Guided Antarctic connection tour for SCAR Biology Symposium

Gateway Antarctica members and other guides volunteered time for a guided tour through Christchurch to highlight the Antarctic connections in the city. The participants were members of the SCAR Biology Symposium https://www.confer.co.nz/scarbiology2023/

The symposium was held from 31 July – 4 August 2023 at Te Pae https://www.tepae.co.nz/  The group of volunteer guides met the guests in Te Pae and Adele Jackson, Social Scientist/Artist at Gateway Antarctica, gave an informative introduction about the connection between Christchurch and Antarctic history based on selected artefacts from the Canterbury Museum.

Peter McCarthy, a PCAS* graduate, talked about James Cook and his connection to New Zealand and the Antarctic. He also explained the mural on the wall of the Novotel Hotel at Cathedral Square, the place where the former Warner’s Hotel stood.

Anne Hunter, another PCAS graduate, gave an overview on the late Warner’s Hotel. It was destroyed in the Earthquakes. The Antarctic community lost so a meeting point that was existing since 1901 when Robert Falcon Scott and his officers had the last dinner at the hotel before leaving to the Antarctic. Many Antarcticans after him met there when going or returning from the South over the decades. Anne also talked about the connection between the Cathedral and the Antarctic community. Anne also introduced the Memorial Window in the Great Hall at the Art Centre. In the middle of the glass stain window is James Cook and Robert F. Scott depicted.

Gabriela Roldan, Social Scientist at Gateway Antarctica, gave a short introduction about the significance of Christchurch and the Antarctic. She also explained the Scott Statue and its story from the unveiling in 1917 and its restoration after the Earthquakes in 2011.

Ursula Rack, polar historian at Gateway Antarctica, introduced the Canterbury Club and its connection to the Antarctic community over the decades. She also talked about the house of the Wigram family at Park Terrace where Kathleen Scott and Oriana Wilson stayed in 1913. Edward Wilson was the best friend of Robert F. Scott and died with him on the way back from the South Pole in 1912.

Sue McFarlane, long-time close contact between the Antarctic Office and Gateway Antarctica, introduced the lates artwork, the Erratic. It is a granite from Norway and has 99 bubbles on it. So many days needed Roald Amundsen to reach the South Pole in December 1911.

The weather was very Antarctic like with a cold blast from the south 😊 but the guests were very engaging. The feedback was very positive, especially that different voices were telling the history of the city and the people who are the centre of the stories.

*PCAS – Postgraduate Certificate of Antarctic Study course, a 14 week summer school course at Gateway Antarctica, UC, originally with 2 weeks stay in the Antarctic for research projects. Because of Covid and the rebuild of Scott Base, is the 2 weeks stay in the field on hold until further notice.

The Erratic – group photo of the participants and guides. The Erratic is a granite block from Norway and the 99 bubbles sympolise the 99 days Roald Amundsen and his team needed to reach the South Pole in December 1911 and back.

Queenstown – An Antarctic historian on tour

When I was working on the Silver Wind along the Antarctic Peninsula as lecturer for Antarctic history this season, there were two women from XTravel, Queenstown. Because they brought during Covid Lockdowns so many tourists to their homeland or back to New Zealand, they won a trip to the Antarctic. This is how I met them. Because of my talks on the ship, they asked me if I would give a presentation for the local high school in Queenstown. So, that is the way I have been invited.

In July, the time came to travel to Queenstown – organised by the owners of XTravel. On Friday, 28July, I gave a presentation for the Tourism and Hospitality Network on “Antarctic Tourism – the beauty and the controversy”. After 20 minutes presenting, there was a Q&A session that lasted an hour. There were interesting questions such as the training we must do before we go on the ship, and the wildlife and IAATO regulations (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators). One of the most discussed topics was the management of Antarctic tourism and if it will be prohibited to go down in the near future. Because this is a question expert are just discussing – that I pointed out to the audience – it resulted in a really lively discussion.

On Monday, 31 July, I gave a presentation for the local high school Wakatipu, “Polar history – a lifelong passion”. It is a newly built school in Frankton, and they have 1200 students. The teacher, who organised the event with the XTravel office, sent me some questions beforehand and I put together a 35-minute presentation around the requested topics. 58 students and 5 teachers were present and after the presentation the stream of questions was only ended by the school bell. It is actually not a bell, there is music played.

Some students came then up to the stage where I handed out lots of great presents from our university. My thanks go to Samantha Armitage, UC Science Marketing Coordinator, and Aimee Leigh Claassens, UC Outreach and Event Coordinator. These two women put presents and brochures for me together to take down to Queenstown. The Antarctic Heritage Trust put also together a package to promote virtual Hillary Hut Goggle Experience. In total, I took 8 kg material and presents to the school.

Some students had still so many questions when I handed out the presents, and one student came up to me and asked if I know Trevor Chinn (1937 – 2018), he was the father of New Zealand glaciology. I affirmed that I know the name and that he is highly regarded within the glaciological community. He was her grandfather!

I am grateful for the hospitality X-Travel and the school showed me, and also that I had the opportunity to present my life-long passion, Antarctica, the Antarctic Heritage Trust and of course the SEE and the University of Canterbury

Me, talking to the Tourism and Hospitality Network group, Friday 28 July 2023. the Q&A session could have gone further, but after 1 hour answering questions it was time to finish.

on 31 July, I gave a talk to the Highschool in Frankton. The questions were very good and it was a pleasure to see that these teenagers were really into it. Great young folk, very inspiring.