2. Year 7 is reading a class novel
entitled Hatchet by Gary Paulsen,
written in 1987.
3. The book tells the story of Brian Robeson,
a thirteen-year-old boy who becomes lost
in the Canadian wilderness after his plane
crashes.
4. Although Hatchet is fictitious there
have been many true tales of people
surviving in the wild after crashing or
becoming stranded and then
attempting to survive, walk to safety
or help rescue others.
5. One tale of
survival and
rescue some
people in
Queensland
might be
familiar with is
the story of the
Stinson wreck.
6. In 1937, a Stinson aircraft was flying
from Brisbane to Sydney.
7. After flying into a thunder storm the plane
crashed into the Lamington Ranges.
8. Four of the seven
on board were
killed and an
extensive search
failed to turn
up any wreckage.
9. Nine days after the crash, Beaudesert
grazier Bernard O'Reilly set out on
foot to find the Stinson wreckage.
10. Through his superior
bush skills he found
the crash site and,
to his surprise,
two survivors in
desperate need
of medical attention.
11. After making them comfortable, he
left them to organise a rescue party.
12. Read more about the Stinson disaster…
http://www.visitscenicrim.com.au/in-the-beginning/very-famous-
locals/bernard-oreilly-family/
http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/Other/QueenslandHistory/
THESTORYOFTHESTINSONWRECK.htm
