The writing took a couple of years as well. I started this project in January 2015, so I guess from there to print, itвЂ™s been over 4.5 years! Most of that time was researching the shipвЂ™s history and interviewing people, working around having two toddlers in tow. How long did it take you to write this amazing story? And as well as telling the AuroraвЂ™s story, I hope this book gives people a glimpse of what life is like on board an Antarctic icebreaker. The Aurora and her crewвЂ™s ability to repeatedly triumph over adversity, to achieve success despite the odds, is the bookвЂ™s central theme. Her construction at Carrington Slipways was plagued with problems and during her lifetime she has endured two major engine room fires, besetments (being stuck) in ice and a horrifying grounding at Mawson station. But the Aurora and her crew have also overcome severe challenges and narrowly averted disaster. Since she began breaking through the Antarctic ice in 1990 the Aurora has completed over 150 voyages, carried 10,000+ people to/ from the Antarctic and subantarctic, enabled countless scientific achievements and rescued several stricken ships. вЂThrough Ice and FireвЂ™ is the story of AustraliaвЂ™s icebreaker the Aurora Australis. Without giving too much away, are you able to provide a quick overview about the book? So, we have quite a bit of family history with the Aurora! This personal history, coupled with her impending retirement from the Australian Antarctic Program, prompted me to write my book, as a tribute to the ship that has meant so much to so many people, and more personally from me as a thank you for changing my life in the best way possible. My husband was a cadet and then Officer on board for a number of years, working for P&O Polar.

His grandfather, father and uncle managed her construction and had many fascinating stories to tell. Unbeknownst to me at the time, his family, the LaverickвЂ™s, owned and operated the shipyard (Carrington Slipways here in Newcastle) where the Aurora Australis was built. During my time at the AAD I sailed to Antarctica on the Aurora Australis four times- and it was on board this ship where I first met my husband, Andrew. I am actually a marine scientist and I worked at the Australian Antarctic Division for twelve years. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to write this book Hunter Valley local Sarah Laverick chats with us about the exciting release of her book вЂThrough Ice & FireвЂ™

Slipways aurora