Diaries bring back memories
Reading Oamaru historian and author David Harrowfield's reports from the Spirit of Enderby as the vessel heads for Antarctica has prompted some fond memories for local man Don Robb.
"Dr Harrowfield's accounts reminded me of my time in Antarctica," he said.
Mr Robb joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as a 15-year-old in 1956 and made two visits to the frozen continent, both aboard the RNZN vessel Endeavour, which was leased from the United States by the New Zealand Government.
"The Endeavour was used to carry fuel and supplies down to McMurdo and Scott Base," he said.
"We would go down to Antarctica loaded and come back with salt water in the holds as ballast."
Once the ship neared Antarctica, the Endeavour would be accompanied by icebreakers which would go ahead of the craft to ensure a trouble-free passage as it made its way to Scott Base.
"We were able to see lots of wildlife from the boat including penguins, skua gulls, seals and sealions and killer whales," he said.
"Our clothing then, compared to now, was pretty rudimentary and included string-like underclothing, which was supposed to capture the heat inside your clothes and hold it in.
"My ice socks were also pretty spectacular and I know Joan [his wife] and the children used them as Christmas stockings when I left the navy and finished with them."
Mr Robb's two visits to the southern continent were made in 1964 and 1965 and he left the navy in 1966.
"It was an opportunity very few people get and I was really pleased to have been given the chance and to have the experience," he said.
"Reading Dr Harrowfield's travel diary in the Oamaru Mail has prompted lots of memories."
During his time in the Navy, Mr Robb also spent some time on the Royalist, which ferried the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Phillip, on a tour of the Pacific Islands.
