POLARSKIBE PÅ FRIMÆRKER

Her nok det første frimærke med Kista Dan

 

 

 

Anare havde i 2004 - 50 års jubilæum i den anledning udkom der fire frimærker med Nella - Kista - Magga og Thala Dan, besætningen fra Kista Dans første tur (1953/54) blev inviteret med til jubilæums festen i Australien, af Kista Dans besætning var der kun 10 der endnu levede, af dem var der kun 3 der var i stand til at tage rejsen til Australien, Vilhelm Pedersen var den enste der rejste derud, der blev afholdt en stor fest, hvor Vilhelm som den eneste fra Danmark var med, Vilhelm holdt en tale ved festen, jeg har modtaget en kopi af talen som kommer her. 

 

 

                               VPs tale 13.februar 04 på Marriott Hotel.

 

 

I thank you very much, for inviting the “Kista  Dan” crew to this occasion of celebrating the jubilee of   the Mawson Base.

 

I have tried very hard to contact the crewmembers from the voyage in 53-54.

Of the 22 members at least 9 has passed away,

I have been able to contact 2.

One as 53 years old was sick retired as captain in East Asiatic Co. because of heart trouble, and later he lost his short memory. I spoke with him almost one hour at the telephone, but he told me he has a dog named   MAWSON, so he has not lost his memory complete.

The other one was not able to come at the moment.

These two you may probably remember-they were the youngsters, who took the aluminiumwingshields from the Austerplane, went up at the glacierice at Mawson and sledged down-a dangerous play which could end in the sea., and the captain had to talk to them, as it was a very dangerous play.

 

I am here not only as a private person, but J.Lauritzen also has asked me to send the best wishes

for the expedition and the future of Mawson Base.

 

The idea to build the “Kista  Dan“  all started, when the owner, Mr.Knud Lauritzen,  was on a voyage with an old steamer from 1933 to West Greenland.

That year the iceconditions  were very bad, and the ship, which not was strengthened for navigation in ice, were many days delayed.

He thought-it must be possible to do better, and he decided to build an icebreaking passenger ship.

The ship,” Kista Dan” was commissioned in 1952 and fulfilled the expertations.

But at that time there was no use for the ship in the northern winter, so JL tried to find other use

for the ship.

At the same time Phil Law for Antarctic Division tried to find a suitable ship for Antarctic, as they had intentions to establish a base in the Australian sector of Antarctic.

They had earlier tried to make a reconnaissance with a former old wooded norwegian fishing vessel “Wyatt Earp”.

At an early stage it sprung a leak, and they had to return, and before it was repaired, it was almost too late to start.

When we came near Cape Leeuwin in 53 and were able to hear the ABC on medium wave, Kista Dan were in the head lines together with some oilstrikes in Bass Strait and a topmeeting somewhere.

At that time we didn’t know, that it was the start of an era lasting 34 years.

It was a proud little ship steaming up Yarra River.

We were berthed at the finest place in town-and with “Wyatt Earp” lying at the other side.

Then in beginning of January the Minister of foreign affairs and his wife sent us off on this adventurous voyage.

As to iceconditions, it was not the best year to choose-but a suitable place was found for establishing a base and the buildings were raised in due time and the engines running, when we

left the expeditioners alone for the winter..

We continued exploring along the coast, but the Antarctic winter was coming, and we were hit of a severe storm which caused heavy overicing, and for some hours the ship was in really danger and only filling our freshwater supplies with saltwater saved the ship.

I am sure, that nobody here, who was onboard will never forget that night of horror.

When we returned to Denmark, the ships design was altered radically, and with increased stability., we never came in the same situation..

Then came the years of IGY and the bigger “Magga Dan” and  “Thala Dan” was built.

The last polarship JL constructed, was the “Nella Dan”, named after the wife of Philip Law.

For 26 years she pendled between north and south, and she and her crew became a very popular team, until she met her fate  when she dragged her anchors at Macquarie Island and went aground.

I was sent down there, as I now was a marine surveyor in the insurance company, who had the “Nella Dan” insured.

 

She was refloated,  but was so damaged,  that we had to decide to scuttle her.

When I saw the proud ship dip into the sea, I must admit, that I cried.

I had been mate at the “Kista Dan”, master of the “Magga and Thala Dan”-and now I had the sad task to send the “Nella Dan” to the bottom.

It was a rare sunny day ,December 24. round 1800-and my pal from JL (Bent Nielsen) beside me said: Merry christmas !

I had forgotten it was christmas.

An era has come to an end.

At the same time the Australians built a bigger and more up to date icebreaker, the “Aurora Australis”.

 

During all these years a lot of friendships occurred between the Australians and the Danes,

I myself have been visited i Denmark by:
Nel  and Phil Law,

Jay and Don Styles

Sheelagh  and Dick Thompson

Ida and Frank Mc Mann,

Patricia Gwynn.

 

At least 3 officers has married Australian girls.

 

10 years ago my wife and I travelled in a caravan more than 2 months from Cairns to Melbourne and met old friends and was met by wide hospitality.

It was the tour of our life.

 

And now a Tassie girl is marrying our crownprince ,but this is another  story !

 

I hope that the base will exist for many years and make valuable scientific results for the human people.

 

Thank you.

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