The Nature of Ice (36 page)

Much of my polar experience I owe to Greg and Margaret Mortimer of Aurora Expeditions, with whom I first travelled in 1996. They have since included me as part of their expedition team on ship-based tours to the Antarctic and Arctic. In the summer of 2003–04 I worked for the Australian Antarctic Division as a field assistant at Davis Station, and while this was a scientific role researching south polar skuas, the experience of living at a station and working in the field provided the scaffolding for the novel.

I am indebted to Allen & Unwin for accepting the novel and for their efforts in its development. Thanks to Annette Barlow, Peter Eichhorn and Catherine Milne for guidance and encouragement, and editors Siobhán Cantrill, Clara Finlay and Ali Lavau, whose expertise and patience have steered the manuscript through its final evolvement. Sandy Cull produced the striking cover and interior designs, while Bookhouse typeset the pages.

Finally, I thank my lucky stars for my loving partner Gary Miller, who has enabled me to participate in Antarctic science, and whose knowledge of and passion for Antarctica has helped foster my own understanding.

ARCHIVAL
SOURCES

Depositories:
LaT: La Trobe Library of the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne; MAC : Mawson Antarctic Collection, University of Adelaide, Adelaide; ML: Mitchell Library of the State Library of New South Wales, Sydney; NLA: National Library of Australia, Canberra; SA M: South Australian Museum; SLSA : State Library of South Australia, Adelaide; SPRI: Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge

Correspondence:
AAE Staff Agreements, 1911. MSS 171/19. ML; Close, J. Application to Douglas Mawson, 1911. MSS 171/14. ML; Collier, M. Application to Douglas Mawson, 1911. Scrap book 257.1.7 (8). MAC ; Davis, J.K. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1913. 43AAE . MAC ; Davis, J.K. Correspondence with Roald Amundsen, 1912; Percy Gray, 1911–1913; John Hunter, 1913. MSS 171/23X. ML; Delprat, P. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1912–1913. 52DM. MAC ; Gaumont Co. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, November 20, 1911–December 31, 1913. MSS 171/21X. ML; Hurley, F. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1911. MSS 171/14. ML; Hurley, M.A. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1911. MSS 171/14. ML; Madigan, C. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1914. 175AAE . MAC ; Mawson, D. Correspondence with AAE suppliers and sponsors, 1911: Farrahs, Dr, Jaegar's Sanitary Woollen System Co. Ltd., Sunlight Soap, London Aluminium Company Ltd., Marmite Food Extract Co. Ltd.; Correspondence with Professor Orme Masson, 1911; Correspondence with Xavier Mertz, 1911. MSS 171/4. ML; Correspondence with Frau Mertz, 1914. Lennard Bickel Papers. MAC ; Correspondence with Inspector General Ninnis, 1914. 175AAE . MAC ; Correspondence with John King Davis, 1913; Correspondence with T. W. Edgeworth David, 1914. 43AAE . MAC ; Correspondence with Kathleen Scott, 1916. PRG 523, Series 4–6. SLSA ; Correspondence with Paquita Delprat, 1911–1914; Belgrave Ninnis, 1913; Ada Ninnis, 1914; Alec Tweedie, 1911; Kathleen Scott, c. 1914, 1920. 52DM. MAC ; Correspondence with Paquita Mawson (nee Delprat), 1911–1920. PRG 523, Series 3. SLSA ; Correspondence with Walter Hannam, 1911; Gaumont Co., 1911; Frank Hurley, 1911; Charles Laseron, 1911; Herbert Dyce Murphy, 1911. MSS 171/14–15. ML; Telegram to Mertz family, 1913; Telegram to Inspector General Ninnis, 1913. 29AAE . MAC ; Telegram to Paquita Delprat, 1913. 28AAE . MAC ; McLean, A. Field note to Douglas Mawson, 29 January 1913. 48AAE . MAC ; Mertz, E. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1914. MSS 171/18. ML; Mertz, X. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1911. 13AAE /2. MAC ; Scott, K. Correspondence with Douglas Mawson, 1926. PRG 523, Series 4–6. SLSA ; Southcott, R. Correspondence with Fred Jacka, 1983. 70AAE . MAC ; Toutcher, N. Correspondence with John King Davis, 1912. MSS 171/24. ML.

Diaries:
Davis, J.K. AAE diaries, December 3, 1911–February 26, 1914. MS 8311. LaT; Gray, P. ‘Letters Home', December 2, 1911–February 26, 1914. Typed transcript with a preface by Francis H. Bickerton. MSS 2893. ML; Hannam, W. AAE diaries, November 21, 1911–March 14, 1913. MSS 384. ML; Harrisson, C.T. AAE diaries, December 2, 1911–April 12, 1913. MSS 386. ML; Hunter, J.G. AAE diaries, November 21, 1911– March 1, 1913. MS 2806. NLA; Hurley, J.F. AAE sledging diary, November 10, 1912–January 10, 1913, with a typed, edited transcript. MSS 389/1–2. ML; Kennedy, A.L. Diary. December 2, 1911–July 26, 1912. 80AAE . MAC ; Laseron, C. AAE diary and related papers, November 21, 1911–February 24, 1913; Sledging diary, November 8, 1912–January 6, 1913; MSS 385. ML; Mawson, D. AAE diaries, 1912–1914; AAE sledging notebook November 10–13, 1912; AAE notebook ‘Glaciology' (n.d.). 68DM. MAC ; McLean, A.L. AAE diaries, December 2, 1911–February 26, 1914. Typed transcript. MSS 382, Vol. 2 (2). ML; Mertz, X. AAE diary, July 28, 1911–January 1, 1913. 70AAE . Typed German transcript. MD752/1. MAC ; AAE diary, July 28, 1911–January 1, 1913. English translation, 2005, from typed German transcript MD752/1. (G. Eisner, Trans.). Author's collection (copy held at MAC ); Moyes, M.H. AAE diary, December 2, 1911–February 23, 1913. MSS 388/1. ML; Ninnis, B.E.S. Diaries, May 11, 1908–November 8, 1912. SPRI; Webb, E.N. AAE sledging diary, November 19, 1912–January 11, 1913. MSS 2895. ML.

Documents:
AAE Photographic Equipment List. (n.d.). 13AAE /2. MAC ; Auroral sightings at Adelie Land, 1913. 43AAE . MAC ; Bickel, L. Research Report on Xavier Guillame Mertz. (n.d.). Lennard Bickel Papers. MAC ; Hunter, J.G. Biological Report, c. 1913. 63AAE . MAC ; Mawson, D. Lecture notes and captions accompanying public lantern slide presentation, 1914. PRG 523, Series 11. SLSA ; Meteorological Log: Far Eastern Sledging Journey in Adelie Land and King George V Land, summer 1912–1913. 63AAE . MAC ; Newspaper clippings, 1914. Scrap Books 257.1.2 (3). MAC ; Note regarding unsuccessful recall of ship on February 8, 1913. 43AAE . MAC ; Southcott, R. Three folders relating to vitamin A poisoning. Lennard Bickel Papers. MAC ; Webb, E.N. (1965).
Magnetic Polar Journey 1912
. Typed transcript including cover letter. MSS 6812. ML; Winter quarters departure note, 1913. 43AAE . MAC ; Winter quarters hut notices, 1912: Routine Duties; Nightwatchman Duties; Messman Duties; Kitchen Department; Clothing; Desiderata in Aurora Observations. 43AAE . MAC ; Winter quarters library books, c. 1912. 43AAE . MAC ; Wireless Log, Adelie Land Station, 1913. 43AAE . MAC ; Wireless messages transmitted from Macquarie Island, February 14, 1912–November 22, 1913. MSS 171/40. ML.

Photographs:
Hurley, F. Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911–1914. ML: pp: 52, 154, 203, 344; SA M: pp: 20, 30, 60, 66, 88, 141, 294, 323, 361. Mertz, X. Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911–1914. ML: p. 2; SA M: p. 112.

Recordings:
Antarctic Pioneers: The Story of Australia's First Conquests of Antarctica, narrated by Frank Hurley [Video]. (1962); Home of the Blizzard [Video copy of Cinematograph]. (1913). ML: VB 2743;
Nutrition Lessons From Antarctic Tracking.
Transcript from
Ockham's Razor
. Radio National;
Portrait of a Scientist: Sir Douglas
Mawson.
c. 1962. [Audio recording]. ABC Radio; “Ready Boys Mush” [Video]. (1987). Mawson Station, Antarctica.