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Blog of Jack and Jude
explorers, authors, photographers & videographers
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ALL CLEAR
After seven brutal weeks of radiotherapy to my neck, along with weekly doses of chemotherapy, followed by ten weeks of recovery wondering if my body had rid itself of the fast growing cancerous cells… This week’s PET scan has come back ALL CLEAR. Hooray!
PET scan at start of treatment ~
Yellow is the cancer mass, blue is invaded area, both get radiotherapy
To celebrate getting our lives back to normal,
This Sunday, the 8th of February, we fly south to Tasmania and life afloat aboard our veteran sailing yacht Banyandah.
View from Betsy Bay, Macquarie Harbour
Gordon River Gorge with Ronnie Morrison
While shooting the Garry Kerr film “Two men in a Punt” we travelled upstream on the Gordon River in SW Tasmania to the Denison River. Travelling in 5 m tinnies with 60 hp outboards, the lead piloted by Ronnie Morrison carrying the sound lady and Jack and Jude, followed by his son, Deek taking the cameraman and producer. This journey traversed the narrow Gordon River Gorge where we encountered enormous overfalls. Exciting and dangerous as well, but Ronnie Morrison’s knowledge and skills saw us safely through and return.
Filming on the Gordon River with Ronnie Morrison and Franz Docherty.
Sadly, a few weeks ago, our good mate and mentor, Ronnie Morrison passed away peacefully in his sleep. A lover of Nature and his fellow travellers, Ronnie will be greatly missed. His work improving the community will be remembered with sincere appreciation. Cheerio Ronnie, we hope your’re smiling down upon us from a front row spot in heaven.
OUR KIDS growing up on a Homemade Boat Sailing Around the World.
Our Amateur Radio DX Expeditions are now online
Stories and images of our 5 expeditions around the world aboard the SY BANYANDAH
1/ 1978 Mellish Reef – Coral Sea VK9ZR
2/ 1979 Spartly Islands – South China Sea 1S1DX
3/ 1981 Kingman Reef – Pacific Ocean AD0S/KH5K
4/ 1981 Tokelau Reef – South Pacific ZM7ZR
5/ 1982 Mellish Reef – Coral Sea VK9ZR
Kingman Reef mid-Pacific on Equator
1982 Mellish Reef – Coral Sea
It’s so lovely to read your latest newsletter. I’m really enjoying listening to the podcasts that you included.
I’ve been away from Oz for the last seven months, and didn’t realize you are unwell Jack. I’m so sorry to hear that. I do hope your treatment is progressing and send you all my love. Carol
Thank you Jack for your weekly updates throughout your treatment, I hope you are experience some recovery after your onerous treatment, and that you are now free of the stomach feeding tube – it looks foreign and uncomfortable.
You both have not had the best of times in 2025, and I hope those difficulties are behind you such that you can pick up the life you are best at, hopefully with the same motivation and enthusiasm if not the same level of energy.
Congratuations, Jack, you have weathered the worst of the storm and hopefully there are some calmer seas ahead.
Much love, Marg xxx
I think the experience of yachting has been of benefit. You are extremely good at managing the aftermath..and yes it will eventually improve. Says I.. I do like your documentary tho..it certainly gives an idea of the process. I keep fairly well and still doing the Op Shop. 90 now, I thought I might be too old but they say no. So Ill keep going for now. Love Judy
The apples don’t fall far from the tree. As the son of two great sailors he has to be good
Mel
Hi Jack and Jude
Glad to see your still as active as always. I very much enjoyed your latest blog ,Thank you. We are currently at Emu point slip getting some work done prior to heading east.
Kind Regards
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
As always, another crackerjack(and Jude) story.
Clever editor, remembering the essential part of the team. Nothng goes out without her contribution…
How I love reading your stories! It reminds me of so much!
How wonderful Carol, to relive past good times, especially in such trying times.J&J
A very enjoyable read .We appreciate and are respectful of southern ocean weather.We are heading Nth from Cairns tomorrow heading to Darwin.
As always Warm wishes .
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
Hi Brian and Sandra. Could use some of that tropical warmth. Glad you like our Closing the Ring, and indeed we also repect the seasround here. Are you going on to the Kimberley from Darwin? If you are there are some “mudmaps” available on our site. And a guide into Adele Reef. Top spot. No crocodiles. Cheers, J&J
Hi Jack and Jude
We are in Townsville at the moment and memories of temperate Tassy are a bit appealing.Always good to hear of your trips .
Best wishes
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
Hi Jack and Jude,
I am from Perth and am planning on sailing my boat from Mexico through the South Pacific and I plan to get to Bundaberg by November. From there I am not sure whether I should head south to Tasmania and then cross the Bass straight around February to get back to Perth or wait for cyclone season to pass and sail around the top end and down the West Coast. Can you offer any advice? Thanks.
G’day Andrew,
Crossing Bass Strait and the Australian Bight in February is fine, and preferable to beating down the WA coast to reach Perth around the Top End.In Summer, easterlies prevail close to the southern coast, and the Southern Ocean swell is at its mildest. Hope that helps.
Our book Where Wild Winds Blow records our east to west and back to the east under Australia and is filled with weather information, places of interest and historical notes. Available both in print and digital.
Jack
Thanks Jack. I’ve got it on the kindle and will read it in a day or twos time when I cross from the La Paz to the Puerto Vallarta. Hope to see you guys around when I make it. CT 41 – Wastrel
Another southern adventure for you two,well done.
Cheers
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
Hello and thank you. It was indeed an adventure. We just loved to see the track we undercovered being experienced by other folk. J&J