Climbed for Science: 1950

Amongst the research to be commemorated by the "Climb for Science" is the Mt Olga-Ayers Rock research expedition of 1950.

Trevor Bloom at the summit cairn with altimeters August 1950.

Expedition members including: Ewen, Kemsley, Moore, Broom, Greenhill, Lofthouse, Clarebrough.

From the road log...

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15th.
AT AYERS ROCK.
Up late (8.00 a.m.) for breakfast. DU operated wonderfully on the 8 a.m. session and all criticisms of aerials & knobs ceased.
Several telegrams were sent after calling on John Nick, the only one of the party who knew the phonetic alphabet. Party then sets off round S. side to spur on W. end. Climb of rock started at 1050 & cairn was reached 1½ hours later after refreshments en route. Some time was then spent reading the names etc. in the jar. The following signatures were then added: D.S. Kemsley, John Nicholas, Bob smith, Leo Clarebrough, Alec Ewen, Alan Moore, Brent Greenhill, Alan Lofthouse, Trevor Broom. The party then split up, traversing the ridges & investigating trees, rock pools etc. One rock wallaby seen. Descent begun at 1430 and everyone was more confident after being frisky on the ridges. The party then relaxed at the foot and slowly returned to camp where a good meal was slowly prepared. Jim Ingram walked round the Rock during the day. Alan Marshall, Jack Ross & Dereck Falconer rested all day, and went for a drive in the late afternoon – starting a memorable (according to them) bushfire

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