Pair follows path of Burke and Wills

Daniel Burdon

27Mar09

THEY have already trekked more than 3000km across some of Australia's harshest terrain.

But Russell Osborne and Ros Consoli will depart on Sunday to continue their quest to help children the world over.
Raising funds for the Children First Foundation, the pair of adventurers are planning to walk from Alice Springs to Melbourne's city centre by November 22 this year.
No mean feat -- and overcoming the hardships they have already faced was "miraculous" according to CFF chief executive officer Margaret Smith.
Mrs Smith said when Russell called her to pitch the idea of trekking across the centre of Australia to raise money for the foundation, she thought it was "admirable" but unlikely.
After a break of several months at the halfway mark in Alice Springs, Russell said it was time to finish what he had already started.
He said: "This leg of the trip will finish in the same place that Burke and Wills left for their inland expedition years ago at Royal Park.
"And as far as my research shows, we are the first people to try and complete such a trip since then."
On Sunday, the pair will be armed with a train of loving camels, as well as a letter from Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan to give to the Governor of Victoria Professor David de Kretser upon their arrival.
Meeting with townspeople at the Alice Springs Civic Centre lawns at 11.30am, Russell also plans to complete the inaugural "most people to walk through Heavitree Gap at once world record."
Russell said: "I believe this has been attempted before, so I would like to see as many people in Alice as we can get down there and walk through the Gap with us."
But, luckily for many, there is no obligation to walk to Melbourne with the group.
CFF CEO Margaret Smith has confirmed she will be there for the momentous occasion, and can't wait for the foundation to put the donations that are flooding in to good use.
She said the foundation had several arms, some of which help secure life-saving and life-changing surgery for disadvantaged children living overseas.
Mrs Smith said: "Another of our programs is the Gecko Program -- we aim to help 4000 children across the Top End get medically assessed for rheumatic heart disease."
Donations can be made through the CFF website, and through an account at Alice Springs Bendigo Bank.