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CONTENTS Pages1-2 Letter from Fom President by Mark Pharaoh Pages 3-4 Plans & Events Later ‘08 (With 2010 Oz Conference) No.4/2008 News Update. Special Antarctic Cruise Offer! CONTENTS Pages1-2 Letter from FoM President by Mark Pharaoh Pages 3-4 Plans & Events later ‘08 (with 2010 Oz Conference) Page Talk by author Kristin Weidenbach, report by Jim Jago Page 4 Comment on Books Pages 5-6 Contemporary Comments, News & Views – Display airport displays From the desk of the President 2008~Sept.~4th Dear members and friends I had planned to get this newsletter out later this year (ie. December), reminding friends of events exactly one hundred years ago. It would have set us alongside the Northern Sledging Party as they struggled in their attempt at exploring the interior of Victoria Land. (As you may remember, despite their instructions, they soon concluded that only an attempt on the South Magnetic Pole should be made.) Instead however, it is the 29th of September as I start. Mawson’s Notes on Doings of Northern Party do reveal that: ‘The Professor wished to start near beginning of September. Finally arranged a preliminary depot trip to commence on 10th September to Granite Harbour including Professor, Priestly, and Mackay. I did not believe in this and got out of being included. Afterwards the idea was abandoned and only one relay party to go, on 1st October. Very bad weather lasted towards end of October and the Professor with difficulty laid one [depot, using] sledge with motor[car] 10m out (5m W of Tent Island). This laid about 29th September. Weather very thick after this and Day hurt his foot so that the motor could not be got again till 3rd October when Professor, Mackay and Priestly ran out about 200 lb of stuff 13 m[iles] towards the pinnacled ice… (p. 9, Diaries (editors) Jacka).’ We have focussed on their preparations over previous newsletters, but reading them again more recently (as part of the research about the history of the Quest for the South Magnetic Pole Exhibition, opening in April 2009), it gives us a sense of Douglas Mawson prior to their journey, having only joined late in the piece, and not yet committed to the sledging work he felt to be premature. His work over the long, dark winter had kept him fully engaged. This was largely with scientific work. But what of the #3.2008 1 more personal details that occupied any spare time? What did Mawson make of his colleagues? How easy was it with his Prof from Sydney – almost twice his own youthful age of 26? What, if anything, did Mackay, their surgeon, bring to their team, aside from medical expertise? Some of this we will never know – my suspicion personally is that in answer to the third question at least, Mawson found David to be at times embarrassing. Certainly he was often frustrating on their forthcoming journey. (This is not meant with any disrespect to David, more the typical differences between generations.) Mackay did have a special ability, his hobby of alpine mountaineering made him a doubly valuable third member. And on their sledging journey there are instances where he disagreed with the other two about the best route around obstacles encountered, and on at least one occasion on their return he was proved right, but only after they had wasted time and effort trying a different, ‘shorter’ route first. In regard to the matter of any observations about his colleagues, Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries, as published by Fred and Eleanor Jacka, had, of necessity to exclude numerous columns of numbers, undated notations, measurements etc. (This was partly a matter of word limit, but also to avoid the confusion of losing the sense of chronological narrative.) Some of the detail that was lost does include brief observations by Mawson’s about the habitual comments of his colleagues: ‘Mac you are a comfort to me Prof – all in a day’s work Adams: that is hard Priestly – What Armytage Eh What Day – laugh Adams That is to be regretted Joyce Boy O laddie Mac[s?] Roar (Notebook 1, Mawson Collection archive)’ I find these notes revealing, not so much of their content – Armytage was for instance known for his “What! What!” – but rather for that glimpse of Mawson, slightly removed from the centre of things, observing the ways of those around him. Lastly, the reason for this unprecedentedly early final newsletter of 2008 is because of an offer made to FoM, and via us, to several other friends groups of the SA Museum. It is from Aurora Expeditions, who have impressed me in the past with what I have seen (and heard) of their expertise. The 20% discount for the voyage south this summer (12th December - 7th January) is very generous. Their guest speaker is Emma McEwin, one of the Mawson family, who has helped FoM many times over the years. At least equally importantly, she is the author of An Antarctic Affair, and better than anyone can deliver insights into Mawson the man – and I should add, Paquita. As the accompanying brochure reveals, this should be a very special voyage. (I need to also make clear on behalf of FoM that no guarantee can ever be given about landing at Cape Denison, or anywhere for that matter, which is part of the excitement of going south still, where we are subject to the elements in all their glory. For those interested, there is also a FoM talk on 22nd October at the SA Museum about this, and other future voyages being planned. Cheers Mark #3.2008 2 PLANS & EVENTS later ’08 (with 2010 conference in brief) Put the following Mawson-related dates into your diary th 11 October _______________________________ RSVP by October 26th if wanting to stay for morning tea. ’Imagining Antarctica’ conference in Phone 8298 1959 or 8295 1430. Christchurch, NZ: Second conference planned to be held in Hobart, during 2010: Event starts at 10.30 in the cemetery behind [email protected] and St. Jude’s Church at 444 Brighton Road, nd http://www.engl.canterbury.ac.nz/extra/imagini Brighton on Sunday November 2 . ng_antarctica.shtml ) to be contacted for info. (We hope to be able to report on the proceedings of the 2008 Conference in our next newsletter.) __________________________________ 12th December - 7th January? National Portrait Gallery 21st November, National Library of 22nd October A talk by Mark Pharaoh 'In Australia there are provisional plans to have a Mawson's Footsteps: ‘A (very much) small ceremony by Sir Douglas Mawson’s Personal Guide On How To Most Easily Get to grave, but this is dependent on the arrival of a Mawson's Huts, and How Best To Then Get boulder from Arkaroola amongst other things, Back Again!' will now be held on October 22, so if interested, please phone 8207 7574 for at the Armoury. Anyone who would like to hear the latest details of this Brighton Historical this, please RSVP (08) 8207 7574. Society event to commemorate 50 years since the death of Sir Douglas. _______________________________ #3.2008 3 Comment on Books(talked about recently) September 11, 2008 talk by author Kristin Weidenbach Kristen is the author of “Rock Star”, the recently published biography of Reg Sprigg, one of Australia’s most remarkable geologists. Reg was a student of Sir Douglas Mawson and for a number of years was closely associated with Mawson as a cadet within the Geology Department, University of Adelaide; he acted as Mawson’s field assistant in the Flinders Ranges on a number of occasions. Kristen pointed out that from an early age Reg was ‘mad keen’ on geology, and even when a schoolboy would bring specimens into the university for inspection by Mawson and Cecil Madigan, another Antarctic veteran. One of the specimens brought into Mawson was what Reg regarded as a fossil, from Sellicks Hill, and he was very disappointed when Mawson totally rejected the specimen as a fossil; he was even more disappointed when the specimen was lost. Reg Sprigg was a top class geologist and entrepreneur. He is best known the 1946 discovery of the Ediacara fauna, an amazing fossil assemblage of soft bodied organisms, found in Precambrian rocks. This was the first such discovery, and was a scientific break through of great importance. However, at the time Reg was mortified to find that Mawson did not consider the specimens represented fossils, and was further disappointed when other palaeontologists cast serious doubts on the finds. However, Sprigg persisted and by the late 1950s the true significance of the Ediacara fauna was recognized world wide. In March 2005, a new geological time period, the Ediacaran, based on rocks of the Flinders Ranges, was officially proclaimed. This was the first new time period to be recognized for 125 years. Reg’s other geological breakthroughs included (a) the discovery of submarine canyons on the edge of the continental shelf, off the mouth of the Murray, (b) the recognition that the major ancient dune systems in SE South Australia are related to ancient glacial activity and (c) the recognition of the structure of the Adelaide Hills. Reg was the founder of Geosurveys, the first Australian geological consulting company, he was involved in the formation of Santos and eventually founded the Arkaroola Wildlife sanctuary and resort. Reg had first visited #3.2008 4 Arkaroola in the company of Mawson in 1939. As pointed out by Kristen, Reg Sprigg’s career was truly remarkable and he lived life to the full. This is not a review, but “Rock Star” is an excellent book and very easy to read. Kristen is to be congratulated on producing such an excellent work. Additional note by the Editor Kristin also gave a very well attended talk focusing on the Reg Sprigg-Mark Oliphant talk that we previously promoted.
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