One of the sledging teams of Mawson’s 1911-13 Antarctic Expedition. These small teams were out in the Antarctic cold for weeks on end. It was here the most danger presented itself – on many Antarctic expeditions, not all the sledging teams came back alive.

Moreton Henry Moyes, (1886-1981). Moyes poses on the the SY Aurora, on its way down to Antarctica. His 10 weeks of isolation in Antarctica is the longest on record.

When the weather allowed, getting scientific data and mapping the region was a key part of Mawson’s 1911 expedition to Antarctica. Moyes’ job was to monitor the weather itself.

Unlike the Scandinavian polar explorers, the British and Australians often had inadequate equipment, which didn’t always stand up to the cold. The noticable difference was the absence of furs.

To escape boredom, the party members often played chess, smoked their pipes or recounted stories of the day, developing a real sense of mateship in a harsh environment.

Mawson’s 1911 Antarctic expedition was the first Australian-led Antarctic exploration.