A panel discussion celebrating 50 years of trailblazing women who reshaped Australia's Antarctic story
The remarkable stories of Australia's first women to travel south to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic will be explored in a special event on 22 August as part of the Australian Antarctic Festival in Hobart.
Ice & Islands: Australia's First Women to the South is a major historical and cultural initiative led by the Antarctic Women's Network (AWN) to document and celebrate the experiences of the pioneering women who broke barriers in Antarctic science, exploration and leadership from 1976 onwards.
- Dr Patricia Selkirk AC AAM, renowned Antarctic and sub-Antarctic plant biologist whose research has taken her to Macquarie Island, Heard Island, Îles Kerguelen and continental Antarctica over nearly two decades.
- Joan Russell OAM, one of Australia's most experienced Antarctic station leaders, who served four times as an over-wintering station leader with the Australian Antarctic Research Expeditions and Australian Antarctic Program.
- Katherine Scholes, international bestselling author and one of the first artists to travel to Antarctica with the Australian Antarctic Division.
- The discussion will be moderated by writer and Antarctic historian Dr Emma McEwin, great-granddaughter of Sir Douglas Mawson and author of The Many Lives of Douglas Mawson.
The panel will examine the challenges these pioneering women faced in entering what was once an exclusively male domain, their contributions to Australia's Antarctic program, and the legacy they have created for future generations.
The event is part of the broader Australia's First Women to the South project, which is capturing oral histories from the first generation of Australian women expeditioners in the lead-up to a major mixed-media exhibition to be launched in Hobart in 2026, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of women joining Australian Antarctic expeditions.
Convenor of the Antarctic Women's Network and project co-lead Karen Rees said the project seeks to ensure an important chapter of Australian Antarctic history is not lost.
"For decades, Australia's Antarctic story has largely focused on the achievements of male explorers, while the women who followed and helped transform Antarctic science, operations and leadership have remained largely unknown,” she said.
“These women were pioneers who challenged barriers and opened doors for future generations. Through this project and this panel discussion, we are ensuring more of their remarkable stories are captured, celebrated and preserved for the future."
The oral histories and creative works developed through the project will contribute to a significant public exhibition, archival collection and educational resource that will help reshape public understanding of Australia's Antarctic heritage.
The Antarctic Women's Network is a subcommittee of the Tasmanian Polar Network and is working with a range of partners across Tasmania's Antarctic and cultural sectors to deliver the project. The University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies provides in-kind support to the project.
Event details for Ice & Islands: Australia's First Women to the South:
- Time and Date: Saturday 22 August, 12:30pm–1:30pm
- Location: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point
- Panellists: Dr Patricia Selkirk AC AAM, Joan Russell OAM, Katherine Scholes
- Moderator: Dr Emma McEwin
Register here for this and other free presentations on Saturday August 22 at IMAS