Antarctica - International Polar Year March 2007 to March 2008

International Polar Year Panorama

Antarctica has a special mystique as the last eco-frontier for explorers, scientists, romantics and writers. Few get the chance to see the magnificent icebergs and wildlife up close, but via books, animation, scripts and photographs, the privileged 'frozen chosen' who have been there to work, can share their icy experiences. 2007 is the International Polar Year which means the Antarctic is a high priority, ecologically and for stories and projects. As well as for those with an overdose of 'adventure genes'.

In 2001 as the Australian Antarctic Division writer, Hazel Edwards was part of a resupply expedition to Casey Station, and researched her subsequent Antarctic writing. Since she writes forchildren and adults, her cross-media Antarctic stories have unique perspectives ranging from the e-mail links to keep expeditioner families in touch during remote winters, to vehicles, icebergs and wildlife. Her stories are animated, illustrated, photographed, in Braille and even Auslan signed DVDs for hearing impaired.

The hi-tech aspect of today's Antarctica is reflected in her electronic diary 'Antarctic Writer on Ice' as well as in the more conventional print format. Blokes like to read the novel 'Antarctica's Frozen Chosen' because it takes them into the mateship and eco-ethical challenges of an expedition polar voyage. Fact and fiction are included for varied age groups and many educators are setting Hazel's Antarctic bibliography as the basis of their school projects because of the curriculum links. The literature of Antarctica is very new and an exciting page to open.

You can alson read Hazel's Antarctic Journey journal. Hazel says "An iceberg symbolises writing, where 9/10ths is under the surface and only 1/10th shows in the final book."