John Béchervaise
Encyclopedia
John Mayston Béchervaise OAM
, MBE
(11 May 1910 – 13 July 1998) was an Australian writer, photographer, artist, historian and explorer. He is especially notable for his work and achievements in Antarctica. Béchervaise was married to Lorna Fearn Wannan; the couple had one son and three daughters. His family had come from Jersey in the 19th century where there is still a Bechervaise Lane.
Béchervaise was educated in Melbourne. He joined Geelong College in 1935 in order to establish a program of outdoor activities for the boys. During the years of the Second World War he studied art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art
in London, but returned to Geelong College after the war.
In January 1949 he led a mountaineering
expedition of the Geelong College Exploration Society to climb the hitherto unclimbed 1224 m Federation Peak
in Tasmania. He also led the first party to land on Tasmania's most northerly point, rugged Rodondo Island
in Bass Strait
, 10 km off the coast of Victoria.
As well as contributing to the development of outdoor education in Victoria, he was for many years the assistant editor of the Australian magazine Walkabout
.
(ANARE). He served as field leader on Heard Island
in 1953, leading an unsuccessful expedition to climb the 2745 m Mawson Peak
of the Big Ben
massif, the highest peak on Australian territory.
He also served as station leader at Mawson Station
, Antarctica in 1955 and 1959. From there he led field trips of up to 600 km inland, exploring MacRobertson Land and the Prince Charles Mountains
region. He was awarded the Polar Medal
for this exploration work.
Béchervaise visited American Antarctic bases in 1966 as an Australian observer with Operation Deep Freeze
.
Béchervaise Island
(or 'Bech' to locals), was named on 1 January 2000 in his honour. It is the largest, central island of the Flat Islands, about 2 km WNW of Mawson Station
.
Béchervaise was a highly respected teacher at Geelong Grammar School
during the 1960s and early 1970s. He gave many lectures detailing adventures in Antarctica as well as similar escapades in Europe, an altogether inspirational teacher for those lucky enough to be his students. For three weeks in Lent 1963 when he went to the Antarctic islands on the Magga Dan, his lessons were taken by a British student Peter Bottomley, now Sir Peter Bottomley MP.
(His great-great-grandfather who came from Jersey and had the same name received the 1818–1855 British Arctic medal and published an anonymous memoir Thirty-Nine Years of a Seafaring life by An old Quartermaster in 1839. (Copies are in the British Library and Caird Library in Greenwich). Some sources misspell his name Berchervaise).
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(11 May 1910 – 13 July 1998) was an Australian writer, photographer, artist, historian and explorer. He is especially notable for his work and achievements in Antarctica. Béchervaise was married to Lorna Fearn Wannan; the couple had one son and three daughters. His family had come from Jersey in the 19th century where there is still a Bechervaise Lane.
Béchervaise was educated in Melbourne. He joined Geelong College in 1935 in order to establish a program of outdoor activities for the boys. During the years of the Second World War he studied art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art
Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld Institute of Art is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art. The Courtauld is one of the premier centres for the teaching of art history in the world; it was the only History of Art department in the UK to be awarded a top...
in London, but returned to Geelong College after the war.
In January 1949 he led a mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
expedition of the Geelong College Exploration Society to climb the hitherto unclimbed 1224 m Federation Peak
Federation Peak
Federation Peak is a prominent mountain located in the Southwest National Park of Tasmania, Australia. The peak, 90 km from Hobart, was named after the Federation of Australia and is often described as one of the hardest Bushwalking challenges in Australia.-History:The first westerner to...
in Tasmania. He also led the first party to land on Tasmania's most northerly point, rugged Rodondo Island
Rodondo Island
Rodondo Island is a visually striking granite island, ringed by steep cliffs up to 200 m high, with an area of 106 ha and a high point of 350 m, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Rodondo Group, lying in northern Bass Strait only 10 km south of Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, and...
in Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
, 10 km off the coast of Victoria.
As well as contributing to the development of outdoor education in Victoria, he was for many years the assistant editor of the Australian magazine Walkabout
Walkabout magazine
Walkabout was an Australian illustrated magazine published from 1934 to 1974 combining cultural, geographic, and scientific content with travel literature. Initially a travel magazine, in its forty-year run it featured a popular mix of articles by travellers, officials, residents, journalists, and...
.
Antarctic
In the 1950s Béchervaise joined the Australian National Antarctic Research ExpeditionsAustralian National Antarctic Research Expeditions
The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions is the historical name for the Australian Antarctic Program administered for Australia by the Australian Antarctic Division .-The ANARE Name:...
(ANARE). He served as field leader on Heard Island
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
The Heard Island and McDonald Islands are an Australian external territory and volcanic group of barren Antarctic islands, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. The group's overall size is in area and it has of coastline...
in 1953, leading an unsuccessful expedition to climb the 2745 m Mawson Peak
Mawson Peak
Mawson Peak is a mountain on Heard Island, an external Australian territory in the Southern Ocean. With its summit at , it is the second highest peak in any state or territory of Australia, surpassed only by the Mount McClintock in the Britannia Range in Australian Antarctic Territory...
of the Big Ben
Big Ben (Heard Island)
Big Ben is a volcanic massif that dominates the geography of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean. It is a composite cone with a diameter of approximately 25 kilometres. Its highest peak is Mawson Peak, which is 2,745 m above sea level. Much of it is covered by ice, including 14...
massif, the highest peak on Australian territory.
He also served as station leader at Mawson Station
Mawson Station
Mawson Station is one of three permanent Australian bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory of East Antarctica. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the base is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division...
, Antarctica in 1955 and 1959. From there he led field trips of up to 600 km inland, exploring MacRobertson Land and the Prince Charles Mountains
Prince Charles Mountains
Prince Charles Mountains is a major group of mountains in Mac. Robertson Land in Antarctica, including the Athos Range, the Porthos Range, and the Aramis Range. The highest peak is Mount Menzies . Other prominent peaks are Mount Izabelle and Mount Stinear...
region. He was awarded the Polar Medal
Polar Medal
The Polar Medal is a medal awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904.-History:...
for this exploration work.
Béchervaise visited American Antarctic bases in 1966 as an Australian observer with Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze is the codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on...
.
Béchervaise Island
Béchervaise Island
Béchervaise Island is the largest of the Flat Islands in Holme Bay, Mac. Robertson Land. It is one of several plotted as a part of "Flatøy" by Norwegian cartographers from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936–37, but was found to be a separate island by the Australian National...
(or 'Bech' to locals), was named on 1 January 2000 in his honour. It is the largest, central island of the Flat Islands, about 2 km WNW of Mawson Station
Mawson Station
Mawson Station is one of three permanent Australian bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory of East Antarctica. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the base is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division...
.
Béchervaise was a highly respected teacher at Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
during the 1960s and early 1970s. He gave many lectures detailing adventures in Antarctica as well as similar escapades in Europe, an altogether inspirational teacher for those lucky enough to be his students. For three weeks in Lent 1963 when he went to the Antarctic islands on the Magga Dan, his lessons were taken by a British student Peter Bottomley, now Sir Peter Bottomley MP.
(His great-great-grandfather who came from Jersey and had the same name received the 1818–1855 British Arctic medal and published an anonymous memoir Thirty-Nine Years of a Seafaring life by An old Quartermaster in 1839. (Copies are in the British Library and Caird Library in Greenwich). Some sources misspell his name Berchervaise).