Look what we made!

Craft at Casey

Casey Station has some talented and creative men and women, and when they're not out exploring the amazing landscape and scenery, you'll find many of them spending their spare time crafting and woodworking.

Some of the team have made it a personal goal to create something special to take home as a memento of their time and experiences at Casey. Others are making midwinter gifts to exchange on the 21st of June as part of the day’s celebrations.  

In looking at the type and range of different projects including surfboards, ice axes, clocks and jewellery, to name a few, it really is an impressive display of talent. The team like to challenge themselves with the variety of mediums and materials - there are surfboards being made out of timber and plywood and ice axes made from 100% recycled materials.

As midwinter approaches, the making of gifts has only increased the level of craft activity and many of us will be given a lovely, personally-made surprise on the day. 

Conrad Willersdorf

Getting to know a Casey expeditioner — Amy Hobbs

Name: Amy Hobbs

Nicknames: Angry Amy, because I throw the darts hard apparently.  I’m really not that angry.

From: Melbourne

Previous seasons: Summer at Casey 2017/2018

Job title: Engineering Services Supervisor (ESS)

Describe your role in two sentences: I manage a team of tradies who are responsible for maintaining and upgrading station infrastructure.

What did you do before your joined the AAD?  I’ve had a wide range of engineering jobs but most of my career has been working with the Department of Defence purchasing equipment for Army, project work at iron ore processing plants and ship loading facilities, and working with an environmental company.

What is your favourite part of your job here at Casey? Working in an amazing environment with a great bunch of people, and having a laugh, even when the task at hand might not be the greatest.  I help out the plumbers occasionally.

If you were not an engineer what would be your dream job? A dog handler in the police force.

How does this season at Casey compare to your previous seasons down south? I think both my seasons have been very different but equally as good as each other.  However, having the opportunity to do a winter as an engineer has been pretty special, particularly being able to do the winter training as a Lay Surgical Assistant (LSA).  The LSA training, where we spent two weeks at Royal Hobart Hospital learning from the nurses and doctors in the operating theatres how to assist our winter doctor if we ever need to operate, has without a doubt been the best course I’ve ever done.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  I like to exercise, run on the treadmill, do workout videos and lift weights.  I also like working in hydroponics, it’s so warm, green and smells great.

What song sums up your Casey experience so far? The Greatest by Sia.

What actor would play you in a film version of our 72nd ANARE season here at Casey? Katherine Parkinson, who plays Jen Barber in The IT Crowd.

Favourite piece of Australian Antarctic Division kit?  Carhartt overalls

What is your favourite book / movie (or both) and why?  My favourite movie is Apollo 13.  I love that it’s a true story where science, engineering and teamwork reign, and my favourite scene is where they have to make a square filter fit in a round hole.  That’s problem solving at it’s best.

What is your typical ‘Slushy FM’ genre? Do you have a particular favourite? I like listening to the Triple J Hottest 100 albums, with a bit of Foo Fighters and Chilli Peppers thrown it.

Describe your Casey experience with: a sight, a smell, a sound, a feeling and a taste.

Sight: The forever changing light on the icebergs and sea ice off Newcomb Bay.  I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that.

Smell: Freshly baked sourdough bread.

Sound: The squeaking and crunching of super-dry powdery snow beneath my feet.

Feeling: Putting a sweaty wet static strap on my wrist after someone else has been for a run.  It’s so dry and there’s so much static electricity here, that if we don’t wear a static strap on our cardio equipment we can ruin the electronics!

Taste: Freshly baked sourdough bread.  We have bread baked every day and it’s so good!

Do you have a favourite quote that you’d like to leave us with? “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.

Something thing people may not know about you:  I love to bake, cakes mostly.

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