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Farewelling a friend

Comments: 1 Comment

Published on: March 1, 2011

A little over three weeks ago, the Australian diving community was rocked by some very sad news.  Agnes Milowka, cave diver and explorer died while diving Tank Cave in South Australia on 28 February 2011.

I didn’t know Ag as well as some, but she was someone that I admired and that I was always keen to talk to and hear what was going on in her life.

At 29 years old, Agnes was a true explorer with all the passion and drive that it entails.  She took up diving in her early adult years, and quickly realised that it was what she wanted to do with her life.  She then spent the rest of her life trying to make it happen, and she succeeded.

Ag soon worked her way through the ranks of diving qualifications and communities with a spirit that touched many people – if you doubt this, just look her up on Facebook, Google and other networks.  She had completed a Graduate Diploma of Maritime Archaeology, and was a qualified Trimix, Rebreather and Cave diver.  In other words, if it was underwater she was involved.  There are many articles which summarise her extensive experience and qualifications – both on her website, and around the internet.

What these articles do not say, is what an inspiration to others that Ag was.  She was active on all the major diving forums, always happy to answer questions.  She was a pleasure to be around and loved talk about her upcoming expeditions.  She never dismissed someone for having less experience, or discounted the excitement that a first dive on Popes Eye could have for a newly qualified diver. As long as you were a diver, you were good by Ag.  There is something spectacular about that quality, and it was one of her truly great traits.

Ag always had something in the works.  Weeks before her last dive, Ag had been telling me about a caving expedition that she was invited on over the summer 2011/2012.  She was training daily, alongside maintaining her personal website (www.agnesmilowka.com) and constantly creating new content for it, all the while working full-time for Mummu Media.  When Ag put her mind to something, she went after it whole-heartedly and in a way that inspired me and many others.

At this time we can only speculate as to what went wrong underwater on the 28th, and I will not do so on this site.  Instead I want to say a thank you to Ag for proving that even today, there is something new to explore in this world.

On an aside, I want to say thank you to the team of divers responsible for retrieving her body in the week following her death.  Many people have expressed their gratitude, and we will likely never truly understand the impact that this will have on their lives.  The community of elite cave divers is small and tight knit, and many of those who were asked to bring Ag back from within Tank Cave were close personal friends of hers.  Again, I can only express my awe and sincere gratitude for their commitment to her.

For those who knew Ag, and wish to make a contribution to her memory, I hope that you will contribute to the Agnes Milowka Memorial Environmental Science Award established by her employer, Mummu Media Pty Ltd, to provide further access for underprivileged schools to education and training in areas like science, marine studies and exploration.  For information on the Agnes Milowka Memorial Environmental Science Award, please see here.

Vale Ag.

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cm says:

April 20, 2011 at 5:35 pm

Hi Katherine, just crossed through this article, so lovely, much appreciated. thanks. cm.

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Cool:)

cm on Farewelling a friend
Hi Katherine, just crossed through this article, so lovely, much appreciated. thanks. cm.

Welcome , today is Wednesday, November 2, 2011

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