05/01/2002 - Update: Dick Smith Nutra Bites competition winner’s leave for Antarctica.

Don McIntyre, Shane Beard, Dick Smith, David Beard and Margie McIntyre on the deck of the Sir Hubert Wilkins

Beating hundred’s of entries David and Shane Beard left from Hobart on January 5th 2002, onboard the Sir Hubert Wilkins for Antarctica.

During the 27-day voyage the father and son team will cruise the Southern Ocean, visit Commonwealth Bay, the French scientific base of Dumont D’urville and Macquarie Island.

Competition was tough with ten excellent finalists being selected that were then judged by Antarctic experts Howard Whelan, publisher of Australian Geographic, Don Richards of the Research Foundation and adventurer Greg Mortimer, OAM.

Antarctica is an incredible place with its own unique beauty and wonder. Travelling through the pack ice in search of humpback whales. Getting up-close and personal with the penguins and watching the magnificent Albatross soar inch’s from the oceans surface are just a few of the daily encounters the Beard’s can expect to have.

In the spirit of Sir Douglas Mawson the Beard’s will be working as part of the onboard crew, with opportunities to assist with the voyages targeted objectives.

These include providing weather updates to the Australian Weather Bureau, logging bird and mammal sightings, recording hydrographic survey information and helping with the dismantle and removal of Gadget Hut from Cape Denison.

There is also the possibility that they will spend time searching the ocean floor for the position of the lost anchors from Mawson’s expedition ship Aurora in Commonwealth Bay.
The Beard’s are no strangers to ocean adventures and with their extensive nautical backgrounds will be a welcome addition to the crew of the Sir Hubert Wilkins. Being adventures at heart they both had a desire to visit the Antarctic, a place that has always fascinated them.

It’s looks like they are going to have their work cut out for them. Good thing the galley shelves are full of Dick Smith Nutra Bites and other great Aussie products.

You can follow their adventure at www.oceanfrontiers.com.au