If we can only live once, let it be a daring adventure.

Behind us lay the great Antarctic Land; snow peaks rising beyond one another until by distance they dwindled away into insignificancy. The silence and immobility of the scene was impressive; not the slightest animation or vitality anywhere. It was like a mental image of our globe in its primitive state – a spectacle of Chaos. Around is ice and snow and the remnants of internal fires; above, a sinister sky; below the sombre sea; and over all, the silence of the sepulchre!

To sail around the world at 16 is remarkable. It’s inspirational for the country and, in a sense, represents the spirit of Australia.

The Australian knocker-image causes us, both as a nation and as individuals, to underestimate our own self-worth. It is almost anti-Australian to perceive yourself as a winner.

I never regretted the voyage. I was so happy out there; I didn’t want to come back. When it ended I felt like I was leaving a really good friend behind.

I never had a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t make it.

The mountain is a mirror, where climbers look to find themselves. They discover their frailty, take heart from their strengths, drink deep of the insights.

Climbing had captured my soul.

As climbers, we need to sacrifice our comfort, our safety, and arguably our sanity, as a tithe to the mountain… We need the mountains but the mountains do not need us.

These days I love to take in the sunset because every time I do so I remember how lucky I am to be alive. That’s a great relationship to have with the setting sun.