Posted 23 April 2012.
The clipping on the left is from the 11 April 2012 edition of the Northern Argus, a regional newspaper from the mid-north of South Australia.

I has been suggested, in a private communication to FoM's Ian Flannery, that a donation to Cecil Madigan from the Smythe family to assist in his participation in Mawson's AAE would be the reason that Madigan saw fit to present the Smythes with the engraved porphyry stone.

Story added 5 December 2011.
On 2 December - as beautiful a day as one could wish - a flotilla of assorted ships and boats sailed the Derwent to celebrate the centenary of departure of the AAE.

On this day, 100 years ago, at 4 pm on a similarly sunny afternoon (albeit a Saturday), the AAE, led by Douglas Mawson, set sail from Queen's Pier, Hobart aboard the 'Aurora'. Today's flotilla of nearly 200 participating vessels saluted the Tasmanian Governor, Peter Underwood, aboard the 'Egeria' in a sail-past.

The 'Aurora Australis' saluting the Tasmanian Governor, Peter Underwood, aboard the 'Egeria'.
Fittingly the flotilla was led by Australia's polar research vessel, the 'Aurora Australis', which proceeded down the Derwent bound for Antarctica.

A large gathering of descendants of the AAE expeditioners aboard the MV 'Cartela'.
Prominent near the head of the fleet was the historic MV 'Cartela' with a large gathering of descendants of the AAE expeditioners.

AAD's A319 Airbus flies over, en-route to Antartica.
To add to the spectacle the modern era was further represented by a fly-over of the AAD's A319 Airbus, also en-route to Antartica.

Story added 19 January 2010.
Mawson took (the remains) of a Vickers Type D monoplane to Antarctica for use during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) of 1911 - 1913. Subsequently "lost", it has recently been re-discovered by members of a Mawson’s Hut Foundation expedition to the Cape Denison site.

The story behind the airframe being there is that Mawson had been considering an aeroplane for reconnaissance ahead of sledging parties, or for use as an air tractor if it wasn’t flown. While in London assembling equipment for his forthcoming expedition, Mawson, with the help of Mrs Kathleen Scott (wife of Captain Robert Scott), bought a Vickers D-type two-seater monoplane. This was subsequently shipped to Adelaide in the care of Lieutenant Watkins. Watkins made several much-publicised flights before crashing the aircraft at Cheltenham Racecourse (Adelaide) on 5 October 1911.

The red "X" marks the spot where the airframe rests.
Supply and permission to use photo - Sally Douglas.
Although no longer useful as a flying machine, the Vickers fuselage and the engine were shipped to Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, with the AAE. Flight Lieutenant Eric Douglas sitting in the Vickers airframe, Cape denison, January 1931.
Supply and permission to use photo - Sally Douglas.
It was used as a "tractor" but with limited success due to the extremely difficult terrain and climate. The fuselage was still visible and in good condition when Mawson briefly re-visited Cape Denison in January 1931 during the second BANZARE voyage. The figure seen sitting happily in the airframe, is Flight Lieutenant Eric Douglas, one of two RAAF pilots who had accompanied Mawson South on the BANZARE.