Agnes Milowka

Agnes Milowka

Portrait at Melbourne Port Phillip Bay, 2010
Born Agnieszka Milówka
23 December 1981(1981-12-23)
Częstochowa, Poland.
Died 27 February 2011(2011-02-27) (aged 29)
Tank Cave near Mount Gambier, South Australia.
Cause of death Drowning
Citizenship Australian, Polish
Education Caulfield Grammar School
Alma mater Victoria University, Flinders University, University of Melbourne.
Occupation Technical diver, underwater photographer, author, cave explorer, marketing manager
Years active 2002-2011
Signature
Website
www.agnesmilowka.com

Agnes Milowka was an Australian technical diver, underwater photographer, author, and cave explorer.[1][2][3] She gained the international recognition for extending the cave systems across Australia and Florida, and as a public speaker and the author on subject of diving and maritime archaeology.[4]

Contents

Background

Agnes Milowka attended Caulfield Grammar School (1994–99), she was a house captain, champion school rower and was a finalist in the statewide VCE achiever award.[5]

She received her graduate degrees in Maritime Archaeology from Flinders University (2007), Bachelor of Business, Marketing and Event Management from Victoria University (2008), Bachelor of Arts, History and Australian Studies from University of Melbourne (2005), where she was a president of the Melbourne University Underwater Club (2003–2005).[6]

She participated as the researcher and diver in a series of qualitative underwater archeology, fieldwork and research projects.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

In the effort coordinated by Victorian Speleological Association in 2009, she and James Arundale extended Elk River streamway cave system by 5000 ft (1.4 km), which has potential to become the longest continuous stream passage in Victoria, Australia. [13]

In a 2009 expedition near Cocklebiddy, she reached the mid point of Craig Challen’s 2008 line giving her the record for the longest cave dive in Australia for a female.[14]

She worked as an underwater grip for a film Discovery Channel Japan "Water's Journey" TV Asahi & Karst Productions in 2008.

She was part of the National Geographic Nova TV Special expedition to Blue Holes of the Bahamas, December 2008, as an underwater grip,[15] followed by the expedition to look for similar sinkholes in Queensland, Australia in October 2009.[16]

Milowka was a photographic assistant in National Geographic Magazine expedition to Bahamas Caves, November-December 2009, resulting in few of her photos being published by the National Geographic website.[17][18]

In 2010, when living in Florida, she laid over 4 km of line across a number of cave systems, the most significant of which was Mission Spring. In August 2010, together with James Toland, they made the connection between Peacock Springs and Baptizing Spring, Florida adding over 10,000 ft (3 km) of passage.

She was the presenter and editor for TV series "Agnes Milowka Project" (2010) featuring underwater cave footage shot by Wes Skiles, Karst Productions.

Agnes Milowka was a speaker at a number of diving related conferences (OZTek 2009, EuroTek 2010).

She acted as a stunt double for two female characters on James Cameron's feature film Sanctum 2011 and worked during the production as cave dive instructor to the actors.

In 2011 she was nominated as Dive Rite Ambassador.

One of her last jobs was as a diving supervisor at BIRTH, a short film for TRIMÄPEE fashion label. The movie has been dedicated in her name.

On February 2011, she ran out of air and died after parting company to explore a tight restriction, which necessitated going solo,[19] in the Tank Cave near Mount Gambier on the South Australian coast.[20]

In recognition of Milowka's achievements and legacy, The Agnes Milowka Memorial Environmental Science Award has been established by Mummu Media for underprivileged schools in the area of science, marine studies or exploration.

In May 2011 Agnes Milowka received the Exploration Award, in recognition of the outstanding and dedicated service to the National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section, USA.[21]

Author

Milowka authored articles on the subject of underwater exploration and her experiences and work as a diver. These include

See also

References

  1. ^ Jill Heinerth (2010). Cave diving in the modern world. Chapter 1, Cave diving in the modern world: Heinerth Productions Incorporated. ISBN 0979878942. http://www.agnesmilowka.com/ag_media/docs/pdf/press/jillheinerth_cavedivingessentials_book.pdf. 
  2. ^ CEGSA (2010). CEGSA Annual Report/2006. http://www.cegsa.org.au/NEWS/AR10.pdf. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  3. ^ Leigh Bishop (February–March 2010). "Beyond Toad Hall: Cave Diving Beneath Australia's Nullabor Desert". Diver Magazine, Vol 35 Number 7. http://www.agnesmilowka.com/ag_media/docs/pdf/press/divermag_cockle_march2010_bishop.pdf. Retrieved 18 March 2011. 
  4. ^ Cath Bates (Oct-Nov 2010). "Talking Tech: Watching the girls dive by". Egypt: Blue Magazine, Issue 7. http://www.agnesmilowka.com/ag_media/docs/pdf/press/blue_magazine_2010_i07_ag.pdf. Retrieved 12 September 2011. 
  5. ^ Megan Levy (1 Mar 2011). "Police struggle to reach diver lost in cave maze". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/national/police-struggle-to-reach-diver-lost-in-cave-maze-20110301-1bcta.html. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 
  6. ^ MUUC (2003). Annual General Meeting Minutes - 27 March 2003. http://www.muuc.org.au/documents/2003-Mar-27.AGM_Minutes.kb.pdf. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  7. ^ Brian Williams, Karson Winslow, Agnes Milowka, Jason Raupp (2006). Port Albert Archaeological Project: Report of Investigations. Manuscripts on file at Maritime Archaeology Unit, Heritage Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.. 
  8. ^ Jason Thomas Raupp, Karson Winslow, Agnes Milowka, Brian Williams (2007). A View from Above: Archaeological Site Inspections in East Gippsland, Victoria. pp. 46-60, 2006 Program in Maritime Archaeology.: Shannon Research Press. ISBN 9781920736262. hdl:2328/14589. 
  9. ^ AIMA (March 2007). "Wilsons Promontory Fieldwork February/March 2007". Newsletter of the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA). ISSN 0814-1479. http://www.aima.iinet.net.au/publications/newsletters/docs/NLv26n1y07.pdf. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  10. ^ FUMAN (2007). "Internship with Heritage Victoria’s Maritime Heritage Unit". Flinders University Maritime Archaeology Newsletter. http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/FUMAN_2007.pdf. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  11. ^ Flinders University Internships/Masters Classes (2007). "Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) USA/2007". Flinders University. http://www.flinders.edu.au/ehl/archaeology/postgrad-programs/by-coursework/pg-in-maritime-arch/internships.cfm. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  12. ^ Mark Staniforth (4 February 2008). "Flinders University 2008 Field School in Underwater Archaeology". The Museum of Underwater Archeology. http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/flinders08/flinders08_intro.shtml. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  13. ^ CEGSA News. "Past Trips From General Meetings". Cave Exploration Group (South Australia). http://www.cegsa.org.au/NEWS/V55n2.pdf. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 
  14. ^ Tony Richardson and Chris Brown. "Cocklebiddy Cave Diving History". Cave Divers Association of Australia. http://www.cavedivers.com.au/sites/default/files/finder/history/Cocklebiddy%20Cave%20Diving%20History.pdf. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  15. ^ Brian Kakuk (Oct-Nov-Dec 2010). "Hi Warg Mug Hi". Underwater Speleology, Volume 37 Number 4 (National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section). http://nsscds.org/test/drupal/content/%E2%80%9Chi-warg-mug-hi%E2%80%9D. Retrieved 12 September 2011. 
  16. ^ Sydney Project Dive Team. "Technically Speaking: Blue Holes Exploration Trip". Sydney Project. http://www.sydneyproject.com/stories/technically-speaking/32-technically-speaking-blue-holes-exploration-trip.html. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  17. ^ Agnes Milowka (20 Dec 2008). "Blue Holes Project". National Geographic. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/projects/blue-holes/. Retrieved 16 December 2011. 
  18. ^ Agnes Milowka (23 Sep 2010). "Deep Dark Secret". National Geographic. http://www.agnesmilowka.com/ag_media/special/nationalgeographic_aug10_wallpaper_agnesmilowka.JPG. Retrieved 26 March 2011. 
  19. ^ Holden, Adam (4 March 2011). "Dedicated cave diver perishes". http://blog.deepbluedive.com/2011/03/04/dedicated-cave-diver-perishes/. Retrieved 18 July 2011. 
  20. ^ Kappelle, Liza (28 February 2011). "Underwater caves a passion for lost diver". Sydney Morning Herald. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/underwater-caves-a-passion-for-lost-diver-20110228-1bbec.html. Retrieved 2 March 2011. 
  21. ^ Tony Richardson. "Aussie Cave Divers Receive NSS-CDS Awards". Cave Diving Down Under. http://www.cavediving.net.au/index.php/read/news/140-aussie-cave-divers-receive-nss-cds-awards. Retrieved 16 June 2011. 
  22. ^ CDAA Newsletter Guidelines No 102 Dec 2007
  23. ^ CDAA Newsletter Guidelines No 105 Sep 2008
  24. ^ CDAA Newsletter Guidelines No 106 Dec 2008
  25. ^ CDAA Newsletter Guidelines No 108 June 2009
  26. ^ CDAA Newsletter Guidelines No 110 Dec 2009
  27. ^ CDAA Newsletter Guidelines No 111 March 2010
  28. ^ CDAA Newsletter Guidelines No 112 June 2010
  29. ^ Underwater Speleology Volume 36 Number 1, January/February/March
  30. ^ Underwater Speleology Volume 36 Number 2, July/August/September
  31. ^ Underwater Speleology Volume 36 Number 3, October/November/December
  32. ^ Underwater Speleology Volume 37 Number 1, January/February/March
  33. ^ Underwater Speleology Volume 37 Number 2, April/May/June 2010
  34. ^ Underwater Speleology Volume 38 Number 1, January/February/March 2011

External links