Team Plumb here at Casey are continually asked the hard Antarctic questions, so we decided not to shirk the issue and answer them.
Question: What’s the collective noun for a group of Electricians?
Answer: A Shock of Sparkies (or Confusion).
Carpenters? Answer: A Packet of Chippies.
Diesel Mechanics? Answer: A Clutch of Diesos.
But the most frequently asked Antarctic question of them all is — what’s the collective noun for a group of Plumbers?
Answer: a Handsome of Plumbers
Speaking of which, this year’s winter plumbing team comprises Garvan, Dean and Fitzy.
We manage to keep the fresh water flowing and heating running. For a plumber, life at Casey is always changing and completely different to plumbing in Australia. One day we might be installing a new melt bell line, the next working on the diesel fuel lines, or on a really good day shovelling sludge out of the waste treatment plant.
Luckily the plumbers down here are as diverse as the work itself. We have Garvan from Brisbane. He has spent most of his time working on high rises and installing fire protection systems. When he’s not hitting the pads with the Flynnisher, you’ll find him sipping a smooth gin at the bar.
Then we have Dean from South Australia. He’s the only one on station lucky enough to have spent a season at Mawson. Dean is our HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and maintenance man. When Dean’s not ticking and flicking maintenance sheets, he’s down the workshop trying his hand at a bit of woodworking.
And finally we have Fitzy, the most experienced Antarctic expeditioner of the three, having done multiple seasons at Casey and Davis. Fitzy’s newly arrived and has come down to help us out for the winter. He’s our waste treatment and backflow specialist. Fitzy’s always happy to lend a hand, whether it’s to impart a bit of Antarctic knowledge or give a guitar lesson or two.
Garvan
