Purpose, people and perseverance.
There’s a quiet moment most of us have shared in the Red Shed — standing before the wall of framed photographs, each one showing a team that once called Casey home. The faces change, the uniforms evolve, the backgrounds shift slightly — yet the expressions stay familiar. Pride, determination, a touch of exhaustion, and that unmistakable glint of awe that comes from living and working on the edge of the world. Every face tells a story and every frame is a chapter in the history books of Casey station.
Next week, our own story will make its way south. All going well, the framed photograph of the 78th ANARE will be on the first flight from Australia, landing at Wilkins Aerodrome and then journeying to its rightful place on the Red Shed wall. Once it’s hung alongside those who have served before us, it will mark our official joining of that long, unbroken line of Casey teams — a tradition of people who came, contributed, and became part of something bigger than themselves.
And if you’ve ever stood back and looked at that wall, you’ll have noticed something important: there’s still plenty of space left. The walls of the Red Shed hold room for many more stories, many more seasons. That space is symbolic — a reminder that the Casey mission is perpetual and grows decade by decade.
We now stand at the threshold of change — that fascinating, emotional point where one season begins to blend into the next. The handover between the 78th and 79th ANARE won’t happen overnight; it will unfold over the coming weeks. For a little while, both generations of expeditioners will share this space — the outgoing crew passing on experiences, routines, and stories to those who will soon take the reins. The guard is on the cusp of changing, and in that overlap lies something uniquely Antarctic: cooperation between the past and the future, side by side in the present.
In the midst of that transition, Casey has remained a hive of activity. The past few weeks have seen the Station running at high tempo as the team worked hard to prepare for the season ahead. The Wilkins Aerodrome team has completed the runway, working through blizzards and snowfalls to keep it clear and ready to accept the first flight from Australia. The skiway crew have been preparing for the arrival of the first Basler flight of the season — an event that also signals the start of summer operations. The plant operators have been clearing and maintaining Wharf Road, ensuring safe access for the upcoming resupply, and across the entire station, everyone has pitched in for a massive two-day deep clean — the Red Shed, accommodation wings, kitchen, workshops, and work areas all brought to a shine to hand over the station in the best possible condition. And yes — every made-up bed carries a fresh towel and a couple of welcome chocolates.
Since its inception, two constants have always defined life at Casey. The first is our purpose — to advance science and preserve the Antarctic environment on behalf of Australia and our international partners. The second is our people — those willing to embrace the challenge of becoming AAD expeditioners, trading comfort for purpose and familiarity for discovery. Those constants are just as relevant today as they were when the first Casey team arrived.
The 78th ANARE has lived that spirit deeply. From supporting vital research and maintaining critical infrastructure to weathering the long winter with resilience, humour, and unity, this team has added a distinctive page to the Casey story. This work — and the relationships forged along the way — will echo long after the engines start up at Wilkins and the first summer flights arrive.
Soon, the 79th ANARE will begin writing their own chapter. New faces, new energy, the same mission. The continuity is what makes this place extraordinary because time doesn’t erase what came before, it actually layers upon it.
When our photograph finally takes its place on the wall, it will do more than represent our season. It will stand as part of a continuum — the story of a station, a purpose, and a people who keep Antarctica alive through every challenge and every change of the guard, one face, one team, and one generation at a time.
Andy Warton
Station Leader, Casey Station
