June 24

Born in 1777 in Scotland, Ross entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman at a young age. In 1818, he led his first Arctic voyage, charting previously unexplored regions. His 1829 expedition to the Boothia Peninsula resulted in the discovery of the Ross Strait. Although met with controversy, his work expanded European knowledge of the Arctic. He retired in 1846 and died in 1856, remembered for his pioneering spirit and resilience.

Born in 1797 in Poland, Strzelecki studied geology and mineralogy in Europe before traveling abroad. From 1839 to 1843, he conducted extensive surveys in Australia, exploring uncharted regions of New South Wales and Tasmania. He became the first to summit and name Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. His reports on geological formations and resources were highly regarded by scientific societies. Knighted by Britain, he later advised on mines and trade before passing away in 1873.

George Goyder served as Surveyor-General of South Australia in the late 19th century. He led extensive land surveys and mapped vast regions for potential settlement. His most famous contribution, Goyder's Line, marked the boundary for reliable cropping rainfall. This line helped settlers avoid failed farms in arid zones, shaping the state's development. Goyder also improved surveying techniques and trained future colonial surveyors. His work balanced scientific precision with practical insights into the Australian landscape.

Silvio Mondinelli is an acclaimed Italian mountaineer. He is one of the few climbers to have summited all 14 of the world's eight-thousand-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. He completed this achievement in 2007, demonstrating exceptional endurance and high-altitude skill. Mondinelli has led numerous expeditions in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges. He supports charitable initiatives for mountain communities, focusing on education and sustainable development.