Evening of Adventure Highlights: Matt Carter & Kate Leeming 26 July 2018
By Jayne Jenkins
I felt like an Explorer facing the invigorating Melbourne weather but it was well worth leaving the comfort of a balmy Sydney for our third ANZEC, Evening of Adventure in the city.
The Sun Theatre, our venue in Melbourne is so fitting for the evening. ANZEC Fellow and adventurer Michael Smith has restored the old theatre to its former glory. Michael discovered the delights and perils of true adventure in a solo circumnavigation in his tiny amphibious flying boat, Southern Sun.
The two presenters for the evening certainly kept us entertained on two entirely different styles of exploration.
The first presenter, Matt Carter was very special to me as Matt was the 2009 Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, Australasian Rolex scholar. Matt is now doing his PhD in La Trobe University in Melbourne and one of the most recognized marine archeologists in the Southern hemisphere.
Matt and other members of the Australian and New Zealand Chapter of the Explorers Club have been diving on the remains of the two-man mini submarine M-24, located off the northern beaches of Sydney. After its raid on Sydney Harbour in 1942 it vanished and was not discovered again until 2006. A 500-metre radius no-entry zone was imposed for protection, as it was a Japanese war grave. The significance of the site needed special permits to dive from the NSW Heritage Division, Office of Environment and Heritage but the team was not only granted the permit but also an expedition flag from the Explorers Club.
We were taken underwater to explore the mini-sub laying its watery grave with wonderful video footage. These days with cutting-edge diving technology and high-resolution cameras that recorded the submarine we were able to preview a 3D model in unprecedented detail.
I am not going to tell you much more as Matt is also presenting at the next Sydney ANZEC Evening of Adventure and I strongly suggest that you attend this night.
After some wonderful pizzas and beverages we entertained by one of the most adventurous ladies I have had the pleasure of meeting, Dr. Kate Leeming.
One of Kate’s opening lines was “I loved planning and bringing a line on a map to life” – I was hooked and wanted to hear more.
Click here to view Kate’s presentation on video
My legs felt week after listening to Kate and the miles that she has cycled over the years. Kate not only cycles miles but also it is all for a great cause. Her adventures are named” Breaking the Cycle” and serve to build commitment to contribute towards ending extreme poverty and education. The outreach initiatives support sustainable development goals: – No poverty, Quality Education and gender Equality.
Kate is a very passionate speaker and showed videos and images of her past cycles taking her through areas that we would not dream of going. Having armed guard’s escort on some of her routes, climbing over sand dunes and all sorts of weather and conditions. Some of Kate’s cycles have been a ten-month, 22,040km journey across Africa from Point des Almadies, Senegal to Cape Hafun, Puntland, Somalia in a continuous line. The main purpose of the project was to explore the causes and effects of extreme poverty. Kate wants to emphasise the positives, how to offer a ‘leg up’ rather than a ‘hand out’.
Previous expeditions include the 25,000km Great Australian Cycle Expedition (GRACE) and the 13,400km Trans-Siberian Cycle Expedition.
Kate is currently in training to cycle the Antarctica and has been testing different types of wheels and clothing to make this trip as “comfortable” as possible. Kate has two books – both a fantastic read which can purchased online.
Make sure you join us for our next Evening of Adventure in Sydney on 23rd August.
