Alan Charles Hawker

Born: 17 April, 1930. Died: 19 April, 2012.

In 1953, he applied for and was accepted as the Radio Operator at the ANARE (Australian  National Antarctic Research Expeditions) base on Macquarie Island. It was during this period he developed a love for the harsh and often inhospitable environment that he and his fellow expeditioners endured.

December, 1956, saw Alan sail from North Wharf, Melbourne aboard the Kista Dan bound for Davis Station in Antarctica again as the station Radio Operator. Here along with a small party they commenced and completed the construction of the new base.

During his time based here, many day and extended expeditions were undertaken to explore this wild and untamed environment. At the end of this expedition they were noted as saying they had spent the busiest and most eventful year of their lives in Antarctica’s unique ‘desert of stone’, the Vestfold Hills.