The Stinson Disaster

Year 7 is reading a class novelentitled Hatchet by Gary Paulsen,written in 1987.

The book tells the story of Brian Robeson, a thirteen-year-old boy who becomes lost in the Canadian wilderness after his plane crashes.

Although Hatchet is fictitious therehave been many true tales of peoplesurviving in the wild after crashing orbecoming stranded and thenattempting to survive, walk to safetyor help rescue others.

One tale of survival and rescue some people in Queensland might be familiar with is the story of the Stinson wreck.

In 1937, a Stinson aircraft was flying from Brisbane to Sydney.

After flying into a thunder storm the plane crashed into the Lamington Ranges.

Four of the seven on board were killed and an extensive search failed to turn up any wreckage.

Nine days after the crash, Beaudesertgrazier Bernard O'Reilly set out on foot to find the Stinson wreckage.

Through his superior bush skills he found the crash site and, to his surprise, two survivors in desperate need of medical attention.

After making them comfortable, he left them to organise a rescue party.

Read more about the Stinson disaster…

http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/Other/QueenslandHistory/THESTORYOFTHESTINSONWRECK.htm

http://www.visitscenicrim.com.au/in-the-beginning/very-famous-locals/bernard-oreilly-family/

Bernard O’Reilly resting after the rescue

A 1968 reunion of the survivors, Joe Binstead, John Proud and rescuer Bernard O’Reilly