Olive and Robin Day’s Story – Gifts in Will Programme
Exciting memories of visiting Scott’s and Shackleton’s historic huts during a 2012 expedition to the Ross Sea, and witnessing the positive impact of the Trust’s conservation programme, have inspired Olive and Robin Day to join the Trust’s Gifts in Wills Programme.
Robin says when they went ashore at Scott’s Hut at Cape Evans during the expedition, the hut was ice bound, and they couldn’t get in through the front door. “We had to manoeuvre around to the back of the small peninsula and clamour up over the hill to go in the back way which was not easy.”
Olive remembers having to clean their boots on the way in and the way out of the hut and seeing all kinds of artefacts including Marmite and cheese. “The
penguin that was sitting on the table at Scott’s Hut still smelled,” says Robin.
The couple visited Shackleton’s hut later that day and feel privileged to have ventured where only a small number of people have been. They are happy to see the changes that have taken place thanks to the Trust’s conservation work at the historic huts. “We’ve been there where all the artefacts are, where everything has been restored. It was a mess. We appreciate that the Trust is maintaining it now. We want that to continue.”
Olive has always been interested in leaving a gift in her Will to a charity and after some discussion, Robin decided he wanted to do the same. They don’t have children, so finding a cause they both care about was really important. After coming back from Antarctica, Olive knew she wanted to support the historic huts for years to come. “If you don’t have anywhere specific to leave your inheritance, you should consider the Antarctic Heritage Trust and the work that they do,” she says.
By leaving gifts in their Wills, Olive and Robin will help to ensure the stories of Antarctica’s inspiring explorers are shared and the historic huts in Antarctica are preserved for generations to come. They feel confident that leaving a gift to the Antarctic Heritage Trust is the right choice for them. “It’s the personal touch with the Trust, who met with us and invited us to morning tea. We feel very welcome with the Trust, and want to contribute what we can to further the Trust’s endeavours, upkeep the huts, and educate younger people in the world, who 50 years down the track, might want to do the same thing,” shared Robin.
Thank you to Olive and Robin by supporting the Trust for generations to come by leaving gifts to the Trust in your wills.
