Katabatic winds, dark skies and a frozen ocean. All this to contend with and yet still our rugged expeditioners manage to complete a questionnaire riddled with intense hurdles and logistical (logical) challenges. Chippy extraordinaire Dicky gives us a glimpse into his extraordinary life.
Name, title and season?
Richard 'Dicky' Heaton, Mawson Winter Carpenter, 77th ANARE 2024
Where do you call home?
Home is a sleepy little town called Cooran in the Noosa Hinterland, Sunshine Coast, Qld.
Why did you choose to work in Antarctica?
Well, I was looking for a change. This was one of a couple of options I had on the cards. Thought it was an opportunity of a lifetime. I wasn’t getting any younger and I managed to pass the medical. Woo Hoo! So, here I am. I very glad it worked out. The other options weren’t anywhere as exciting. I do miss my kids though.
What is your position on station?
My day job is carpenter. I also moonlight as a Lay Surgical Assistant and in my spare time, run the Hydroponics Department.
What was your favourite subject in school?
Loved woodwork and art the most. Oh, and tech drawing.
If you could pick a superpower to have, what would it be?
Hmmm … Xray vision or maybe eternal youth. They would be handy!
First music concert you went to?
Kim Wilde. I was right up front and she touched my outreached hand. I didn’t wash that hand for months! Lol.
If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I make a really mean spaghetti bolognaise. I could live on that but would get sick of it quick. Variety is the spice of life! So, prefer not to have the same meal.
What projects are you intending to start down here on station?
Well, I have a half rebuilt Land Rover Defender in the shed at home and I have designed a completely new dash for it. So, I have been working on modelling the new dash in CAD so I can CNC it all out when I get home. Unfortunately, my CNC wouldn’t fit in Econ. I also have been playing around with video editing and documenting my adventures down home for all my family and friends to watch. Those, and I have been obsessing over jigsaw puzzles!
What are some surprising things about your job in Antarctica?
How dry it is down here. It is a constant battle to keep hydrated. The utter vastness of it all. The pictures and videos you take just doesn’t demonstrate the reality. Mind blowing!
If you could add another question to this cutting-edge piece of award-winning prose, what would it be?
I would ask if you felt you would do another season after this one. I’m sitting on the fence at the moment. It is awesome being here and the money is great. But it is a long time away from my kids. They grow so very fast and I do feel I’m missing a lot. Might feel differently when I get home and they’re driving me crazy again. Lol.