10 Australian Geographic
sponsored by the AG Society. Like all
potentially dangerous adventures,
planning was imperative “although it’s
often hard to plan ahead with cave
exploration as it’s literally into the
unknown,” says expedition member
Stephen Fordyce. “But thanks to
painstakingly collected survey data,
our successful connection-by-diving
attempt of Niggly Cave and Growling
Swallet in Tasmania gave a rare
opportunity to pre-empt the outcome,
giving us the chance to document all
the expedition’s details.”
From far-flung environments where
few or no people have been to distant
shores that hum with human culture,
we take you to the Torres Strait,
where one of the world’s most remote
communities has survived for millennia
(see page 106). Every second year the
stunning art and dance of this commu-
nity is on show to the world at the
Winds of Zenadth festival. Immerse
yourself in this event through the
photos and words of Australia’s most
northern-based journalist Aaron Smith.
After years as a 1990s punk rocker
in Melbourne and freelance travel
writer, Aaron finally settled in Torres
Strait with his family seven years ago.
He has since become not just accepted
by the locals but embraced by them.
“You can’t come up here, where English
is the second or third language and
cultural protocol is complex and
different from anywhere else and
behave like a big-city journalist,” Aaron
says. “To come here as an outsider and
be accepted enough to be given
privileged insight to the local commu-
nity takes time and mutual respect.”
The remote experience isn’t always
about geographic location. AG writer
Elizabeth Ginis felt completely removed
from the frenzy of AG’s inner-city office
during her story on the Gondwana
Rainforests of Australia (above).
“Stretching just north of Newcastle to
south-east Queensland, these forests
are ridiculously accessible,” Liz says.
“You don’t need to go to the ends of the
Earth to experience plants whose
ancestors pre-date the ice and dinosaur
ages. And once you’re immersed in them
you really do feel a million miles from
anywhere. It’s both breathtaking and
life-giving.”Features editors: Joanna Hartmann, Hannah James, John Pickrell, Geordie Torr
Regular columnists: Bruce Elder, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM, John Pickrell, Fred Watson AM,
Kel Richards, Tim the Yowie Man, Peter Rowland
More contributors: Noma Bar, Tim Bull, Nick Burningham, Barry Croucher, Adriaan De Jong,
Stephen Fordyce, Justin Gilligan, Andrew Gregory, Drew Hopper, Hannah James, Tom Noske,
Glenn Singleman, Aaron Smith, Ruchira Somaweera, Victor Vescovo, Thomas WieleckiNotes from the f ield
PHOTO CREDIT: DREW HOPPERAUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC is printed in
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