Science is a-happening at Casey as we reach the middle of Summer. Dr Clive gives his view of Casey through pictures. And, we meet Chloe the Casey ‘cargo overlord'.

Station update

It’s nice to have some peace and quiet, no ship in the bay, no inter or intra continental flights. So time to concentrate on kicking those big science goals.

Despite being hampered by some unfriendly weather (apparently helicopters and planes don’t like snow or low cloud or strong winds) we've still managed to be busy getting our Casey summer scientists out and about. It’s also been an excellent opportunity for the rest of our Casey team, not usually involved, to join the science teams out in the field and experience with them the beauty of the Antarctic environment and wildlife.

The King project team, David S supported by Mic R, Greg and Clint, has been lucky enough to get to the Bunger Hills (230nm west of Casey), with flying visits to Mt Strathcona and Mt Sandow in order to collect erratic rock samples, to install seismometers, and collect data from seismometers and GPS instruments already insitu.

The base camp of Edgeworth David (ED) at Bunger Hills is also the site of an Automatic Weather Station (AWS), so I was lucky enough to escort Sean, our Met Tech, on the flight (which was scheduled to return the King team to Casey) to undertake the Bunger Hills AWS maintenance for the year. Despite being a little windy on top of the hill, the maintenance was successful and the AWS at Bunger Hills is now transmitting the weather observations across the globe.

Just over the hill from ED the Russian Antarctic Expedition has set up camp for a month-long geological research expedition, supported from a ‘mother’ ship sitting 70nm offshore. Our team dropped in to their camp for cuppa on the way back to ED one evening and diplomatic relations in Antarctica were enhanced over a discussion comparing maps of the area.

Clint, our Supervising Communications Technical Officer (SCTO), and his willing band of helpers has been out to Ardery Island, to the west of the station operating area, to re-install four ‘bird-watching’ cameras for the Southwell project. A long trip requiring three boats for support was an excellent chance for some sightseeing for the land party and competent crew. The penguins and icebergs did not disappoint.

The Jolley team have been out on the water monitoring their sites and entertaining the local wildlife (see 'Penguin pops in' video on the AAD website). Even the Spedding remediation team has had the opportunity to get off station and undertake some ecotox sampling at Wilkes.

All in all a successful and busy week of science. Now we just need to get the Galton-Fenzi TIDE team out onto the Totten Glacier, weather dependent of course…

By Rebecca Jeffcoat, SL Casey

Five men in high vis clothing standing in front of yellow bulldozer in workshop, left to right, one pointing right, one covering crutch, one covering eyes, one covering mouth, one covering ears
A group of 14 people in a group standing on concrete helipad with ice and rock cover ground leading to bay and grey sky
Flat expanse of sea ice with rocky hill mid picture to right, blue sky with white cumulous clouds above horizen. Cetre left of picture, red and white plane on the ice.
Rocky rolling hills to horizen at mid picture. Blue skies with 3 octas of white stratus cloud. Mid picture four huts which are round red melons across the landscape.
Close up of red IRB with three crew at front of left of picture. In background is white low iceberg with over 20 adele penguins on top.
Panaroma shot showing AWS instrument to left of photo and then view from rocky hill across ice covered bay to rocky shoreline. Melt pools of aqua water between sea-ice and shore in centre of photo. Blue sky above.

Dr Clive Strauss’ Casey in Pictures

Snow covered ground, stretching to distance. Blue sky above horizen. Mid picture a yellow tractor pulling two blue sled carrying large pallets of netted cargo
Snow covered ground stretching to horizen, above is bright blue sky. Mid picture right is a large red bus with whie steps from front door and white bull bar. To right a small red hagglunds vehicle, approximately the third of the size of the terrabus
Top two thirds of picture is large expance of blue sky with cirrocumulous clouds. Bottom third of picture, dirt ground then large red building with yellow, blue and green hagglunds parked in front to left
Line of vehicles mid picture, L to R — white and orange bus, red hagglunds, green hagglunds, blue hagglunds, red hagglunds with crane on trailer, then yellow hagglunds.
White snow covered ground to horizen, Blue sky peeking through grey clouds. Mid picture — two orange pyramid shaped tents with three expeditioners moving around them.
Orange rectangular tent roped between two red quad bikes. On white snow covered ground, leading to hill with snow and rock in distance with blue sky above. Three expeditioners staning around the bivvy bag.
Five orange open topped 1/4 height shipping containers placed around an orange digger. In distance more containers, rocky hill and grey sky.
Front centre picture — large yellow crane with arm up into sky with rigging hanging down. In the distance in the bay is an orange ship. Blue skies with white cloud above.
Whaft to left of picture leading to stoney boat ramp. Two red IRB are tied up at boat ramp. In the distance, large barge with white shipping container embarked is heading out into the bay. In front right of picture are four expeditioners in red and blue waterproof full length suits
Grey still water to horizon, grey sky above. Centre picture a black IRB holding four expeditioners is floating past a small iceberg.

5 mins with the 71st ANARE crew: Chloe Wessling

Name: Chloe Wessling

Nicknames: Awesome (I totally didn’t just make up that one…)

From: A lot of places and nowhere in particular. Originally Queensland, also spent a lot of time in Darwin, Hobart, Thailand and the Philippines. I’m a nomad.

Previous seasons? This is my first, but it feels like I’ve come home.

Job title: Station Supply Officer/Casey Cargo Overlord

Describe your role in two sentences: Highest priorities are keeping the chefs happy by bringing them anything they need from the warehouse and ensuring the station population is regularly supplied with chips and chocolate.

I also do some stuff with cargo coming and going from Casey station.

What did you do before your joined the AAD? 10 years working in logistics (Army, mining, hospitality) to pay the bills, diving instructor in Asia for the love of it.

What is your favourite part of your job here at Casey? Being able to manage supplies that not only affect people’s ability to do their jobs, but that actually have a meaningful impact on people’s lives down here.

If you were not a storeman what would be your dream job? Fully sponsored cave diving explorer.

How does this season at Casey compare to your previous seasons down south? As yet N/A, I’ll answer this one next season.

What do you like to do in your spare time? On the ice I like to help out in the brewery, relax in the spa or read a good book. Off the ice, I like to dive.

What song sums up your Casey experience so far? Summer of ’69 — Bryan Adams (may have also been ‘sung’ at our first karaoke night here at Casey).

Favourite piece of Australian Antarctic Division kit? Carhartt pants! (yes, they deserve a double exclamation mark) I literally wear them every single day.

What is your favourite book / movie (or both) and why? Any book by Brandon Sanderson, the man is a genius.

Describe your Casey experience with: a sight, a smell, a sound, a feeling and a taste.
The sight of icebergs in the bay as I sit at the front of the red shed having my morning coffee, a daily tradition. Every day I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to be here and experience the beauty of the Ice.

The sound of laughter

The taste of home brew

The feeling of coming home, even though it’s the first time I’ve been here.

The complete lack of ambient smells means that every scent produced here is amplified and very noticeable.

Do you have a favourite quote that you’d like to leave us with?
'Because in the end you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.' Jack Kerouac.

Two expeditioners drilling the sea-ice with hand held auger. Expeditioner on left is standing wearing black pants, vest, beanie and aqua jumper. Expeditioner on right is kneeling wearing yellow and black pants, blue jacket and black beanie. White ice to horizen. Blue sky above.
Close in shot, woman on right from shoulders up wearing black vest and beanie. Looking at computer screen on left and holding a mouse. In background through window is the warehouse.
Front of large red and white bus filling right side of picture. In front, coming up to bumper bar is a woman wearing black. Background is snow covered hill with Casey direction/distances sign and blue sky.
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