Honouring Scott at the Antarctic Festival 2008

Honouring Scott at the Antarctic Festival 2008

No event tells more of the harshness and the dangers of Antarctica than the heroic bid by Robert Falcon Scott to be the first to reach the South Pole in 1911.

The scope of the tragedy - as well as the heroism - is tellingly told in the 1948 movie, Scott of the Antarctic.

The Antarctic Heritage Trust, together with the Christchurch City Council is offering two screenings of the movie at the Bailies Bar at Warners Hotel on Saturday, September 27 at 4 pm and 7 pm as part of the Christchurch Antarctic Festival 2008.

The movie is a chronicle of Scott's heroic but ultimately tragic race for the South Pole; the entire team died during their return journey after losing to the rival Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen. Sir John Mills, veteran of over 120 movies, starred as Commander Scott in the movie directed by Charles Frend and filmed largely on location in Norway.

The expedition base associated with the Scott’s ill-fated expedition still stands on Antarctica (attached picture) and is listed on the 100 Most Endangered Sites on Earth. It is cared for on behalf of the international community by the Canterbury based Antarctic Heritage Trust which has launched a major conservation project to ensure its survival. Proceeds from the event will come to the Trust.
Meanwhile, the Antarctic Heritage Trust in a joint initiative with Canterbury Museum has started work to catalogue and conserve part of the iconic collection of artefacts from expeditions associated with Captain Scott

Conservators Melinda Bell, of Calgary, and Antonia Craster of Edinburgh have moved to New Zealand to spend the next six months working on the reserve collection at Canterbury Museum and then deploy to Antarctica to winter-over with another two conservators to work on the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project.

The two year project at Canterbury Museum will see the conservation of reindeer sleeping bags, tents and numerous iconic objects from the early expeditions

Programme for Scott of the Antarctic:

Two sessions only: 4.00pm and 7.00pm. Bailies Bar at Warners Hotel, Cathedral Square
Tickets: $15.00 (including complimentary drink on arrival)
Pre bookings recommended: Tickets available from Antarctic Heritage Trust: T: 358 0212. E:info@nzaht.org
or call into Bailies Bar at Warners Hotel, Cathedral Square T: 366 5159.
Full bar and food service available.

Proceeds to the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s conservation project to save Captain Scott’s iconic base, Cape Evans, Antarctica. Listed on the 100 Most Endangered Sites on Earth: www.nzaht.org

The Christchurch Antarctic Festival is coordinated by the Christchurch City Council and members of Antarctic Link Canterbury. The festival runs from Friday 26 September to Friday 3 October and includes a wide range of Films, Lectures, Live links, Exhibitions, Tours and the Antarctic Ice-Capade at Christchurch International Airport and the International Antarctic Centre.
For full programme details, please check our website
www.antarcticfestival.co.nz/

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