David
Mason walked across Australia because no-one else had done it. He did it on is own with no support crew. After his
experiences in the French Foreign Legion it was at once a challenge and a way to
reconnect with life, people and Australia. In taking on the challenge he sought
to raise funds for the Fred Hollows Foundation. David sought to demonstrate
that in taking on challenges we live, rather than taking the easy way out and
instead, live lives of quiet desperation.
David
was the first person to walk across Australia at its widest point. In the
course of that expedition he also was the first recorded person to walk solo
east-west across the Simpson Desert and its 1100 dunes.
For
this achievement he was named Australias Adventurer of the Year and awarded
the Gold Medal of the Australian Geographic Society.
