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With the passing last Thursday of Charlie Gibbs, Australia has lost its last living contact with one of the
most astounding epics of Polar exploration.
In the 1935/36 southern summer, the renowned American adventurer and explorer, Lincoln Ellsworth, along with his
pilot Herbert Hollick-Kenyon, flew their purpose-built single engined aircraft across the Antarctic continent on
their third attempt to complete a historic trans-Antarctic crossing. The plan was to fly from Dundee Island near
the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula to Admiral Byrd's abandoned base, Little America, near the Bay of Whales in
the Ross Sea, a distance of almost 4,000km.
Because of the necessity to land on the unknown polar plateau to transfer bulk fuel the aircraft carried into the
machine's flying tanks, and forced groundings to wait out bad weather, their fuel ran out and the aircraft had
to be landed, the engine dead. The journey had taken 22 days with many of those days spent sitting out blizzards.
Their radio had failed 8 hours into their flight and not a soul on earth knew whether they were alive or where
they were. But alive they were, and after the landing they had to search for and walk the last 75km to Little America.
When advised of the situation by Ellsworth's support party at Dundee Island, the Australian Government dispatched
a search and rescue expedition, with aircraft and crew from the RAAF to find and recover Ellsworth and Hollick-Kenyon,
which they did.
Young Charlie Gibbs was one of this elite group.
* * * * * * *
My name is Robyn Downey. I did not know Charlie well, but as an Antarctic expeditioner myself, and member of
the ANARE Club, I speak for those Antarctic friends who did know him, and who are unable to be here today.
The ANARE Club - the letters A.N.A.R.E. standing for Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions - is a
club for those who have lived and worked in Antarctica and Charlie had been a member of this club for many years.
He was considered a hero, was an inspiration to many, and was admired and loved by the entire ANARE fellowship.
But the person who knew Charlie best in his later years was David Bishop, President of the Queensland Branch of
the ANARE Club. Dave would visit Charlie weekly or fortnightly and would sit and chat with him about flying - as
Dave had also been in the air force - or about Antarctica, or bowls, or any other topic they felt inclined to discuss.
If there was anything Charlie needed he would phone Dave, and Dave would arrange it for him. Dave sends his regret
that he cannot be here today, and also offers his condolences, and he says he will miss his visits with Charlie.
So, on behalf of all Charlie's Antarctic friends, we wish him farewell, and safe journeying.
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