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10 Interesting Facts about Sydney Kirkby

Sydney Kirkby is an Australian Surveyor born in 1933. His main works include the exploration of the Antarctica regions. His work as a surveyor began in 1956 when he was appointed for the first time at the Mawson Station.

He served here for three years, between 1956-57, 1960-61, and 1980-81. During these periods, Kirkby served as a leader for the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) 16-month wintering party.

Kirkby has made numerous accomplishments in life and won many awards. There are many interesting facts about Sydney. Below are ten exciting things about Sydney.

1. Many Geographical Features in the Australian Antarctica regions are named after Kirkby.

Blue Mountains, Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia. Photo by Kanzcech-

Many features around the Australian Antarctica region are named after Kirkby. This shows his great exploration efforts in the discovery of geographical features.

Some include Mount Kirkby in the Prince Charles Mountains, Kirkby Shoal in Newcomb Bay, and the Kirkby Glacier on the Eastern boundary of the Australian Antarctica Territory. Naming many such features after a person is a rare thing in life. It is challenging to attain such accomplishments.

2. Sydney Kirkby is one of Australia’s greatest explorers

Sydney made his way into the list of 50 most extraordinary Australia’s Explorers of 2015 produced by the Trailblazers. He has explored and mapped many features in the Australian Antarctica region more than any other explorer in history.

As a leader in the Mawson Station, he got the opportunity to explore numerous features in the Antarctica region. Kirkby explored and established most of the Southerly and Westerly astrofixes of the Australian Territory.

With the help of two others, he was able to explore Prince Charles Mountains and view the largest glacier in the world (Lambert Glacier).

3. Sydney Kirkby swapped his art curriculum to take Surveying in his last Year in School

Kirkby’s passion for surveying as a profession grew from a young age. He got inspiration from Frank Goyder, who was a surveyor during his teenage.

He was told stories of how exciting the survey was. As a young boy, he went camping and fishing with his brother and father.

In his last year in school, he decided to drop art classes and join the survey courses. This was a surprising decision given how long he had pursued art.

4. He hates the notion that disability is an inability

A person with crutches in the Philippines. Photo by Judgefloro-

For Kirkby, disability is not inability. At the age of five in his upbringing, Kirby developed poliomyelitis. This condition severely disabled him for several years. His father, a meteorologist by then, decided to quit his job and help ‘rebuild’ Kirkby.

He introduced him to different forms of exercises that included swimming and boxing. However, during all that time, Syd did not like the idea of being considered or termed a ‘cripple’ by others. He was strong and met most of the challenges he encountered.

5. Sydney Kirkby has won the Polar medal award

UK polar medal. Photo by Mabra99-

Due to his extensive research of the polar regions, Kirkby won the Polar medal awards in 1957. This award is provided to individuals with the most outstanding achievements in polar research fields.

Those who work in such regions with harsh climatic conditions get this award. In his expeditions, Kirkby researched even regions that were difficult to access through the use of dog sleds. This added to his work by a significant margin.

6. He was recognized as a member of the Order of the British Empire

In 1965, Kirkby was recognized by order of the British Empire as a member. This is a great honor in history. According to this British Order, outstanding contributors in the field of science or public service get to be awarded.

It allows individuals to be a knight (males) or a dame (females). This is evident in how Kirkby influenced the world through his discoveries of the polar regions.

7. Sydney Kirkby secured his life career at the age of 21

The great Sandy Desert. Photo by NASA-

Unlike most individuals who pursue their careers in their late years, Kirkby got an opportunity to start his job at only the age of 21. He had known what he wanted and was willing and ready to begin his exploration work.

He did an outstanding job in the Great Sandy Desert Expedition, which landed him a job at the Mawson Station in 1956.

8. He is confident about his life decisions

Kirkby is confident about the decisions he makes in his life. The decision to drop art and join survey classes was a bold one. It does not take an individual just one day to wake up and make such a life decision.

This is a decision he makes in his last year in school. It shows how determined and confident he was about pursuing a different course and dropping what he had been doing. His confidence was driven by the passion he had developed from a young age.

9. Sydney Kirkby possesses a great leader

It takes great leaders to make life-changing decisions. Through his quality leadership skills, Kirkby has achieved what most explorers could not.

He has impressive planning, organizing, and staffing skills. He led his team well in exploring the Antarctica region. Through this effort, he has won outstanding awards like the Polar medal I 1958.

In 1966, he won an MBE award. Furthermore, he has numerous physical features under his name, including a shoal, glazier, headland, and an Antarctic Mountain.

10. Sydney Kirkby is curious and passionate

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Photo by MoD-

Curiosity and passion make great explorers in life. Sydney’s passion survey made him drop arts. The same passion drove him to explore most of the underexplored regions in the polar area.

Due to curiosity, he is willing and ready to take risks involved in making discoveries. The polar region is cold, and most places cannot be accessed due to a lack of infrastructure. There are many uncertainties one might encounter on the way.

However, Kirkby perceives these obstacles differently. Despite his condition due to Poliomyelitis, he still manages to travel to this region on foot and dogsled. These are outstanding traits that make great personalities in life.