It’s a tough life as a Plant Operator (or 'Planty' as we’re also known as here at Casey station), moving bulk snow with our excavators and dozers...

"I’m Running Hot"

CAT D6 Prestart Checklist:

  • Check engine oil levels.
  • Check hydraulic oil levels.
  • Check ice/snow around fan.
  • Forget what I’m doing and walk off………
  • Make third coffee for the morning.

As you can see, it’s a tough life as a Plant Operator (or 'Planty' as we’re also known as here at Casey station), moving bulk snow with our excavators and dozers.

As such, the coffee machine and Cat D6 bulldozer have quickly become my favourite machines on station. The Cat D6 bulldozer specifically, as it has become surprisingly good at miraculously finding underground items that have been lost to the snow from the previous summer.

It has been an absolute ball operating machines here in the Antarctic, pushing snow and ice. It's a huge contrast to back at home, pushing mineral earth breaks and hazardous trees during forest and bush fires in Gippsland, Victoria (God’s Country).

As much as we work hard as Plantys we also like to let our hair down inside 'Splinters' (the local), celebrating public holidays with the rest of the station. During these celebrations you’ll often find me walking around with a tea towel draped over my arm (like a sommelier or waiter) pouring grape and apple juice for others while yelling “I RUN HOT” (often until I lose my voice).

Whilst being here, I was very lucky to celebrate my 31st birthday. Chef Ash and her helpers, Jake, Lisa, James (and others who I’ve probably forgotten, sorry) made an amazing cake in the shape of a Cat D6 dozer ‘finding’ a site service - which may or may not have actually happened in my first week of being here.

One of the biggest highlights of the season was heading out in an AAD helicopter, the new BK-117, with a geophysicist and a field training officer, inspecting and repairing science equipment that is monitoring glacier movement. As insistent as I was, being a Planty and playing numerous hours of Grand Theft Auto, apparently, it’s not enough to be able to fly a chopper. But that’s OK, it was still an amazing experience to head out and be able to help and keep science projects continuing in Antarctica.

Unfortunately, there’s not enough page space or words to be able to explain everything I’ve had the opportunity of experiencing, but to shortlist a few them:
- Getting a mullet haircut from our dieso Gussy
- IRB tours of the icebergs
- A tour of the RSV Nuyina
- Helping unload containers and items during resupply
- Field travel training 
- Camping in a bivvy bag, also known as a 'chip packet'
- Camping in a tent at Jack’s hut
- Helping out at the skiway driving Helen the tractor and the Cat challenger
- The Australia day swim
- Seeing a lone emperor penguin on station.

Though, all of the things listed above will never beat the amazing people I’ve met down here and the incredible memories we’ve all created here on station.

“I RUN HOT.”

- Ty.

Image of tractor and containers on trailers with snow covered ground.
Image of Expeditioner with Plant equipment in background.
Image of recreation tent set up in snow field. Rock clusters surround with snow covered ground into the distance. Blue sky with cloud in background.
Image of Plant equipment. Snow covered ground and a moody grey sky.
Image of 6 expeditioners sitting at dinner table with wine and food.
Image of 3 expeditioners using GPS and maps
Image of expeditioner and an Emperor penguin
Image of expeditioner cutting cake with a knife.
Image of person with wine bottle pretending to serve drinks.
Image of three expeditioners in survival suits attempting to light a stove. Blue Hagglund vehicle is to the right. Snow covered ground below and a blue cloudy sky into the distance.
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