Robert Anthony Beer (8 March 1942 – 3 July 2021) was an Australian adventurer who was the first person to run across the Simpson Desert, Australia.[1][2]
Background[edit]
Beer was born in Walcha, New South Wales and grew up on a rural property, near Ingleba, New South Wales. Beer attended school in Ingleba, Walcha and Armidale.[3][4] Following school, Beer was a tent fighter in Selby Moore's Boxing Tent and was known as 'The Beast'.[3][4] Beer lived in New Zealand for some time and worked as a professional deer shooter. During this time Beer summited Mt Cook via the Grand Traverse. Beer also worked in Australia as a deckhand, rigger, scaffolder and various roles in construction.[5][2][3][4]
The Simpson Desert run and other adventures[edit]
In 1977, Beer cycled across Australia from Perth, Western Australia to Port Macquarie, New South Wales in 36 days. Beer was not assisted by a backup crew.[6][3][4]
In 1978, Beer walked across Australia from Port Augusta, South Australia to Karumba, Queensland in 52 days. Beer was not assisted by a backup crew.[7][6][3][4]
In 1980, Beer became the first person to run across the Simpson Desert, Australia.[1][2] Beer ran 420 km across the desert in 6.5 days, starting at Alka Seltzer Bore, South Australia and finishing at Birdsville, Queensland.[5][1] Beer was assisted by a backup crew which included adventurers, Hans Tholstrup and Neville Kennard. The trip was sponsored by Australian entrepreneur, Dick Smith.[8] A documentary was made about this trip called "The Runner".[8][9]
In 1996/1997, Beer kayaked solo across Australia from Port Alma, Queensland to Murray Mouth, South Australia. Beer paddled up the Fitzroy River and then towed his Kayak on a trolley behind a bicycle over the Great Dividing Range to Goondiwindi, Queensland. Beer then kayaked from Goondiwindi to the Murray Mouth. Beer travelled a total of 4,562 km in 146 days. Beer managed to complete the trip despite contracting Ross River fever. Beer wrote a book about this trip titled "The inland sea man: across Australia by kayak".[3][4]
In 1999, Beer cycled around Australia in a figure of eight, travelling a total of 18,350 km to raise money for the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Beer was not assisted by a backup crew.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Cross-desert jog ends with a pop". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 July 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b c "Running Beer beats the arid inland..." The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 August 1981. p. 67. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f The inland sea man : across Australia by kayak. Walcha. 1998.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b c d e f g Arundale, Vanessa (24 July 2021). "Vale Robert Anthony "Bob" Beer March 8, 1942 – July 3, 2021". The Armidale Express. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Last seen heading into the sunrise". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 July 1980. p. 8. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Desert challenge for a man who likes distances". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 March 1980. p. 9. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Bob beats the fearsome challenge of the Simpson". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 1980. p. 3. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Dick Smith Around Australia: Documentation. The Runner". 1981.
- ^ "The world around us – The Runner. A documentary on marathon runner Bob Beer". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 August 1981. p. 97. Retrieved 22 December 2021.