This week at Casey: 14 November 2025

A story about nearing the end of the 78th ANARE and the realisation that we will miss this place and the people.

We'll miss this place and the people...

As we pack our bags and send much of our belongings north ahead of us we are filled with mixed emotions. The time is drawing very near to going home and yes, we are all preparing in our own ways. We are ready to leave these corridors and never walk into the mess hall again, we are ready to say goodbye to bracing the wind as we make our way in the morning to our respective workplaces, and we are ready to see friends and families again back home. But we may never again get to greet each new day's arrangement of drifting icebergs out in the bay, or watch the wind whip up ice caps out on the brooding, gloomy harbour, while perched comfortably up in the bar. For this we are sad.

It is a time of lasts. Last dinner as a winter team, last trip to a hut with a few of the winter team, last walks on the sea ice, last darts competition with another station, last leadership meeting with existing team, last monthly report thank goodness, and last dress-up event in Splinters with the winter team. Our emotions run high. We are torn with wanting to go home and see something or someone different, a fresh face, the sound of a child’s voice, to pat and cuddle a dog...oh that would be heaven. It will be a real change. Who will do the crossword with me at lunch? Who will do the rubbish gash run with me on Saturday? Where are my instant group of mates for a weekend movie, free of charge of course?

We have for the most part been a highly functioning and successful team. The right combination of leadership at all levels, and so many fantastic individuals who strove for the best for the community and had each other’s backs. Maybe our size in numbers, with over 30 folks to chat to and hang with, also aided in creating our harmony this year? Whatever the magic is, we have been blessed and as we draw to a close, I asked the team to reflect, and say a few words to summarise.

Here is a snapshot of our immediate thoughts and feelings on a Saturday morning in the Red Shed:

Jake – I’m looking forward to my cars, my Toyota hilux, my Volvo 240 and the beaches of the sunshine coast.. I will miss looking out over iceberg alley everyday and I will miss Nick’s cooking.
Haydos - I miss my car. I'll miss free coffee and am looking forward to playing competitive sport. I'll miss the downstairs fort of couches set up for movie nights.
Jarmez - I'm not looking forward to buying food. I am going to miss the characters, the locals. I am looking forward to not having to put on three layers to go outside.
Lachy junior – I cant’ wait to give my mum a hug and will miss the family I've had down here.
Lee - I'm looking forward to seeing my kids and see how much they've grown up, and I will get to watch their basketball games again. I'm going to miss not having to think about what I'm eating for dinner, and I'll miss the people, the mateship and bumping in to your friends around every corner.
Gussy - I'm looking forward to fraternising with women. I'm looking forward to going to live with Mike. I will miss Saturday coffees and Jake, mainly Jake.
Daz - I'm looking forward to beer and I am going to miss everybody. Who I am going to ask if I can drive my vehicle? And the people, the people mainly and Nick's cooking, but the people.
Andy - I'm looking forward to seeing my family and catching a barra, and I'm also looking forward to going back to my fire and emergency services organisation. I will miss the talented community here and it's ability to solve problems.
Col - I'm looking forward to being able to go outside without having to get dressed up, sunshine and warm weather. And fresh fruit. Col says he will miss being fed and all my new friends.
Imi - looking forward to the beach and going for a swim, and I'm also looking forward to pineapple and fresh salad! I will miss Saturday brunch, and I'm not looking forward to having to buy food. I will miss the scenery, the icebergs out the front and the people.
Dan - I'm looking forward to a camping trip with my mates. I will miss a lot of things like Jake's fun fact Fridays and the banter in the wallow in the mornings with coffee.
Ty - I'm looking forward to riding my motorbikes and seeing my dog. I will miss the CUB fitness crew and the bucket boys.
Liz - I'm looking forward to a mandarin and to walking in the bush. I will miss travelling on the sea ice every week and looking for leopard seals. I will miss the vast landscapes of endless white.
Uncle Jol - I'm looking forward to seeing my family again which includes the dog, and having a different flavoured beer. I will miss the Main Power House, doing observations in a Knight's outfit, and the wildlife. I'll also miss stopping the tractor so the penguins can walk past.
Tommy - I'm going to miss my beautiful big yellow CAT D7 dozer. I'm going to miss hugs and love from the team.
Pat - I'm looking forward to going to my favourite dumpling place and eating like 30 dumplings. I am going to miss the laughs, we laugh a lot.
Mac - I am looking forward to touching grass. I will miss having icebergs in my front yard.
Railz - I'm looking forward to my new house that I bought this year. I am going to miss the people, the community and definitely hut trips. I'm definitely going to miss Browning's
Karlina - I'm looking forward to swimming in the ocean and wearing shorts and will miss the snow, icebergs and my Casey friends.
Mike - I'm looking forward to sunshine and beaches. I am going to miss the awesome 78th crew, and the crazy inept uncoordinated penguins.
Nick - I'm really really looking forward to live music and dogs. I am going to miss everyone. I will miss camaraderie and not having to go to the shops.
Scooter - I'm looking forward to watermelon and I'm going to miss the skiing on the snow.
Terry - I'm looking forward to seeing my wife, my cat and my dog, fresh fruit, the beach, the bush and green stuff that's growing. I'll miss Antarctica - just all of it. The place, the people, and the experience.