Meet the National Council Member selected each year at the annual general meeting.All Councillors are volunteers and receive no remuneration apart from reimbursement of costs incurred in carrying out their duties.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Island | 1981 | Summer | LARCIE |
| Casey | 1981 | Summer | LARCIE |
| Davis | 1981 | Summer | LARCIE |
| Mawson | 1981 | Summer | LARCIE |
| Macquarie Island | 1987 | Round Trip | Film Producer/Director |
My interest in Antarctica began, learning about Douglas Mawson and Admiral Richard Byrd. After school, I joined the Regular Army and graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. Stepping foot for the first time in Antarctica as a “Larcie” for the summer of 81/82, resupplying all Stations. The current Antarctic Division Director, Kim Ellis and I served professionally with the LARCS in the early 80’s, I joined the Club in 1986, attending MWD’s in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Highlights of Antarctica, include meeting Club luminaries Joe Johnson at Casey, Rod and Jeannie Ledingham onboard the Nella and at Mawson Station, David and Liz Parer, filming MAWSON THE SURVIVOR. I returned South in 1987 to film “ROAD TO ANTARCTICA” for Defence and Antarctic Division, witnessing the evacuation of the Nella Dan on 3 Dec ’87. In 1988, I organised the 40th Anniversary of the Army Detachment ANARE and walked the Kokoda Track in PNG, channelling Frank Hurley.
I have a Master’s Degree in Transport Management from Uni of Sydney, Operational Service in East Timor, and a proud Rotarian since 1996. Awarded in 2008 the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for Service to Rotary and the Veteran community. Transferring to the Reserves in 1996, I continue as an Active Army Reservist at Kokoda Barracks, Canungra. I have lectured at Bond University in Film and Television, own and run a film and an event company, consulting on numerous major events. Most recently engaged as a Guest Presenter for a cruise line, delivering Military History presentations on significant WWII Battles in the South Pacific. With your Club Councils, I hope to develop and nurture a collegiate and alumnus culture with MWD being centrepiece to annual reunions. My partner and I live on the Gold Coast, and we enjoy travel, good food, Netflix, and semi-retirement!
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Island | 1961 | Winter | Met Observer |
| Davis | 1963 | Winter | Met Observer in Charge |
David wintered at Macquarie Island in 1961 as a Met. Observer and as Observer in Charge at Davis in 1963. Sailed south on the Magga Dan, Thala Dan and the Nella Dan and in 2007 tried to rescue the Thala Dan from a ship breakers yard in Rio de Janeiro. He has been a member of the Club since 1974, a Councillor since 2011 and a member of the Aurora Packers group.
After retiring from a lengthy career in Victorian universities and Schools as an administrator, he returned to work part time at the Royal Society of Victoria as a project officer on Antarctic projects, such as the anniversary flyover of the South Magnetic Pole in 2009, the Professor Neumayer Centenary Symposium and still finds time to lecture on board the summer Sightseeing Flights to Antarctica and to write articles on Australian Polar History.
David was also Project Officer for the 150th anniversary commemorations of the Burke and Wills Expedition 1860-61 and as a Committee member of the Burke and Wills Historical Society, travels regularly to Outback Queensland and overseas.
He has a Master’s degree on the Germanic connections with the Expedition and has authored a chapter in a recently released book on the Aboriginal contribution to the Expedition.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Island | 2012 | Winter | Station Doctor, librarian, postal agent, hydro attendant |
I have been an ANARE Club member since travelling to Antarctica as part of the Centenary Voyage in early 2012, the trip that literally changed my life! I was the station doctor on Macca later that year, and like so many I was hooked for life.
Before becoming a doctor, I was an archaeologist, so I have always had an interest in heritage and in human stories from the past. I have become very aware of the remarkable Australian Antarctic story, made up of thousands of stories, many of which are not heard due to the lack of an Australian Antarctic heritage policy and museum.
The ship that took me to my own adventures, the Aurora Australis, came to mean a lot to me so I’ve been working for several years on setting up the Aurora Australis Foundation. The AAF is currently working hard to save the AA as a ship museum for Hobart. Even if that doesn’t happen, I will continue to work on collecting and preserving Australian Antarctic stories and finding a way to tell them to our fellow Australians.
When not obsessing about Antarctic ships and heritage, I’m a rural doctor working in general practice, emergency medicine and anaesthetics; and I am also a military doctor in the Army Reserve. I still dabble in archaeology in the United Kingdom where I am part of a research team recreating the lives of an Early Medieval English village through studying the skeletons they left behind! And I occasionally find time for playing and listening to music, reading and writing, and enjoying time with good mates.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mawson | 1970 | Winter | Diesel Mechanic |
Senior Diesel Mechanic Mawson 1970. Included ‘Amery Ice Shelf’ Glaciological Survey on Snow Cruisers / Tractor train depot run to ‘Moore Pyramid’ / Dog Trip to ‘Taylor Emperor Penguin Rookery’ / Tractor train depot run ‘Spring Trip’ to ‘Mt Creswell’ & just to finish the year another depot run to ‘Moore Pyramid’.
Active member ANARE Qld. & committee positions also include that of President. Currently Vice President and ANARE Club ‘Qld. Rep.’ on National Council.
ANARE Club Rep V2 1998 and attended the ‘Antarctic Tasmania Midwinter Festival’ in 2005 & rostered on as a guide on the Aurora Australis (in port) during this period.
I have attended many committee meetings in Brisbane over the years with my main club activity being that of fund raiser. Have been guest speaking at Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs & many other organisations & schools.
Committee member that assembled the Qld touring display ‘Our Frozen Frontier’ in 1997. If re-elected I look forward to being part of a year that I feel will be a watershed moment in regards to increasing membership / participation, in particular the lost / last decade members, refining Midwinter Dinner protocols & lifting the ANARE Club up to another level.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis | 2004/2005 | Summer | Scientist |
| Various | Round Trips | ANARE Club Rep, Tourist |
Margaret spent the 2004/2005 summer at Davis as a scientist collecting material from Lake Laternula and Watts Lake in the Vestfold Hills as part of her organic geochemistry research.
In 2011 Margaret represented the ANARE Club to accompany Phil and Nel Law’s ashes to be laid to rest at Mawson.
Tourist visits to Macquarie Island, Commonwealth Bay-Mawson’s Hut, Dumont d’Urville and the Auckland Islands in 2008. Heard Island in 2012.
Margaret joined the ANARE Club in 2005 and was elected as Vice President of the NSW Branch of the Club in 2006. Margaret has also served as acting Secretary, was responsible for the NSW newsletter and helped with the organisation of NSW Midwinter Dinners.
Digging fossil shells from the permafrost
Margaret has served as Membership Officer since her election to the National Council in 2010 and has contributed to Aurora.
Margaret has a degree in chemistry, Master of Science in geology and a PhD in organic geochemistry.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis | 1996 | Winter | Coordinator Communications Technical Officer |
| Mawson | 2002 | Winter | Supervisor Communications Technical Officer |
After returning from my second trip down South and catching up with past acquaintances I started attending Qld Mid Winter dinners and was co-opted into becoming a Council Member of the Qld Branch. This lead me to offering my assistance in the Webmaster and I.T. Manager role and running for a National Council position. I am gradually getting the hang of managing the new look website and working with the Club to promote our activities.
My first trip to Davis was an excuse to get me away from an Army posting in Darwin, which I enjoyed so much I was enticed to Mawson a few years later. Having worked in various telecommunications roles, I am currently a Project Manager working at Telstra rolling out the NBN in the Telstra Exchanges (not in the home). To complement my experience I have also attained a Master of Information Technology along with various other associated qualifications. I enjoy travelling and 4WD.
On top of Big Red, a far cry from Antarctica
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis | 1978 | Winter | Carpenter |
| Casey | 1985 | Summer | Carpenter |
I joined the Club in 1977 prior to heading to Davis Station and have retained Membership.
Back then the ANARE Club was given a spot in the ‘training’ period and that was valuable.
A few years after Davis Station I ‘summered’ at Casey: I have nothing but good memories of both but I guess especially Davis with that small team of 14 for the winter under Phil Barnaart.
Over the years since 1985 (Casey) I have continued as a carpenter in the Perth (Tas) district with most of my work centred on heritage renovation- particularly at the World Heritage Sites of Brickendon and Woolmers at Longford, together with a useful sideline – building English style garden furniture.
My wife (Shirley) and I are regular Church people (Anglican) and for nearly
30 years we helped with a Meals on Wheels Service. Some of our two families are fairly local and we have regular contacts with them.
It was a ‘spur of the moment’ decision to nominate as a Council Member and I am honoured by the appointment.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes | 1967 | Winter | Electrician SEFM |
| Macquarie Island | 1970 | Winter | Electrician SEFM |
I joined the Anare Club after wintering as the Senior Electrician at Wilkes in 1967 and then at Macquarie island in 1970. I have been a member of the Anare Club since that time and have been a committee member of the SA Branch on and off over the past 25 years including President of the SA Branch for 5 years.
I am a Life Member and 2 time past President of Apex (12 years) and I am a current member, Paul Harris Fellow and Past President of the Rotary Club of Salisbury (SA), (35 years).
Having served as an ordinary councillor over the past five years, I have enjoyed playing a small part in the many excellent successful (self funded) commemorative projects undertaken. If I am re-elected to council, I look forward to continuing to support the council in it’s endeavours to continually improve the administrative, financial and strategic directions taken by the club.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Is | 1964 | Summer | Biologist |
| Macquarie Is | 1965 | Summer | Biologist |
| Macquarie Is | 1966 | Summer and Winter | Biologist |
| Macquarie Is | 1967 | Summer | Biologist |
I joined the ANARE Club in 1964 when I first ‘headed South’ to work on Macquarie Island as a biologist. The Island is one of the world’s ‘greatest natural biological laboratories’ and I loved every minute of my stay there, working principally on an ecological study of the Royal Penguin, my own project on fur seals and some work on Elephant Seals!
In mid 1967 I returned to Australia, as the Commonwealth Government had asked me to move to Adelaide to help set up and manage the biological Division of the Mawson Institute for Antarctic Research at the University of Adelaide. Due to a lack of government funding support for biological research, I moved back into the ‘business world’ a few years later.
My passion for nature and the environment first developed at age 11 and has never abated. I am currently the Chairman of BirdLife Australia Gluepot Reserve (20 years) and am a Life Member of BirdLife Australia. I am on the board of BirdLife Australia and am the President of SA Friends of Parks Inc. I have recently been appointed as the first Chairman of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary. I am a member of the South Australian Parks and Wilderness Council and a member of the Volunteering SA/NT Strategy Working Group and a Committee of Management member of the Landcare Association of SA. I am the past Chairman of Ecotourism Australia (8 years) and the South Australian Tourism Industry Council (8 years). I am Chief Scientist on the Management Committee of the Scientific Expedition group (SEG) and am a past Australia District Governor and International Chairman of Kiwanis International.
Going back to my Scottish heritage
My main skills have been in the development, organization and management of large commercial and community organizations and scientific research projects, both in Australia and overseas. My expertise covers the areas of fundraising, marketing and communications, business and finance, organizational development and system analysis.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Is | 1983 | Winter | UAP Engineer |
| Mawson | 1988 | Winter | UAP Engineer |
| Marine Science Voyages | 1984 and 1985 | Summer | Onboard electronic engineer |
I wintered at Macquarie Island 1983 and Mawson 1988 with an extended stay to the Prince Charles Mountains (PCMs) for the Depot Peak – Mawson via 50 Mile Depot route marking Traverse (29 Dec 1988 to 11 Jan 1989). We located the 50 mile depot on the 8 Jan 1989. I worked at the Antarctic division in 1984/85 for Upper Atmosphere Physics (UAP) and also participated in multiple marine science cruises over 1984/85 summers as the onboard electronic engineer.
I initially joined the ANARE Club in 1989 when I returned and was invested for 5years or so. Time marched on and I worked in two major areas (Bureau of Meteorology and Optus Communications as an Engineer/Communications Architect). Did some further education in Public Sector management and Business.
Now in retirement and with time on my hands I have ventured down the volunteer road and spend my time with the local Men’s Shed fraternity supposedly to restart my woodworking interests. Have inadvertently ended up on the management committee for nearly two years now.
Also, catching up with past acquaintances at the Mawson reunion (2019) in Hobart stirred up my lost passion for Antarctica and the ANARE club. As a newly elected Ordinary Councillor in 2020, who would have believed 12 months have gone already. Have held down the Membership Officer role since the conversion to the new website. With the access to the website and reconnecting with some old acquaintances my photography interest has stirred again and eagerness to convert my collection to digital and hasn’t this led me down a path.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mawson | 1977 | Winter | Diesel Mechanic |
| Macquarie Is | 1979 | Winter | Diesel Mechanic |
| Casey | 1981 | Winter | Diesel Mechanic |
Brian first joined the ANARE Club in 1976 after three winters down south (Mawson 1977, Macquarie Island 1979 and Casey 1981) as a diesel mechanic.
He became motivated to become involved in the club administration in 1987 after the sinking of Nella Dan. He has served on national council for many years and has been president several times, most recently in 2007-2009.
Brian has been involved in many ANARE Club projects including the Nella Dan, the Huskies Jubilee and a project with Susan Gordon-Brown to record the stories of tradespeople whom have worked down south.
A Hagglunds – one of the vehicles the diesel mechanics have to maintain
Ian served in Antarctica in the summer of 1982/83 as an Army Reserve “Larcie” with the Army Detachment to ANARE. He was involved in resupply voyages to all three Australian Bases and Macquarie Island. Leave for military service had been granted by the Victorian Education Department with a request that he make an educational documentary on life down south for Victorian secondary schools. As a teacher he was a film and TV producer for the Education Department at the time. The Army agreed and he summered over at Mawson where he completed the film; “Mawson Base Face to Face”. His other role there was to clean up the base by dumping a large quantity of refuse in Kista strait. (unacceptable today!)
He also took a large quantity of photographs and approached Phil Law to open an exhibition at a Port Melbourne Art Gallery in 1984. A friendship developed and over a twenty year period Ian recorded Phil’s life story and subsequently co-published his oral history with the Royal Society of NSW, titled Dr Phillip Garth Law his extraordinary life and times
Ian joined the ANARE Club in the late 80’s and has served on the Council on many occasions, including in the capacity as Vice-President. As a photographer and TV producer he has documented many Club events over the years including both the 90th and 95th birthday celebrations for Phil Law.
Ian has performed the role of Club Oral history coordinator for a number of years and is currently responsible for the ongoing collection, collation, transcription and repository of well over 100 expeditioner interviews done by a number of members over recent years.
Ian retired from the Army Reserve as a Major in 2014, having served continuously since joining in 1968 and being conscripted the following year. He still teaches part-time at Montmorency Secondary College. He is married to Annette, has four children and 6 grandchildren.
| Station | Year | Season | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mawson | 2002 | Winter | Instrumentation Electrician |
I wintered at Mawson Station 2002 as an instrumentation electrician and part of the team to install the wind turbines. I am an Electrician with experience in remote power generation and photovoltaic installations and green buildings across Australia and Pacific Islands. My previous career was as a Racing car mechanic throughout Europe and Asia for 5 years and crewing on race cars here in Australia. I currently manage my own company ANTL, an appliance safety and certification testing laboratory.
My involvement with the ANARE club started upon my return from Mawson station and I have held various roles on the QLD committee and previously have been the ANARE Club ‘Qld. Rep.’ on National Council.
David has been active in the ANARE Club for 40 years and for almost that long has been Master of Ceremonies at the NSW Branch Midwinter dinners. He has served in just about every position on the NSW Committee, as well as President (two years), Treasurer (two years) and a General Committee Member on the National Council.
David wintered as the cosmic ray physicist at Mawson in 1966. He has organised several reunions of the Mawson 66 party and is now pulling together the gathering in 2016 which will mark 50 years.
In 2003 he was the ANARE Club representative on Voyage 2 of Aurora Australis spending a week at Davis. In 2011 he travelled to Mawson’s Huts at the invitation of the Antarctic Division to participate in the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Sir Douglas Mawson landing at Commonwealth Bay.
Cosray Telescopes at Mawson
David is a science communicator, writer and public speaker with a particular interest in the issue of climate change. He currently teaches the history of science at the University of NSW and is active in Rotary and the Australian Science Communicators.
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