One
of the Northern
Territory’s early cultural contributions to Australia’s relationship
with Asian neighbours was undoubtedly
the 1977 Can
Tiki Expedition from
Darwin to Singapore , marked by the above item of
postal
history . The crew of the vessel - made from beer cans - included the former
Lord Mayor of Brisbane
and ALP
stalwart, the late Clem Jones,
and Darwin businessman, L. Frankenfeld , a member of the
German Club . This cover ,
bought at a flea
market , is signed on the back by
both
men . Among
other things, Clem , a surveyor , was credited
with modernising much of
Brisbane and connecting the city
to the sewer ;
he was appointed chairman of the
Darwin Reconstruction Commission in 1975 after
Cyclone Tracy . In his
will he left $5million
for a campaign to bring in legislation
for euthanasia, having seen his
wife suffer a slow death , and backed
moves for a republic.
Frankenfeld was in the used
car
trade and in recent
times was reportedly
interested in legendary
Lassetter’s Lost Reef of
Central Australia .
The beer can
boat was powered by Mercury outboards ; sponsors
included Carlton United
Brewery and Qantas. Beer can
regattas have been a
regular annual event in
Darwin for decades
. And just
recently Magnetic Island , North
Queensland , staged its first such
happening , saying
it was based on
Darwin’s .
