Polar medal awarded to husky dog Morrie

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Type: Medallions
Place: Antarctica; Mawson station, Mac.Roberston Land, Antarctica
Materials: Brass, Metal - non specific
Collection: National Antarctic Heritage collection
Accession number: 2024.0001.0215

Description

A circular brass medal on a silver metal dog clip. The medal is inscribed 'POLAR MEDAL / MORRIE / 1993'. Embossed on the clip is 'RF587' and 'RONSTAN / AUSTRALIA'.

Huskies became a part of Australia's Antarctic expeditions in 1949. The stock came from dogs left in Australia by a French expedition – Phillip Law, the then Director of ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) had the dogs cared for at Melbourne Zoo and arranged to keep the pups born there. Dogs were first used at training camps at Heard Island before establishing a long-term breeding program at Mawson in 1954. Their descendants – over 260 dogs – lived and worked at Mawson until 1992. Dogs were also used also at Davis and Wilkes Research stations. ANARE used sled dogs for exploration over sea ice and inland plateau. They were reliable over sastrugi and crevassed terrain, economical and much loved. In 1991, huskies were removed from the Antarctic to comply with the new environmental policies introduced with the Madrid Protocol. By then they were less useful compared to other advanced transport, but their companionship was irreplaceable to expeditioners. This medal is associated with 'Morrie', born at Mawson Research Station in September 1985 from 'Jenny' and 'Ahab'. This tribute 'polar medal' was made by carpenter Dave Hunt, plumber Pete Wilson and mechanic Nic Vanderberg at Mawson Research Station in 1993 to mark the removal of the remaining husky dogs from Mawson following the 1991 legislation. During a ceremony held on site in December 1993, the group of dogs were awarded 'polar medals' by station leader Alan Grant in recognition of their service, similar to those received by expeditioners. Morrie was the last dog to leave the continent. He lived for six years in suburban Melbourne with expeditioner Rob Nash and his brother Ursa, before his death in February 2000.

About the collection

This collection comprises approximately 600 objects acquired by the Australian Antarctic Division and its predecessors between the 1940s and 2010s. It includes scientific and communication equipment, navigation and cartographic equipment, specimens, commemorative objects, building fabric, field support vehicles, clothing and field work supplies relating to Australia’s long and distinguished tradition of research and exploration within the Antarctic region. These objects are the largest and most diverse assemblage of surviving material culture demonstrating Australia’s relationship with the subantarctic islands and Antarctic continent between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries. The collection offers remarkable natural and historical significance, notably nineteenth century commercial activities and the early twentieth century expeditions of Sir Douglas Mawson and other explorers that expanded scientific knowledge and laid the foundation for Australia’s enduring presence in the region. From the 1940s, the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions undertook major exploratory and scientific work to understand and protect the Antarctic landscape. Australia took a leading role in the International Geophysical Year and the negotiation of a comprehensive environmental protection regime for Antarctica with the establishment of the Antarctic Treaty System from 1959. It records how the Australian Antarctic Division continues to manage Australia’s interests in the Antarctic region, overseeing world-leading research at three permanent continental research stations - Mawson, Casey and Davis - and at subantarctic Macquarie Island.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 5:44:21 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2026-10-14. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.