This week at Mawson: 12 April 2024

Another week down, and another example of the amazing recruitment outcomes that abound here on Mawson Station. Though the temperature was −22° Celsius, and wind chill making it feel more like −45°, I managed to press the send button on an attached word formatted questionnaire. Here are the results from our lovely plumber extraordinaire, Muggas!!

Name, title and season? John Sommers (Muggas). Plumbing elder at Mawson station.

Where do you call home? San Remo, WA (at present). Sydney born.

Why did you choose to work in Antarctica? I was enticed by stories of adventure here by a fellow plumber in the 90s. Fast forward to 2019 and I began my career at Casey station and have returned year after year since. Mawson is proving to be all it seemed and more.

What is your position on station? Plumber and WHS rep, sauna enthusiast and village idiot.

What was your favourite subject in school? Tech drawing and speeling

If you could pick a superpower to have, what would it be? Language … to understand and converse with everything … that or flight/strength.

First music concert you went to? Depeche Mode.

If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Seafood

What projects are you intending to start down here on station? A walking stick handle for my Dad. Maybe some sketching, forging and blacksmithing.

What are some surprising things about your job in Antarctica? That so much thought and effort has gone into maintaining these stations amongst the harsh, beautiful environment.

If you could add another question to this cutting edge piece of award winning prose, what would it be?

Q) With no polar bears in Antarctica (to the disbelief of many), do you feel you have missed out on anything down there?

A) I don’t lament.

Mawson station never fails to astonish. It ranks highly on the bucket lists of many expeditioners, and it's easy to see why, once you've experienced it firsthand. Upon arrival, a sense of belonging and history has come over me, a testament to the extraordinary efforts of past and present explorers who've turned this place into a home away from home.

The legacy of the station is lovingly preserved. Particularly the homage to the beloved huskies in the past, memory is ever-present and continuously honoured in public displays. It is heart-warming.

At Mawson station, heritage infuses every aspect of our daily life, whether you're engaged in work or enjoying some rest.

The natural scenery and wildlife that encircle the station are breathtakingly beautiful. The sight that unfolds each morning as I look out the window is a vibrant reminder of the world's wonders, with Adélie and Emperor penguins and the Weddell seals making the landscape even more exceptional.

Yet, this picturesque environment comes with its challenges—namely, the constant katabatic winds that chill to the bone, making it feel even colder than at Casey station.

I'm bracing myself for the upcoming survival training, which will see me spending a night outdoors in a bivy bag. It's a rite of passage where I find a bit of humour in waiting to see others bear the brunt of the frigid night before it's my turn.

Looking ahead, the allure of Heard Island beckons as a potential dream destination… only time will tell.