joint Media Release - Minister for Foreign Affairs and Attorney General: David Hicks: charges outlined". Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian Government Attorney-General's Department. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  54. ↑ Scott Horton (2 April 2007). "The Plea Bargain of David Hicks". Harper's Magazine (The Harper's Magazine Foundation). Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  55. ↑ Rory Callinan (29 December 2007). "Aussie Taliban Goes Free". Time Magazine (Time Inc). Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  56. ↑ Peter Wels (10 June 2009). "I took advice on court costs, says Bob Brown". The Examiner (Tasmania). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  57. ↑ "Dick Smith to bail Brown out". ABC News. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  58. ↑ "I was gutless over climate ads: Dick Smith". Sydney Morning Herlad. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  59. ↑ Matt Campbell (1 Aug 2013). "Dick Smith gazes into his automotive crystal ball". drive.com.au.
  60. ↑ Simon Nasht (12 August 2010). "Dick Smith's Population Puzzle". Australia: ABC1 (ABC.net.au). Retrieved 8 June 2014. (Download Transcript-PDF-511Kb)
  61. ↑ Guy Pearse (June 2011). "Dick Smith’s Population Crisis". The Monthly.
  62. ↑ Isabel Hayes (11 August 2010). "Dick Smith offers $1m for person who reduces population with Wilberforce Award". News.com.au. AAP. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  63. ↑ Rose, Danny (2015-03-26). "Dick Smith won't stand for own party". The West Australian. Retrieved 2015-03-28.

Further reading

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