BY JANINE RANKIN, MANAWATU STANDARD
MidCentral Health nuclear medicine specialist Kevin Smidt swaps scanning machines for a first aid kit next month as he heads as far south as an icebreaker can take him.
One of two ship’s doctors on the Spirit of Enderby’s Our Far South mission to Antarctica with Kiwi philanthropists Gareth and Jo Morgan, he has recently brushed up on his advanced life-support skills, but hopes to treat nothing worse than seasickness.
Dr Smidt is one of three Manawatu people joining a team of 40 “everyday” New Zealanders and 10 scientists on the four-week journey to learn more about the ecology of the ice-bound southern polar region.
“I’ve had to brush up on general and emergency medicine as my usual equipment is a bit large to take travelling,” he said.
Dr Smidt, a keen motorcyclist who has tracked former Arohanui Hospice chairman Roger Clausen’s earlier trips around the world with the Morgans, was eager to share an adventure while gaining an understanding of what needed to change to protect a fragile environment.
The tour aims to raise awareness of the Far South, its importance to people, and the threats it faces.
Mr Clausen leaves his motorcycle behind for this ship-bound journey.
“I was fortunate to go with the Morgans to the top of the world, and I’m keen to go to the south,” Mr Clausen said. “I’m also interested as a farmer. We hear a lot about global warming, and there are a lot of sceptics, but as a farmer, I am seeing more flooding and droughts and I know we have to double food production to feed the world.”
The third local person, and possibly the last to book a berth, is plant and heavy equipment sales and brokering company director Richard Ramson. His connection is through his marriage to Jacki, fundraiser at Arohanui.
With a list of interests from motor racing and tramping to boating and scuba diving, the trip through the southern seas appeals to his love of travel, the outdoors and machinery.
A visit to the Antarctic has long been on his “bucket list”.
But all three have been welcomed on board not so much for what they bring with them, but for what they are likely to learn, and for their promises to share their insights with a wide network of schools, colleagues and clubs on their return.
The trio will be confined to the ship for most of the voyage, as they cannot land on many of the islands. Plans to go ashore will depend on the weather. But with comedian Te Radar and entertainment officer Nick Tansley on board and a schedule of seminars, they are expecting an interesting time.
Ad Feedback The voyage sets out from Bluff on February 10, reaches Scott Base two weeks later, and returns to Lyttelton on March 9.
