Display shows story of Antarctic explorer

Visitors to the Bairnsdale Library can learn about a 100-year-old survival story through a travelling display on loan from the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Shackleton: Escape from Antarctica, brings together first-hand accounts and dramatic images by official expedition photographer, Australian Frank Hurley, to tell the compelling story of Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-17 and his bid to stay alive.

 Shackleton hoped to be the first person to travel across Antartica. His strategy was to have two parties working from opposite sides of the continent. He would lead the crossing party, while the other team would lay rations ahead of him.

Both ships were ultimately lost to their crews and Shackleton’s party would never even touch the continent they hoped to cross, while the ration party were stuck on Antarctica.

East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell said the exhibition follows the harrowing experiences of both parties and asks visitors to think about their reaction and decisions.

“The story of Shackleton’s expedition is an interesting one. I am sure library visitors will find the display informative and thought-provoking. We are very pleased East Gippsland is one of only 80 locations nationally to be selected to host this panel display,” Cr O’Connell said.

Shackleton: Escape from Antarctica is on display at Bairnsdale Library, 22 Service Street, until Saturday, December 1.

 Dogs and dogloos beside the trapped Endurance, with meteorological station at its stern. Frank Hurley photographer, courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales