Australian award for Kiwi

Gerald Manderson of Palmerston North has been awarded the 2019 Gordon Smith Award for the top performance for 2019 by the Australian Centurion Club for his long distance walk in Australia.. Gerald celebrated his 75th birthday by walking solo from Perth to Melbourne via the coastal roads, a total distance of 4,249km last year. He completed his walk in 80 days (January-April), battling horrendously hot and dry conditions along the way and carrying his own water as he traversed the desert areas. This award is normally restricted to Australian residents, but NZ based Gerald’s feat is so extraordinary that it has forced its way in.