Trevor Hamley is the author of "Vodka in a Vegemite Jar – an Australian on a Soviet Antarctic Expedition". After finishing an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at Monash University, Trevor joined the Australian Antarctic Division as the glaciologist - to winter at Casey in 1978. He then commenced a career in engineering construction before re-joining the Antarctic Division to participate in a Soviet Antarctic Expedition in 1983/84. Trevor completed a Master of Science degree in Glaciology at Melbourne University in 1987.

This talk describes Trevor's 1983 visit to Vostok, a Russian Antarctic Station and the coldest recorded place on earth (-89.2C), as well as an over-snow trek of 3,000 kilometres across the Antarctic from Mirny to Dome C and return. It is very important to understand the science of the Antarctic, particularly the East Antarctic Icesheet which stores about 90% of the Earth's freshwater ice or roughly 70% of all the Earth's freshwater.

Trevor reveals that at every turn the Dome C traverse was beset by adversity yet achieved its scientific objectives. Mechanical and scientific equipment succumbed to the harsh Antarctic conditions, where temperatures plunged to -60C. An appendectomy was performed 1,000 kilometres from the safety of a permanent station, an unprecedented feat in the annals of Antarctic expeditions. Each leg of the journey became an exhilarating episode. But the narrative does not merely recount the logistical aspects of the traverse; it delves into the intricacies of glaciology and the profound issue of our time: climate change.

This recording is available to members only under the Members Forum on the RGSQ website.

Photo credit: Kay Rees

Contributed by Graham Rees

Map Group presentation 27 November 2025, RGSQ Bulletin Vol 61 no 01 February 2026