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As it turns out, 1960 was quite the year for George Cresswell.
Thread/
Thread/
He'd finished up at @uwanews and responded to an ad in the paper for a job in Antarctica. Which he got.
This is before George's time - but you get the idea. https://twitter.com/i/status/1168758570369732609
This is before George's time - but you get the idea. https://twitter.com/i/status/1168758570369732609
George couldn't get a good price for his 350 cc MAC Velocette motorcycle before he left, so he rode it to the dock and asked the Bosun of the icebreaker the 'Thala Dan' if he could take it with him to Antarctica.
And the Bosun said yes.
And the Bosun said yes.
For context - it was this type of bike. It sounds delicious.
On the way to Antarctica George said he got seasick, then got sick of icebergs.
His job while stationed at Mawson Station with what is now @AusAntarctic, was to set up a photometer to measure the colours of the Aurora.
He said the job was all-consuming especially as for half of the year it's basically dark all day. But then, the days became much longer than the nights, and the exploration bug bit George.
George said the motorbike was well-loved and used, especially on his days off. He had to take the oil out of the sump and heat it over the fire before it'd start.
And riding on the sea ice could be a bit tricky - if you came off, you and the bike would slide along beside each other and you had to pray there wasn't a crack in your trajectory. It didn't seem to stop them.
Subsequently, George found that about 35 m/bikes were taken to Antarctica in total.
His Velocette stayed there - he sold it to another bloke who made a sidecar for it.
I think that George makes the record books as possibly the first private used-vehicle salesman in Antarctica.
His Velocette stayed there - he sold it to another bloke who made a sidecar for it.
I think that George makes the record books as possibly the first private used-vehicle salesman in Antarctica.
||Sidenote||
George has written about the motorbikes of Antarctica here [Link to a PDF from @AusAntarctic] https://search.informit.com.au/fullText;dn=328920599656467;res=IELHSS
George has written about the motorbikes of Antarctica here [Link to a PDF from @AusAntarctic] https://search.informit.com.au/fullText;dn=328920599656467;res=IELHSS
But there was lots of real work that went on as well. In the latest episode of #RNOffTrack on @RadioNational, George tells the story of trying to bring home a tractor train that was 300 miles away from the base.
They were meant to get fuel drops, but the Station's planes were destroyed in a storm.
So the party was stuck, in more ways than one.
So the party was stuck, in more ways than one.
Luckily, one of the men had heard of a fuel drop from years ago... if only they could get to it, they could get back to base.
(Go and listen to the episode you'll not be disappointed by this story)
(Go and listen to the episode you'll not be disappointed by this story)
It'd make an OH&S officer's hair stand on end, but George says back in those days, things were different.
Check out the safety equipment in this pic of George on skis over a crevasse.
Is he poking it with a stick?
Check out the safety equipment in this pic of George on skis over a crevasse.
Is he poking it with a stick?
But the men (they were all men) all had lots of jobs to get on with.
Including turns in the kitchen. Though, George's sponge cake, on the right, was never a hit.
And while they were isolated, that didn't mean the neighbours didn't drop over occasionally.
George said the Russians dropped in once to see if they wanted to swap movies.
*Not actual footage of the Russians from 1960*
George said the Russians dropped in once to see if they wanted to swap movies.
*Not actual footage of the Russians from 1960*
The Russians took away 'The Fabulous Texan' (George says that was a horrible movie anyway), and left behind this:
George said the men at Mawson quickly became ballet aficionados.
And George is still in love with ballet all these years later.
George said the men at Mawson quickly became ballet aficionados.
And George is still in love with ballet all these years later.
After returning from Antarctica, George married, had kids, did a Ph.D. and became one of the most experienced scientific expeditioners (especially on ocean-going voyages) that Australia has ever seen.
https://maritime-executive.com/media/images/article/Photos/Historical/george-cresswell-by-jim-kitchenside.jpg
https://maritime-executive.com/media/images/article/Photos/Historical/george-cresswell-by-jim-kitchenside.jpg
https://twitter.com/JPurandare/status/1212298756420292608
George still sails at every opportunity, mentoring young scientists in the challenging conditions of the ocean.
In fact, if #covid19 hadn't got in the way, he'd probably be on a voyage right now.
George still sails at every opportunity, mentoring young scientists in the challenging conditions of the ocean.
In fact, if #covid19 hadn't got in the way, he'd probably be on a voyage right now.
Listen to the full story, subscribe for more adventures, and escape from your Monday right here: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/offtrack/motorbike-in-antarctica-george-cresswell/12720748
PS. George also was dropped by his then-fiance live on Radio Australia's weekly 'Calling Antarctica' program in 1960.
What a year.
Go and listen to his stories.
What a year.
Go and listen to his stories.
