Dick Smith Addresses Australian Skeptics

[kensington]

On Thursday the co-founder and patron of Australian Skeptics, Dick Smith, came and spoke to us at Skeptics In The Pub in Sydney. For those of you who do not know Dick Smith in the UK he is a massive name in Australia. He is the founder of Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic, and was selected as the 1986 Australian of the Year. He also made the first solo helicopter flight around the world from Balmoral in Scotland to Sydney, Australia. Smith is also a patron of the Australian Skeptics. In July 1980, Smith collaborated with renowned skeptic James Randi to test water divining offering a prize of $40,000 for a successful demonstration.

I managed to get some footage of him speaking on Thursday and here are two clips. The first is him talking about the power of belief and why we should not believe everything we see. In the second clip he talks about his involvement in water divining tests with James Randi. The clips are short but well worth watching.

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

Thanks Will, gonna put these on Aussie BP now

[kensington]

Thanks so much Jon. Sorry I couldn't get closer to him but by the time I got there it was already so full and standing room only but I hope you all at least get an idea of his ideas and beliefs and what he is like as a speaker. Hopefully he will do more talks soon William

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

Yes please film any more talks you see
Its much appreciated

[kensington]

Thanks very much Jon. Will do

[keithkeith]

not heard of Dick Smith before, but i like him

[kensington]

Thanks Keith, outside of Australia he is not know but in Australia he is very well know through his huge chain of electronic stores and other businesses as well as flying projects. He is very much the Aussie Richard Branson. Great environmentalist too. Very down to earth and approachable. An all round good bloke. I like him too.

[highflyertoo]

Jun 23, 2009 5:25:49 GMT kensington said:

Thanks Keith, outside of Australia he is not know but in Australia he is very well know through his huge chain of electronic stores and other businesses as well as flying projects. He is very much the Aussie Richard Branson. Great environmentalist too. Very down to earth and approachable. An all round good bloke. I like him too.

Hello Aussie Bloke.

Do you think Dick would put up a large sum of money for an exclusive paranormal challenge for residents in Australia only?

We know Harvey Norman has lots of money( think lost 1 Billion in the global downturn), so maybe Dick Smith could have a paranormal challenge for maybe Twenty Million Aussie Dollars ? That's about a dollar a person.

[morganp]

We know Harvey Norman has lots of money( think lost 1 Billion in the global downturn), so maybe Dick Smith could have a paranormal challenge for maybe Twenty Million Aussie Dollars ? That's about a dollar a person. HIGHFLYERTOO

Why do you ask, you intending to fly over there and win it? I think that'd be great if you could go and prove all those sceptics and 'debunkers' wrong. What would be your plan....bend a few spoons? speak to the ghost of Ned Kelly?.

See what odds William Hill will give you first though eh.

morganp

[kensington]

Aug 18, 2009 3:41:22 GMT highflyertoo said:

Jun 23, 2009 5:25:49 GMT kensington said:

Thanks Keith, outside of Australia he is not know but in Australia he is very well know through his huge chain of electronic stores and other businesses as well as flying projects. He is very much the Aussie Richard Branson. Great environmentalist too. Very down to earth and approachable. An all round good bloke. I like him too.

Hello Aussie Bloke.

Do you think Dick would put up a large sum of money for an exclusive paranormal challenge for residents in Australia only?

We know Harvey Norman has lots of money( think lost 1 Billion in the global downturn), so maybe Dick Smith could have a paranormal challenge for maybe Twenty Million Aussie Dollars ? That's about a dollar a person.

You could try writing to him.