OBITUARY MR O. C. BRUSTAD

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31059, 14 May 1966, Page 14

OBITUARY MR O. C. BRUSTAD

Mr Olaf Christoffer Brustad, of Waiau, who died in Christchurch on Thursday at the age of 65, had an adventurous life as an Antarctic wnaler before coming to New Zealand, where ne was a mountaineer and mountain guide. He returned to Antarctica with RearAdmiral R. E. Byrd’s first expedition. Mr Brustad was born in Norway, where he gained a diploma in agriculture before signing on with a whaling company for Antarctic operations. He served in the Antarctic in 1923 and on a visit to New Zealand went to the Hermitage and climbed Mount Cook.

The country and the area attracted him and he returned in 1924 to become a guide at the Hermitage. Early in 1930 he returned to the Antarctic as a member of the crew of City of New York with Admiral Byrd’s first expedition.

While at the Hermitage in 1928 and climbing with Professor R. M. Algie, now Sir Ronald Algie, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Brustad made several first ascents of unnamed peaks, and one of them was named Olaf by Professor Algie for his guide, who was more generally known as Alf. After leaving the Hermitage, Mr Brustad did some private guiding and made several first and second ascents in the Godley district in 1933.

After his marriage in the 1930’s to Miss Aroha Clifford, Mr Brustad went farming in Waiau, where he was well known as a grower for the small seeds market. He retained an interest in the Antarctic, was a foundation member of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society and served on its committees.

Mr Brustad is survived by his second wife.