Sir Douglas Mawson

2012 $1 Stamp & Coin PNC

*Please Note: These coins are pre-owned and the cards may show signs of wear*

A minig engineer by training, Douglas Mawson first journeyed to the Antarctic as a member of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1907-09 British Antarctic Expedition. On this expedition, Mawson, fellow Australian scientist Tannatt William Edgeworth David and English doctor Alistair Mackay were the first men to reach the South Magnetic Pole after sledging a record 2,000 kilometres in 122 days.

The 1911-14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition was planned by Mawson and dedicated to scientific research. Several lenghty journeys were undertaken, including Mawson's epic 1,000 kilometres trek in which his two companions, Xavier Mertz and Belgrave Ninnis, both perished, leaving Mawson to survive a lone trek across the icecap. He was knighted for his achievements during this expedition.

Sir Douglas Mawson led the 1929-31 British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) which laid the basis for Australia's claim to almost 42 per cent of the Antarctic. Regarded as a national hero, Mawson continued to be an inspirational influence in Antarctic exploration and research until his death in 1958.

This PNC is postmarked with the date of the first day of issue, 4 September 2012.