A Man and His PramAndrew 'Cad' Cadigan is the only person to have walked solo around Australia also taking in Tasmania. He trooped 15,000km averaging 43km a day in honour of his mate 'Simmo' who died of a rare blood disorder at age 24. He was 29 when he quit his job, sold his home and, with little preparation, left Sydney two days after Christmas, pushing a pram with his provisions and headed south. In the ensuing 18 months he suffered depression, extreme loneliness and physical pain - at times walking 50km a day in 40 degree-plus heat - but refused to surrender, becoming only the third person to navigate the continent on foot without a support crew. Along the way he endeared himself to hundreds of people from all walks of life, and parts of the world, as he made new friendships almost daily during the expedition he called Oz on Foot. Four days after completing the trek and gaining national recognition, Cad left for Thailand to rest and turn his hand-written diaries into a book on his journey. A month to the day after crossing the finish line on the Sydney Harbour Bridge he suffered horrific injuries in a motor cycle accident, passing away after finally being returned to Australia. Neil Cadigan, a leading author who has penned the memoirs of rugby league Immortals Andrew Johns and Wally Lewis and Yellow Wiggle Greg Page, has completed a vow to his son to finish his book. It is a tragic yet inspirational and emotional story that only a father could adequately tell. |
