ANARE Club Newsletter
March 2025
Online Event – Snowy Hydro Thursday 10 April
Jonathon Carroll, a Civil, Structural Engineer and Project Manager with Snowy Hydro’s Engineering team will present our next ANARE Club Online Event – Snowy Hydro, taking us through the challenges of delivering a mega project in a remote location. He is keenly aware of the history of the original Snowy scheme. He is also keen on knowing more about ANARE and it’s connection to the scheme. Jonathon is an Irishman who counts Tom Crean as personal hero and is very much looking forward to presenting to us and discussing our shared passions.
→ Register to attend the ANARE Club Online Event – Snowy Hydro ←
National Council of Women – Victoria
Our Treasurer Denise Allen was invited to be guest speaker at the National Council of Women – Victoria – lunch event – eve of International Women’s Day.
Denise shared her advice of having a goal or a dream, having belief and confidence in oneself, resilience, to take up opportunities and to develop new skills, encouraging all women to pursue their ambitions and seize opportunities.
Melbourne Midwinter Lunch Update
In response to member’s wishes, Vic Branch’s Melbourne’s Midwinter Lunch moves to lunch time, and will be held at a brand new venue on 21 June this year – the William Angliss Institute, offering for canapés, three meal courses, tea and coffee at a reduced cost of $65, while supporting the next generation of hospitality workers. Guest speaker this year is Award Winning Film Maker Michael Dillon AM ACS FRGS. For full event details see our web site. Bookings will be available through Trybookings soon.
Hobart Midwinter Dinner Update
There’s a change of venue for Tas Branch’s Midwinter Dinner on Saturday 21 June 2025 this year. For further details see the March edition of Aurora, or visit our Midwinter Events web page.
Canberra Midwinter Dinner Update
ACT Branch continues to work with the curators at the National Museum of Australia and will have some exciting news next month about special Antarctic-themed exhibitions planned in the second half of 2025. Hopefully these will be up and running at the time of our midwinter dinner at the National Press Club on Friday 20 June giving you extra incentive to organise your 2025 reunion in Canberra. Ring Malcolm on 0408 627 685 to discuss any arrangements and details, or visit our Midwinter Events web page.
Brisbane Midwinter Dinner Update
Queensland Branch advises that their guest speaker at this year’s Brisbane Midwinter Dinner on Friday 20 June 2025 is Trevor Hamley. Further details will be announced soon on the ANARE Club Midwinter Events web page when they become available.
Sydney Midwinter Lunch
The New South Wales Branch advises that Midwinter Lunch will be held on Sat 21 June 2025 at the Epping Hotel. Guest speaker will be Dr Stuart Browning, on the topic “From Frozen Past to Uncertain Future: Antarctica’s Climate in the 21st Century“. Full details are available on the NSW Midwinter Lunch web page.
Adelaide Midwinter Dinner
The South Australian Branch has announced that Midwinter Dinner will be held on Sat 21 June at the Terrace Hotel. Guest Speaker is Sue Hilliard who will present her research on Sir Hubert Wilkins. Full details are available on the SA Midwinter Lunch web page.
70 Years ago – March 1955
2025 marks the 70th anniversary since the closure of the ANARE Station at Heard Island. In the last remaining weeks of operation, some huts and equipment were removed for re-use at Mawson, remaining huts were sealed. The final station log entry is dated March 9, 1955:
“At 5:45 pm Kista Dan departed from Atlas Cove, for Kerguelen.
― FINIS TO HEARD ISLAND ―”
60 Years ago – Ghost Town Davis
2025 marks the 60th anniversary since Davis fell silent, following an administrative decision to temporarily close the ANARE Station. Davis remained closed for four years, as a funding offset during construction of Repstat (later Casey) to replace Wilkes which has been buried by snow. The closure also assisted with the shipping capacity necessary for the Repstat construction.
Commemorative Memorials
Across the years, the ANARE Club has initiated a number of events, in particular to commemorate those who lost their lives in service of ANARE and other Australian Antarctic Expeditions. A new Commemorative Memorials page on our web site recognises those events and tragedies. For example, did you know that the vessel Endeavour left Macquarie Island on 3 Dec, 1914, struck a storm, and was never seen again. Macquarie Is expeditioners Harold Power and Charles Harrisson were among those lost.
Aurora Journal – Call for Articles
Now that you all have your March edition of Aurora (please let us know if it hasn’t arrived) it is time to turn our collective minds to the June edition. Please send any ideas to Dale (editor@anareclub.org.au) by 15 April, with deadline for contributions on 1 May.
Heard Is Philatelic Envelopes
Sets of Heard Island 60th Anniversary of the First Ascent of Mawson Peak on Big Ben are now available and very popular. Please see p.8, March Aurora to order. Test your knowledge with the following Trivia questions!
- Does Australia have any active volcanos? Ans. Yes
- How many active volcano’s do we have? Ans. 2
- Where are they? Ans. Heard Is / McDonald Is External Territory, in the Sub Antarctic 4000 km South-West of Perth
- Where is the highest active volcano? Ans. Mawson Peak at 7245m atop of the Big Ben Massif on Heard Is.
- Where is the other active volcano? Ans. On the McDonald Islands 45kms west of Heard Is at approx. 200m in height
Phillip Law Medal
The Phillip Law Medal is awarded annually for outstanding contribution to Antarctic Affairs and the Antarctic community. The winner’s name is announced at Midwinter. For further information and to download nomination form visit: https://www.anareclub.org/phillip-law-medal/. Nominations close at 5pm on Monday 31 March. Any posted nominations must be in the post by then. Send electronic nominations or questions to secretary@anareclub.org.au.
Cultural Resource Management in Antarctica
PhD student Sherrie-Lee Evans is exploring the history of Australian Cultural Resource Management in Antarctica using Mawson’s Huts Historic Site and Replica as a case study. She plans to interview people who have been influential in or engaged with the management and conservation of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site and/or development and management of the Mawson’s Hut Replica. One of the project’s main outcomes is the development of new primary archival sources in the form of oral histories which she hopes to deposit with the Tasmanian Archives. If you are willing to participate in an oral history interview, please contact sherrielee.evans@utas.edu.au directly.
National Council Elections
National Council elections are on the horizon once more! We’re a vibrant and bustling community, and we’d be thrilled to have you contribute your energy and ideas by joining us! If you’re interested, it’s a good idea to speak with current council members to learn more about their roles and activities.
- Nominations will open on Monday 2 June & close Sunday 29 June 2025.
- Elections (if required) will be held between Monday 7 July & Sunday 3 August 2025.
- The new National Council will be announced on Monday 11 August 2025.
The 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 23 August 2025 (save the date!)
Whale Watch
The Great White Whale, ANARE Club Member Michael Dillon’s multi-award winning documentary, continues to tour Australia’s cinemas. It’s a must see if you love music, outdoor adventure, sailing or all three, but it’s much loved by everyone of all backgrounds and ages. It’s an incredible tale, full of amazing characters. Winner of eight International Awards.
Check Michael’s website regularly for new screening locations, dates and times.
“The best documentary I have ever seen!” – Dick Smith
” Wonderful! Just Wonderful!” – Jack Thompson
If you are planning a significant reunion, your Club is here to help you make contact with members. If you need advice or assistance we can often help, or if you would like to place a notice in the next monthly Newsletter, please reach out to our Membership
Team (membership@anareclub.org.au).
