Dr Patricia Selkirk AC AAM and His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd)
Photo: Paul Knight – Smashing Panda Photography
Dr Patricia Selkirk AC AAM
Dr Patricia Selkirk was invested a Companion of the Order of Australia at Government House on Wednesday 19th October, “for eminent service to science and conservation, particularly through research of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, to tertiary education, and as a mentor and champion of women”.
I had the good fortune to be there on the day, representing the Order of Australia Association. The official photographs have just become available and here is one of Dr Pat and the GG.
Cheers
Dr Joe Johnson
On Wednesday 19th October Dr Patricia Selkirk was invested a Companion of the Order of Australia at Government House on Wednesday 19th October, “for eminent service to science and conservation, particularly through research of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, to tertiary education, and as a mentor and champion of women”. The Companion of the Order of Australia is the highest award in the Australian Honours System and the only other Antarctician to be so recognized is the late Dr Phillip Garth Law.
Patricia’s Antarctic Service as detailed on the Australian Honours Database includes the following:
Australian Antarctic Program Expedition Field Work
- Macquarie Island, 1979-1980; 1981-1982; 1984-1985; 1986-1987; 1989-1990; 1991-1992, 1995-1996; 1998-1999; 1999-2000; 2002-2003; and 2003-2004.
- Casey Station Antarctic Base, 1982-1983
- Heard Island, 2000-2001
International Expedition Field Work
- Scott Base and the Dry Valley, Antarctica New Zealand, 1992-1993, 1994-1995, 1996-1997, 1997-1998.
- Iles Kerguelen, French Antarctic Program (IPEV- lnstitut Polaire Emile Victoire and TAAF -Terre Australes et Antarctique Francaises), 2004-2005.
Committee and Advisory roles
- Member, Organising Committee, International sub-Antarctic Forum, 2009 and
- Member, Antarctic Scientific Advisory Committee, 1995-
- Member, Antarctic Research Evaluation Group, 1990-
- Member, Australian National Committee for Antarctic Research, Australian Academy of Science, 1990-1994.
Her other awards and achievements listed on the database include:
- Philip Law Medal, for significant contributions to Antarctic Science, 2018.
- Award for Professional Achievement, University of Sydney,
- Australian Antarctic Medal,
- Named in honour of the nominee: ‘Selkirk Creek’, Macquarie
From all that, it is obvious why Patricia has been so honoured! I had the good fortune to be there on the day, representing the Order of Australia Association in the ACT.
After the Investiture was over, the recipients and their guests gathered on the lawns in front of Government House and their Excellencies – our Patrons – mixed informally with them. Their Excellencies said how much they hoped that they would be able to visit Antarctica and I promised to pass this on to our President for him to take up with the Director, AAP. Patricia suggested, in good humour, that, as they were both now members of the Club, if all else failed one should nominate for the Club Berth. Mrs Hurley remarked that her husband was not a good sailor, and he agreed. I gathered from the conversation that they both appreciated greatly their being made joint patrons of the Club.
Patricia and her husband, Herbert Dartnal,l were accompanied by their daughters, both of whom have been south. They are Kath Selkirk, 2006 round trip ANARE Casey-Macquarie Island and Jenny Selkirk, 1989-90 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1992-93 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1993-94 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 2007 April round trip ANARE Macquarie Island. Kath was field assistant to Dr Mary Skotnicki of ANU; in 1989-90 Jenny was one of two field workers for Dr Barry Batts organic chemist at Macquarie University, in subsequent summers she did the fieldwork for her PhD in geomorphology on Macquarie Island landform processes. As Patricia has remarked, it was no wonder the family tended to celebrate Christmas in either October or April!
Herbert’s Antarctic career has included 1974-75 winters BAS Signy Is, 1989-90 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1991 winter ANARE Davis, 1992-3 summer BAS South Georgia, 1993 autumn Falkland Is, 2008 Summer SANAE Marion Island.
I considered it a real privilege to share this important occasion with Patricia and her family.
Dr Joe Johnson
- Kath Selkirk, 2006 round trip ANARE Casey-Macquarie Island.
- Herbert Dartnall, 1974-75 winters BAS Signy Is, 1989-90 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1991 winter ANARE Davis, 1992-3 summer BAS South Georgia, 1993 autumn Falkland Islands, 2008 Summer SANAE Marion Island.
- Patricia Selkirk, 1979-80 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1981-82 round trip ANARE Macquarie Island, 1982-83 summer ANARE Casey, 1984-85 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1986-87 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1989-90 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1991-92 summer ANARE Macquarie Island via Casey, 1992-93 summer NZAP Scott Base, 1994-95 summer NZAP Scott Base, 1995-96 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1996-97 summer Antarctica-NZ Scott Base, 1997-98 summer Antarctica-NZ Scott Base, 1998-99 round trip ANARE Macquarie Island, 1999-2000 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 2000-01 summer ANARE Heard Island, 2002-03 round trip ANARE Macquarie Island, 2003-04 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 2004-05 summer IPEV/TAAF Îles Kerguelen.
- Jenny Selkirk, 1989-90 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1992-93 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 1993-94 summer ANARE Macquarie Island, 2007 April round trip ANARE Macquarie Island.
- Joe Johnson—OiC Casey 1981, Davis 1998, VL Polar Bird 2001, Kapitan Khlebnikov 2002
