Antarctic To Civic Theatre ’Phone Link

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 17

Antarctic To Civic Theatre ’Phone Link

The voice of a United States Navy officer sitting in a building at McMurdc station was clearly heard by a large crowd in the Civic Theatre last evening in the course of a telephone conversation. The link was between the commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force (Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy) and his chief of staff at McMurdo (Captain M. W. Nicholson). The call, which had been planned for several weeks, was carried to the Civic Theatre by telephone link from the sideband radio at the American base at Harewood. Through the conversation the large audience was given a report on what had been achieved in the Antarctic since the summer season got under way six weeks ago. In addition to this unusual attraction, guests to the Antarctic evening, the final event of the city’s Antarctic Week, two colour films dealing with aspects of Antarctic exploration and research were screened. The first was "Blue Ice," a film 10 years old but considered a classic of its kind. Its subject was the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition and the establishment of the Mawson base. The other was "The Priceless Laboratory.” the most recent American film. Before these films Admiral Reedy gave an outline of the purpose of research in the Antarctic and how it was being carried out. Admiral Reedy complimented the people of Christchurch in having such a tradition as Antarctic Week. It was, he said, a fine tribute to all the pioneers who had worked courageously to plumb the secrets of the southern continent. He said the Governor-Gen-eral (Sir Bernard Fergusson) had been delighted with all he had seen during his busy eight days in the Antarctic and had expressed his regret that he was not able to speak to the people of Christchurch on such an occasion as Antarctic Week when he arrived back yesterday morning. Pioneer Flight

The deputy Mayor (Mr H. P. Smith) told Admiral Reedy that the occasion afforded the city with an opportunity to offer its congratulations on his magnificent pioneer flight from Cape Town to Christchurch "via the South Pole.” Mr Smith expressed thanks on behalf of the city for the co-operation it regularly received and enjoyed with the American forces at Harewood.

A vote of thanks to all who had worked so hard to make Antarctic Week the obvious success it had been was expressed by the president of

the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society (Mr R. J. Stanley). He said Operation Deepfreeze was now a very real part of Christchurch and many people with the arrival of spring began looking for the arrival of the aircraft and ships of the support force with eager anticipation. At the beginning and during the interval musical items from well-known musical shows were provided by the band of the Ist Canterbury Regiment dressed in red jackets. On stage were displayed the flags of the 12 Antarctic Treaty nations. Earlier in the afternoon the flags were taken down from the surrounds of Scott's statue by a squad of men of the New Zealand Regiment and the band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Wigram. Admiral Reedy presented autographed photographs and Antarctic scene photographs to the following winners of the “Antarctic Today" essay competition, which was open to schoolchildren:—

Primer 1 to Standard 2: Yvonne Hamilton 1. Marjory Walker 2, Francesca Aiken 3. Standards 3 and 4: Jane Elton 1. Donald Foulkes 2, Karyn Dunmill 3. Forms I and II: Carmel Aiken 1. Philip Hansen 2. Roes McGregor 3. Teen-age (a): Donald Long 1, Tim Cotter and Kenneth Marsh (equal) 2. Teen-age (b): Margaret Salt 1. Margaret Carroll 2, Andrea Wildes 3 Teen-age (c>: Margaret Roberts 1. Valerie Wright 2, Diane Dixey 3.