Dale was introduced to the club by Carmel as he now wors at the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia. Dale talked to us about his trip to the Antarctic Peninsular as a 17 year old. Rather than summarise his talk I have pasted much of his prepared script (Thank you Dale).
“10 Years ago, I was a 17-year-old year 12 student at Haileybury College in Melbourne
blessed with the opportunity to head on a trip to Antarctica.
Our journey began in Ushuaia, Fin del Mundo “The end of the world”. Roughly 1,100 kilometres from the Antarctic Peninsula.
With a population of over 80,000 Ushuaia is the world’s southernmost city
and if you never make it to Antarctica, I highly recommend visiting this beautiful place on Earth.
After settling in and acclimatising for the journey ahead,
Next would come a 2-and-a-half-day boat ride across the Drake Passage.
I distinctly remember saying out loud, “I am going to die on this boat”.
: We travelled in 2016, long before cruise liners had begun developing ships that could tolerate the violent waters. We made this journey on a scientific vessel, with 40 other people including, researchers, FIFO shift workers, and intrigued travellers.
The Drake Passage is considered one of the most treacherous voyages for ships to make.
There is a current that circles the continent called the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, this is the strongest current on the planet.
It circles Antarctica freely, with no landmasses to slow it down. The gap between South America’s Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, is a choke point. This narrow gap, forces a massive volume of water through, increasing turbulence and wave energy.
At the same time, cold Antarctic waters collide with warmer currents, creating unstable, confused seas that build towering swells. Waves topping as high as 10-12 m
The worst part, is reaching the end and realising, that is the only way to get back home…
When people journey to Antarctica, most of them mean the Antarctic Peninsula. The mainland simply exhibits extreme environmental conditions. The Peninsula consists of many islands and is dotted with numerous research stations.
The Peninsula is home to three species of penguins, the Gentoo, Adelie, and Chinstrap, as well as a variety of marine and land-linked wildlife including Humpback whales, orcas and several species of seals.
We explored the peninsula for two-weeks, travelling to different islands, a highlight of which was Deception Island where we learnt about Antarctic Whaling Operations and enjoyed a polar plunge into the icy waters of the bay.
From the outside deception island looks like a solid, ordinary landmass; however, when a ship approaches closely, a hidden entrance can be found – a narrow treacherous channel littered with submerged rocks, cliffs and fierce currents.
Deception island is the flooded caldera of an active volcano. Its entrance was formed by an eruption roughly 4,000 years ago, collapsing the volcanos top and creating a hidden inner bay.
Deception island was a major hub for whaling operations from 1906 - 1931. Just inside the entrance a beach named Whalers Bay housed processing factories, oil storage tanks, blubber cookers and accommodation for workers. Most of which still stands in ruins to this day.”
Dale’s talk was followed by some vigorous discussion, and he was thanked by President Jennifer for his presentation.
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Brain Teaser
If you throw me out the window, you’ll leave a grieving wife, but drop me in the middle of a door, and you might just save a life. What am I?
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Director’s Reports
President Jennifer
The 2024/25 Membership Report is available on My Rotary
The Woden club Annual Footy Tipping Competition is now available
Treasurer Len
The payment from Council for the Australia Day Breakfast has been received.
A nice thank you letter has been received from Reece Caburong (vet nurse traine recipient).
Greg
The Rotary theme for this month is Peacebuilding & Conflict Prevention Month
The theme for next month is Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene Month.
The program for next week is a talk by Buster Ryan scholarship recipient Reece Caburong.
A visit to the RBA field site at Gary Knagge’s is planned for 19 March.
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Sergeant Eric
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Brain Teaser
If you throw me out the window, you’ll leave a grieving wife, but drop me in the middle of a door, and you might just save a life. What am I?
******************************
Director’s Reports
President Jennifer
The 2024/25 Membership Report is available on My Rotary
The Woden club Annual Footy Tipping Competition is now available
Treasurer Len
The payment from Council for the Australia Day Breakfast has been received.
A nice thank you letter has been received from Reece Caburong (vet nurse traine recipient).
Greg
The Rotary theme for this month is Peacebuilding & Conflict Prevention Month
The theme for next month is Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene Month.
The program for next week is a talk by Buster Ryan scholarship recipient Reece Caburong.
A visit to the RBA field site at Gary Knagge’s is planned for 19 March.
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Sergeant Eric
Membership:
Attracting new members is difficult. President Elect Geoff suggests that next year, each of us is a Membership Director. Each of us are responsible for inviting a guest.
In place of a Sergeant’s Fine Session, a membership survey was held. Those attending this meeting were asked about their life circumstances on joining Rotary and their motivation for staying on.
The survey showed members joined:
· at a time when Rotary included 70+ members and large projects were common.
· as a follow on from Apex.
· after Rotary Leadership and Rotary Overseas Study Exchange Groups were completed.
· when persistent invitations from a colleague or friend were extended.
· their own children were involved in Rotary Projects.
Members were motivated to stay on because of:
· the social/friendship experience.
· a need for a wider spectrum of friends and contacts.
· the desire to help the community
· the satisfaction from participating and completing projects.
Each of us need to invite a friend/colleague to Rotary.
Bill won the raffle.
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Signs from Around the World
A: The letter N
*****************************
Membership:
Attracting new members is difficult. President Elect Geoff suggests that next year, each of us is a Membership Director. Each of us are responsible for inviting a guest.
In place of a Sergeant’s Fine Session, a membership survey was held. Those attending this meeting were asked about their life circumstances on joining Rotary and their motivation for staying on.
The survey showed members joined:
· at a time when Rotary included 70+ members and large projects were common.
· as a follow on from Apex.
· after Rotary Leadership and Rotary Overseas Study Exchange Groups were completed.
· when persistent invitations from a colleague or friend were extended.
· their own children were involved in Rotary Projects.
Members were motivated to stay on because of:
· the social/friendship experience.
· a need for a wider spectrum of friends and contacts.
· the desire to help the community
· the satisfaction from participating and completing projects.
Each of us need to invite a friend/colleague to Rotary.
