Bren on 24 November 2018 Today we voted in the 2018 Victorian state election. This year marked a technology innovation where Antarctic electors were able to cast their vote using a secure online voting facility.
We also took a shot to celebrate, which is now on the electoral commission’s Instagram page.
Bren on 24 November 2018 There are many science programs in progress this year at Casey, but one of the notable projects this season would be the Law Dome ice drilling team; a collaborative mission between US and Australian programs.
With the advance team having left the other week to head up the hill to set up camp, today 10 researchers will join them for the next three months up on the ice. They aim to drill a few hundred metres down into pre-industrial ice, for a handful of tiny molecules to fill a crucial gap in our current climate models.
How do they achieve this? Once the ice sample is drilled it will be placed in a specially built vacuum chamber and melted on site. The water will release trapped gases which can then be captured and stored for analysis in both the US and Australia.
This field ice melting unit has affectionately been called the Hot Tub Time Machine.
Speaking of naming things, what do you call the shed specifically built for the unit? If the unit is designed in America and the housing is designed in Australia, you end up calling it the (American accent) Melter (then Aussie accent) Shelta.
More information is available on the Div website news article.
Bren on 11 November 2018 Sunday, 11 November 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18).
This morning at Casey station we held a service in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts, lowering the flags to half mast, playing of the Last Post and the anthem.
Lest we forget.
Bren on 4 November 2018 Friday was a big day. We had a few delays to our departure and there was quite a bit of waiting around at Hobart airport, but in the afternoon we were airside and about 3pm we were in the back of the C17 and flying down to Antarctica.
Flight time is about four and a half hours. Being a cargo plane there’s not many windows to look out of, and when seated you’re just staring at shipping pallets for a couple hours. We eventually landed at Wilkins Aerodrome and officially commenced our summer working in Antarctica.
After a quick hello and goodbye to the outgoing winterers, we jumped on the Terra Bus and commenced the 70km ride from Wilkins to Casey station.
It was a late arrival getting in to Casey, at about 23:30. After hellos and an emergency briefing, we finally got to our dongas (bedrooms) and could rest up.
The next morning, station inductions continued from 8am and I had my first morning in the office. All the computer systems are the same across stations so it was all coming back to me work-wise.
It’s been a good first weekend, with plenty of introductions and getting to know the crew. Here’s to a good summer ahead.
Bren on 31 October 2018 This week I’ve been busy around head office with final preparations before I head off to Casey. We were scheduled to depart today Wednesday, but due to weather the flight has been postponed for now till Friday. Fingers crossed the weather gods agree!
I’m already kitted out with cold weather gear issued last week, have all my computer access setup and ready to go, and am generally ready to fly so I think all the essentials are taken care of. However, last minute preparations that I didn’t really think of until now include:
An expeditioner needs a replacement laptop charger asap, so stashed one in my bag to take south for them, consign my alcohol purchase for the summer to the warehouse so that it arrives on the ship, check fellow expeditioners flying down with me have the right computer setup for when the get to station, buy more stamps, other last minute shopping just because I’ve got time.
With the pre-flight briefings now complete we are all ready to head south for the season.
Bren on 25 October 2018 On Tuesday evening, expeditioners were welcomed by the City of Hobart at a civic reception at the Hadley’s Orient Hotel. This is a slightly formal occasion with the Premier of Tasmania, the Mayor of Hobart, designated Station Leaders, and other dignitaries present to declare the opening of the upcoming Antarctic summer season.
It’s a good opportunity to formalise the commencement of the season, but also a chance to catch up with returning expeditioners who I’ve not bumped into at the Division during pre-departure this week.
Bren on 18 October 2018 I’m getting ready to head south for the summer season again. Receiving mail down on station is such a great feeling, and so is having the opportunity to share my Antarctic experience with others around the world.
When I received the odd postcard last year, I put it up on my donga (bedroom) pinboard. This year I’d like to try a little project and offer a postcard swap. I’d really appreciate if you would send me a postcard from where you are from so I can put it up on my wall. I’ll take a picture of my pinboard at the end of the season and you’ll be able to see my cards from all around the world.
To send me mail, please send a postcard to:
Brendan Barnes
Casey Station
Australian Antarctic Div
203 Channel Highway
Kingston TAS 7050
AUSTRALIAJust a postcard will be amazing. Postage cost is to Australia (they put it in a mailbag from there and transport them to station) or domestic rate if you’re in the country. Please no envelopes, packaging, food etc. Also can you get your postcard to arrive in Kingston before Thursday 22 November 2018, otherwise it will miss the mail closing date for the ship and there’s limited flights after that which are very late in the season. Plus if it’s on the ship I’ll receive it for Christmas 🙂
In return I’d love to send you a custom postcard from Antarctica which I just got printed for the occasion. It’s got penguins and hagglunds on the front, and our expedition logo on the back. I’ve also just ordered some Aurora Australis edition stamps and we have an Antarctic postmark on station so they should look pretty awesome. I have 200 postcards, so I really hope there’s enough, but at the same time I really want to give them all away!
For me to get your postal address, can you either send me your details by the Contact page or email and I’ll add you to the send out list, or otherwise include a clear legible return address on your postcard. The ones I get via contact/email I’ll do my best to get them posted early on the 5 November flight. I’ll be looking forward to receiving your postcard when the ship arrives.
Bren on 5 October 2018 With the contract signed this week it’s time to (officially) announce I’ll be heading South for my second season. I’m very excited to be getting such an amazing opportunity to visit a part of the world which so few people get to see – I’ll be working in Antarctica! Again!
This summer season I’ll be working at Casey station as an IT Officer for the Australian program for the 71st / 72nd ANARE.
A lot of planning is already underway – I have flights to Hobart booked in, I know where I’ll be staying in town, I have the pre-departure training guide and many other bits and pieces organised. The second year is always a bit easier though as there’s less unknown – I’ve already done all of these things once before so everything feels quite routine so far which is good.
I guess the main difference to last season is that the logistics around Casey station is quite different to the other two Australian bases. Davis and Mawson get the Aurora Australis icebreaker ship in early, then again a second time late in the season, whereas Casey’s resupply is V2 right before Christmas. This means us summerers tend to fly down to start the summer season, are already on base for resupply, then fly back at the end of the season. Checking my ticket details (and remembering this is Antarctica – the “A Factor” means plans are always subject to change) it looks like I’ll be heading down in the back of the C17 Globemaster, and returning on the A319. I’m very excited to fly down instead of the ship this year, if anything just for the new experience of getting to the icy continent by air.
Bren on 5 March 2018 On Sunday 14:00 the Aurora Australis berthed at Macquarie Wharf, Hobart, completing my 4 weeks at sea.
Bren on 2 March 2018 It’s been a long voyage, having been on the ship for almost 4 weeks now. We departed Mawson two weeks ago and our transit of the Southern Ocean via Davis has brought us such a long way: we’re 2,761 nautical miles out of Mawson, with only a further 223 nm to get to Hobart.
Today is our second last day on the voyage. Cleaning of the ship has commenced in earnest, bags are being packed, gear returned, and we will conduct one final emergency muster drill in preparation for our arrival tomorrow.
Around midnight we are expected to be reaching the southern tip of the Tasmanian coastline, then entering the Derwent River by mid-morning, to finally berth at the wharf in Hobart around 2pm.
It will be a busy day tomorrow, but I’m definitely looking forward to the smell of trees and being back on land.
