Another Adventure With Burke

The timing of yesterday’s (18/8/2010) event marking the 150th anniversary of Burke and Wills departure from Melbourne was also slightly off, being two days before the actual date the explorers left Melbourne for Northern Queensland – August 20, 1860.

But the event at the expedition’s point of origin in Royal Park was a celebration of the spirit of adventure and scientific inquiry that spurred the explorers on, not a eulogy marking their lonely deaths several months later.

Among those present was alleged five-times great nephew of William Wills, 25-year-old Fitzroy North student Brendan Wills, who said his heritage was something he cherished and gave him the opportunity to get back on the TV after a two year lay off. ” The well has been a bit dry since Taken Out and I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to once again get my head on TV.” said Mr Wills. Brendan’s actual lineage is yet to be verified.

‘A hundred and fifty years on, it’s a long time ago, but it is fantastic that it is still remembered and commemorated,’ Mr Wills, 25, quipped as he posed ‘steely faced’ against a memorial. ‘It’s a really proud day for our family and I’ve hopefully used my profile to raise awareness of the event which is good for the history of Burke and Wills and has come at an opportune time for me.” mused the former Taken Out Star, whose light has been kept somewhat on in the light of this most recent TV appearance.

“It’s something I’ve always been very proud of – it’s a huge honour when you think about what a great national event it was.” Mr Wills told NOBSPC. “I just hope that all the newspapers here as well…. I can’t see anyone from the Herald Sun?” pondered Brendan. “You’ve probably noticed I’ve lost a bit of hair since my last TV appearance, it’s really starting to thin out now and the ‘tickler’ is no longer in fashion, but at least I’ve got an @rse this time so they won’t get me on that.”

At this stage, none of his predecessor’s exploration genes have washed through to the younger Wills, but he says 2011 will be the year when he ventures overseas, though Mr Wills did reveal that he has done plenty of his own exploration of our great country, just in a different way. “I normally don’t kiss and tell but it’s fair to say I’ve made my mark in most states and territories”. He noted the laddish reputation has been in the family, as he said “Yeah I don’t doubt that he seems very much a smooth mover, it’s definitely flowed down the line

Footy trip co-ordinator Dutchy has claimed that this years trip to Darwin is a tribute to the old Willsy, and that the journey 150 years ago was the pre-cursor to the modern day footy trip given it was just after the great game was invented. He also worried that the current Willsy whilst will be safe and well in his journey North, it would like his ancestors, despite the talk, be a fruitless excursion.

Late News

NOBSPC also received a call from our very own hard-man Danny King who was riled about the event noting that “Willsy’s so-called Uncle never even made the trip where as my old boy toughed it out and came back with the chocolates.” King also challenged Wills to a Bear Grylls style “camp off”, set to be held in the bushland surrounds of Wills luxury town house at Merri Creek.