Murrie, a fitter and turner by trade, had previously made two attempts to get to Antarctica. Each time he got a little further, but in his head he was thinking "man they must have a very experienced team of fitters down there and must have no room for any more".
On his third attempt he was successful in getting a technical interview with Rick Rodgers and Glen Blackwall. It was only at this time he was informed that they only employ four to six fitters for a season. Murrie was shocked and realised it was a tough competition out here in the Antarctic game. Lucky for him, the Antarctic gods were happy and decided to give him a go for a summer season at Davis.
When he reached Hobart, he was given a great deal of information about what he might possibly be doing but no one could give him a definite answer – just that he would be busy and that they had a lathe and a good workshop.
After a few weeks in Hobart doing some training and after a luxurious cruise for a month on RSV Nuyina, it was finally time to get down to business and do some work. There wasn't much to do at the start. The last fitter had done a good job of cleaning the workshop and the last of the jobs from the previous season.
But then it all happened – the rock drill that had been assigned to drill all the holes for the projects on station decided it no longer wanted to participate in drilling and wanted to leak hydraulic fluid instead. With the help of a very knowledgeable mechanical supervisor and a boilermaker, Murrie and the team came up with a very abstract idea to patch the sorry-for-itself drill rig and continue on project domination. With a few weeks of fabrication, we had completed the new retro-fitted modification and fingers crossed, it would work long enough to get us by and drill the holes needed to secure the footings for the new reverse osmosis plant. Murrie is happy to confirm that the rock drill has exceeded all expectations and not only drilled the RO holes but almost every single hole we could throw at it.
Apart from reinventing the wheel, the fitter’s workload had increased and he was busy with all sorts of tasks, from making tools for his fellow tradesman to repairing favourite measuring jugs for the kitchen.
One of Murrie's most memorable jobs – and one that he had zero experience with – was helping the information communication technology boys install a wave guide assembly for the satellite. There was a bit of pressure, with the system down, to fit this thing and that added a little bit of excitement, along with the fact there was no room to get in and drill the holes because Murrie had been in a pretty good paddock for a little too long.
By far the biggest contract he had was not fixing rock drills or helping fit satellite components but fixing the coffee machine. The coffee machine is one of the most treasured items we have here on station and without it we could have complete anarchy or a mutiny, with the station leader even potentially leaving on V3. A little bit dramatic I know, but these things were said daily when the machine was down. The plumbers were working their very best and doing a great job but then one of the copper tubes fully broke off and then it was beyond their expertise. Luckily Murrie was able to make a new fitting and solder it on to the existing pipe to help the boys repair the beloved coffee machine. Thankfully, with all our powers combined, peace and stability returned to Davis station.
Now the summer season is ending and the fitter and turner has never been busier with expeditioners getting their last machining jobs in. Overall a splendid season, but everyone was correct in saying it is hard to tell what kind of jobs come in to the humble little workshop at Davis station.
Murrie Hansen
Davis Station
