Key Takeaways:
- Douglas Mawson, Australia’s greatest Antarctic explorer, also spent his life studying the ancient Flinders Ranges in South Australia.
- A team of volunteers has spent two decades translating Mawson’s diaries from his Australian adventures, which were written in deteriorating handwriting and old-fashioned wording.
- The diaries, which number 31, were written during 95 field trips from 1906 to the 1950s and provide valuable insights into Mawson’s geological discoveries and expeditions.
- The volunteers, including Mawson’s grandson Alun Thomas, have had to decipher Mawson’s handwriting, shorthand, and archaic words to digitize the diaries.
- The project is nearing completion, with the volunteers fine-tuning their work and preparing to share Mawson’s discoveries with the public.
Introduction to Douglas Mawson
Douglas Mawson is remembered as Australia’s greatest Antarctic explorer, known for his epic and tragic journey in 1912 that cost the lives of his two companions. However, less well-known is his lifelong quest to understand the ancient and spectacular Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Mawson’s work in the Flinders Ranges, which spanned several decades, is a testament to his dedication to geological discovery and his passion for exploring the unknown.
The Diaries of Douglas Mawson
A dedicated team of volunteers, including Mawson’s grandson Alun Thomas, has been working tirelessly to translate Mawson’s diaries from his Australian adventures. The diaries, which number 31, were written during 95 field trips from 1906 to the 1950s and provide valuable insights into Mawson’s geological discoveries and expeditions. The volunteers have had to decipher Mawson’s handwriting, which became increasingly indecipherable as he grew older, as well as his shorthand and archaic words. According to Mark Pharaoh, the museum’s Australian Polar Collection senior collection manager, "the early diaries aren’t so bad, but the older he got, the more indecipherable it is."
The Challenges of Deciphering Mawson’s Writing
The volunteers have faced significant challenges in deciphering Mawson’s writing, which includes his own shorthand system and words that are no longer in use. As palaeontologist Jim Jago notes, "we had to get an old dictionary to work out some of the words, so we know what we’re talking about." Despite these challenges, the volunteers have made significant progress, with Thomas noting that he has a "genetic disposition" to be able to read Mawson’s writing. Pharaoh adds that the volunteers "bring life and colour" to the project, and their work is essential to understanding Mawson’s contributions to geological discovery.
Mawson’s Antarctic Expeditions
Mawson was a leading figure in the "heroic era" of Antarctic exploration, alongside explorers such as Robert Scott, Roald Amundsen, and Ernest Shackleton. In 1912, Mawson embarked on a perilous journey with Swiss explorer Xavier Mertz and British army officer and explorer Belgrave Ninnis. The expedition was marked by tragedy, with Ninnis falling to his death in a crevasse and Mertz dying from toxic levels of vitamin A. Mawson was forced to eat the expedition’s dogs to survive and eventually made it back to base camp, only to find that he had missed the ship that was supposed to take him home.
Mawson’s Work in the Flinders Ranges
Mawson’s work in the Flinders Ranges is a lesser-known aspect of his career, but it is no less significant. The ranges, which are hundreds of millions of years old, contain some of the most important geological formations in the world, including the Ediacaran explosion of life. Mawson was fascinated by the ranges and spent many years studying them, often taking small groups of University of Adelaide geology students on field trips. One of these students, Reg Sprigg, went on to buy a large tract of land in the ranges, which is now the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.
The Legacy of Mawson’s Work
Mawson’s work in the Flinders Ranges has had a lasting impact on our understanding of the region’s geology. His discoveries, which were inspired in part by his meeting with Marie Curie, have helped to shed light on the region’s complex geological history. Today, a team of volunteers, including senior geologist Stephen Hore, is working to identify the geological locations that Mawson visited, using mud maps and photos to recreate his journeys. The project, which will include a three-day walk in Mawson’s footsteps, is a testament to the enduring legacy of Mawson’s work and his contributions to geological discovery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Douglas Mawson’s legacy extends far beyond his Antarctic expeditions, and his work in the Flinders Ranges is a significant part of his contribution to geological discovery. The team of volunteers who have worked tirelessly to translate his diaries has made a significant contribution to our understanding of Mawson’s work, and their efforts will help to ensure that his discoveries are preserved for future generations. As Pharaoh notes, the volunteers "bring life and colour" to the project, and their work is essential to understanding Mawson’s contributions to geological discovery.