This week commences the final countdown until Midwinter’s Day on 21st June 2019. At Casey, this means the shortest day of the year, with sunrise at 11:24am and sunset at 1:54pm — a whole 2.5 hours of daylight. This is more than the other Australian Antarctic continental stations, which will have zero…. but less than most of us have ever experienced in our lifetimes.
Casey will celebrate the day with a midday dip in a pool cut from the ice near the wharf, followed by a long and impressive formal dinner. There will be the exchange of midwinter of gifts and the telling of many tales of the adventure so far.
The team has also been busy since the last update, getting out on sea ice, commencing the winter ice-monitoring program, checking on the Wilkins and Casey ski-way landing facilities, working on the Red Shed, making sure machinery is ready for the upcoming season and completing the annual hut maintenance trips.
We have also enjoyed many after-hour activities including a great murder mystery night, a State of Origin pub night, a cooking class, a dart competition, completion of a Monet inspired puzzle, and the viewing of the first three seasons of Game of Thrones — to name just a few.
Chris (Station Leader)
