Summers, Robert Olverston OW1935

Robert (Bob) Olverston Summers (1935) was a medical officer with the Australian Antarctic Research Expedition in the 1950s. He was the medical officer on the first Australian over-winter party at Mawson Station in 1954. He wrote home to friends about hunting for seals and skua (birds) for the dogs and themselves to eat – “all surprisingly, very nice to eat”. (Chronicle May 1954). He wrote about ploughing through the ice floes on the ship, scattering seals and penguins, and the terrible weather they encountered.

He was awarded the Polar Medal for his work.