Recent Events 2006

Antarctic Season Opening 2006/07 Civic Reception

September 30, 2006

Deputy Chief of Mission, David Keegan (photographer, Neil Macbeth). Larger Photos

The inaugural Christchurch Antarctic Festival was held in Christchurch from Friday 29 September to 1 October, 2006.  The festival commenced with a fun family day held in Cathedral Square which attracted some 2,000 people.  The festival, now held annually in late September encompasses public presentations, open days, displays and exhibitions and is presented to the public of Christchurch by Christchurch City Council and the members of Antarctic Link Canterbury.  Antarctic Link Canterbury represents many organisations in the region associated with Antarctic science, history, exploration and logistics.  The festival concluded with the annual Antarctic Season Opening cocktail reception co-hosted by Christchurch City Council and Antarctica New Zealand.  This years reception was held at Air Force Museum in Christchurch, where replica aircraft from the 1955/1958 New Zealand Trans-Antarctic exhibition were on display.

Deputy Chief of Mission David Keegan represented the American Embassy at the inaugural ceremonies, which are especially significant this year as they begin the 50th anniversary celebrations of international exploration of Antarctica.  The inaugural events this year included a Sunday morning service at Christchurch Cathedral at which a chalice (among the oldest human relics from Antarctic exploration) was blessed before being taking to the chapel in Antarctica for the season.  The blessing of the chalice is an important part of the traditional season opening.  DCM Keegan read one of the biblical passages on Sunday morning, October 1.

To view more photos of the reception... (more)

To read Deputy Chief of Mission, David Keegan's speech... (more )

Arthur J. Brown, National Science Foundation representative, Christchurch, remarks on the Opening of the 2006-2007 Antarctic Season... (more)

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