Aussie veteran/ADF team closing in on South Pole

A team of ADF veterans are within days of reaching the South Pole as part of The Spirit Lives Antarctic Expedition to raise money and awareness for Beyond Blue and the Navy Clearance Diver Trust.

CAPTION: The Spirit Lives Antarctic Expedition team members land at Hercules Inlet, Antarctica, to begin a testing trek to the South Pole as a Beyond Blue charity fundraiser. Photo supplied.

Named to honour the ANZAC spirit, the team have travelled almost 1000kms in harsh conditions, including white-outs and sastrugi, and have faced some difficult decisions in an unrelenting environment. 

Planned and led by Flight Lieutenant Emily Chapman, the expedition team is tri-service and includes a clearance diver and submariner from Navy, and an Army unit adventurous-training leader.

The team fully self-funded their training and the expedition to show their commitment to the activity and purpose. 

Starting at Hercules Inlet in November, the team of six reached Thiel Corner on 21 December after travelling more than 500km to reach their food cache.

Due to health reasons, including polar thigh, Emily and Tim had to leave the team to continue their journey to the Pole.

In the words of Shackleton “better a live donkey than a dead lion”.

The now team of four continue their push to the Pole and are estimated to reach it on 17 January.  

As the first Australian Defence team to try such a feat, lots was learnt about leadership and decision-making, teamwork in mixed-gender teams, and pushing the boundaries of human endurance.

Together, they have raised almost $10,000 for Beyond Blue and will continue their efforts as they battle the last few kilometres to the South Pole.

You can follow The Spirit Lives Antarctic Expedition team’s progress on a map, with daily updates, here.

 

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