Field training officers (FTOs) underpin the success of Australia's Antarctic scientific field work.
Anthony Hull, known as 'Hully', was senior FTO at Davis this last summer. His main responsibilities were to support the summer and Voyage 2 round trip science programmes, as well as acting as a field guide for science programmes and assisting with the general field training programme as required. Three deep field programmes were supported from the station this season.
While other FTOs undertook field training programmes on station, Hully worked with a number of field teams spanning a range of disciplines including biology, glaciology and geology.
One of the first tasks of the season was to act as a field guide to the Weddell seal research team. Rather than put the group through the general field training programme run by other FTOs, much of which they would not need, Hully taught them only those field competencies required for their work, including sea ice safety.
 Surveying Weddell seals
Photo: A. Hull |
|  Weddell seal with satellite tracker
Photo: A. Hull |
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After stocking their field camp base at Brookes Hut, he assisted them to locate the seals on which 8 satellite trackers had been deployed last season. A helicopter aerial survey was followed by a quad 'sweep' on the ground, with Hully assisting as a field guide.
 Packing food ration boxes for field parties in the Davis store
Photo: A. Hull |
|  Field gear in sling ready for deployment by helicopter
Photo: A. Hull |
|  Scientific equipment deployed in the field ready for work
Photo: A. Hull |
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FTO support was also supplied to geoscientists. For 21/2 days, Hully packed food rations for one group of geologists for 6 to 8 weeks, assembled cook boxes and deployed all the field gear for them (Project 2771) in the Vestfold Hills.
To maximise time ashore for a small group of round-trip scientists arriving on Voyage 2, Hully prepared field gear and food ahead of their arrival and carried out safety risk assessments for their proposed work sites.
To ensure their safety, he accompanied this group into the field as a guide. So that they could continue to work without interruption and to guard them against the risk of dehydration and hyperthermia, he spent one full day cooking meals and boiling water for hot drinks, and carried out Australia's southern-most 'fast-food' delivery over the ice to the grateful research team.
When it was time to leave, the team returned to the ship, leaving their field gear behind to be collected later, returned to station and cleaned up by Hully.
 Expeditioners sampling water from IRB
Photo: A. Hull |
|  Map of IRB support for elephant seal programme
Photo: A. Hull |
|  Scientists roped up on to work on crevassed Amery Ice Shelf
Photo: A. Hull |
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IRB support also figured in the list of FTO duties. Amongst other activities, Hully acted as IRB driver for the elephant seal research team (Project 2753), making good use of the time by recording hazards for future boating operations.
Other duties this season included assistance for glaciologists studying the Amery Ice Shelf and Gillock Island (Project 2686). Using helicopters, the scientists made 12 landings, setting up ice 'stations' on a highly crevassed ice scape. Everywhere someone stepped, Hully had first checked to ensure its safety.
 Geologists at work this season near Davis
Photo: A. Hull |
|  Empty fuel drums ready for removal at field camp
Photo: A. Hull |
|  Biologist explaining the water filtering process at Ace Lake Photo: A. Hull |
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Meanwhile, his 'spare' time was devoted to cleaning up old field camp sites, preparing backloads of rubbish and used 44 gallon drums for return to station by the CASA aircraft.
In addition to the particular expedition groups described above, Hully supported a number of other programmes in a similar fashion, making this, his fourth summer in Antarctica as an FTO, one of the busiest.
Overall, a very complex and successful deep field programme was supported by a number of FTOs operating out of all of our Antarctic stations this last summer. Activities included operations in the Bunger Hills, Enderby land and an aerial reconnaissance of the Aurora Basin.
For more information:
- Project 2695: Winter foraging ranges of Weddell seals
- Project 2690: Geological surveys in Prydz Bay
- Project 2753: Elephant seal research
- Project 2899: Antarctic lake research
- Project 1159: Geoscience research
- Project 2686: Iceberg calving on the Amery Ice Shelf
- Project 2771: Tectonic reworking in the Vestfold Hills
