In 1935, during the Great Depression, Robert Brown, a sixty-eight year old miner who was unable to find a job in Maryborough, packed his swag and headed south looking for work.  He trekked south through Queensland and into New South Wales,  stopping a few days here and there to replenish his provisions by working on stations – mostly doing fencing.  When he reached White Cliffs, he made a barrow to carry his possessions.  Due to the dry climate he carried five gallons of fresh water as well as his usual provisions.  He walked to Lightning Ridge opal field where he found an opal worth £150; however it was stolen during the night.  He worked his way to Canberra, where he was denied the age pension. Robert reached Melbourne in March 1936 and then made his way to South Australia.  From Eucla, Robert struggled across the Nullarbor Plains with only a half dozen oranges as food.   His water gave out. Famished and thirsty he struggled to a fettler’s camp.  Four weeks later he reached Perth where he wheeled his barrow to the Perth Old Men’s Home. His marathon took just under three years, and nearly 10 000 miles over the sun-scorched, inhospitable land.