Exploring History: The ANARE Club’s gift to the nation

For more than 75 years, Australia has been at the forefront of modern-day scientific exploration and discovery in Antarctica through the work of the Australian Antarctic Program (formerly ANARE – the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions). Central to this legacy has been the ANARE Club, a vibrant community of men and women expeditioners who share a passion for the icy continent and its unique role in understanding our planet.

Expedition pennant

In 2024, the ANARE Club donated a significant piece of its history to the National Museum of Australia – a carefully preserved expedition pennant. Once a symbol of camaraderie and adventure, the pennant now serves as a tangible connection to Australia’s rich Antarctic heritage. Today, the annual expeditioner teams still refer to their terms of service spent at our Australian bases of Mawson, Davis and Casey, and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island using the old reference system, as in Bob Smith, the Xth ANARE.

Supporting the National Antarctic Heritage Collection

The Club’s commitment to preserving history did not stop with the pennant donation. Rallying their members across the country, the Club raised an impressive $6,200 to support the Museum in caring for and curating the pennant, as well as enhancing the broader Antarctic collection, known as the National Antarctic Heritage Collection. This act of generosity ensures these stories will inspire generations to come.

They also contribute to ongoing efforts to safeguard artefacts that tell the stories of the brave expeditioners who ventured south in the name of science. The pennant, alongside other treasures in the Museum’s Antarctic collection, is a testament to Australia’s enduring connection to the icy frontier.

This collaboration between the ANARE Club and the National Museum exemplifies the power of community-driven philanthropy in preserving national heritage.