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An ANZAC day dawn service was held on the helideck of the Aurora Australis this morning. Macquarie Island appeared through the dawn sea mist as poetry readings and an ode to the fallen were followed by the last post and one minutes silence.
One Hundred years ago, 21 year old Leslie Blake began his expedition to Macquarie Island as a member of the first wintering party of Mawsons expedition to Macquarie Island and Antarctica. Blake’s survey skills and maps of the island are held in high regard to this day. On returning from Macquarie Island, Blake joined up and was killed in World War I.
Many Antarctic and Macquarie island expeditioners through the years have served in the armed forces, or come from service backgrounds, before becoming expeditioners. Expeditioners paid their respects to the fallen servicemen and women of Australia and New Zealand this morning before resuming with our resupply of Macquarie Island.
Low cloud and some sea mist has again prevented ship to shore and down island helicopter operations today at Macquarie Island. This has developed into rain as the day progresses. Cargo operations have continued today via watercraft in the NNE swell to 1.5m conditions, allowing cargo from ship to shore via LARCS. We expect tomorrow to have discharged all inbound cargo from the ship and to have cargo travel only in one direction, from ship to shore as RTA [return to Australia] cargo.
Passenger transfer by IRB from ship to shore this morning has enabled several round trip programs to continue despite the closed in and wet conditions. Winter handovers from departing winter expeditioners are progressing well, we are expecting several more winter expeditioners aboard the Aurora Australis today after handing over to their incoming winter replacements. Field parties are progressing well through down island round trip programs that are now drawing to a close.
Successful transfer to the ships aquarium was again performed this morning by the marine invertebrate group from a sampling site close to the station on Macquarie Island. A very successful sampling program has been undertaken this voyage by the marine invertebrate science team.
The remarkable Macquarie Island wild life is on show again today with a pod of orca’s off the port bow spotted from the bridge today as they made their way north along the coastline of Macquarie Island.
Many cormorants are present around the ship, becoming familiar with us over the last few days some are even landing briefly aboard using the ship an offshore resting platform before taking flight again.
REGARDS: Don, Simon and Brett
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.