Man Mailed Himself Home in a Box From Australia—Now He’s Looking for the Pals Who Helped Him

Michie

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Homesickness is a malady with only one known cure. Going home. But sometimes the circumstances are against you. When that happens, people can resort to some pretty bizarre schemes to get themselves back where they long to be.

At age 19, an unhappy Brian Robson was working in Melbourne, Australia but sorely pining for his native Wales. He was so eager to get home, in fact, he had himself loaded into a crate with the goal of being shipped home to Cardiff.

Back in 1964, Robson had signed on for an assisted immigration program. His way was paid by the Australian government and in return, he was committed to a two-year gig with Victorian Railways.


Robson regretted the deal almost immediately, but if he didn’t live up to the contract, he’d be obligated to pay back close to £800 in expenses spent getting him there.

Not having the dough to repay the debt, Robson had to come up with an alternative solution. He and two of his work buddies, Paul and John, hatched a “top secret” plan of simply mailing him home.

Continued below.
Man Mailed Himself Home in a Box From Australia—Now He’s Looking for the Pals Who Helped Him
 

Bob Crowley

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I noticed this paragraph at the end of the article.

While shipping yourself home in a crate is certainly a unique and highly unrecommended mode of travel, the same year that Robson stowed away as cargo, an Australian stranded in London pulled off the stunt in reverse.

After washing out at the Olympic tryouts, to add insult to injury, javelin thrower Reg Spiers had his wallet stolen. Flat broke, he enlisted the help of a friend to mail himself home—collect—in a slightly larger box than Robson’s, with interior straps to keep him secure.

Things have improved since then. These days the Australian Government pays for the boxes and postage for our Olympic Team.
 
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