My expectations of this role were that I would be moving a lot of snow, moving a lot of containers, moving freight/equipment and occasionally assisting others within their tasks and duties. This has mostly proven true.

Life of a winter plant operator at Davis Station

We have had some really good snow falls this season, the likes of which would be making the ski resorts in Australia quite envious of our situation at the moment. I have cleared a LOT of snow. This is somewhat evidenced by the large piles of dumped snow that I have placed for safe melting come the summer.

Although this is a task that never seems to end it does play a role maintaining safe and easy access for all around station.

As the plant operator, I had a very high pressure task recently (so as not to disappoint all the other expeditioners),  assisting in the creation of the Midwinter swim lap pool – well not really a lap pool but a hole in the sea ice out the front of the station near our wharf. As a part of our Midwinter festivities, expeditioners can take a dip into the freezing cold water.  At around -2°C it was certainly an experience to be had

Aside from my above-listed roles, I have a secondary role as one of four LSAs (Lay Surgical Assistants) on station. I'm trained as a surgical scrub/scout.

From the four of us, two train in anaesthesia and two train as theatre scrub/scouts. We are here to assist the doctor should a medical situation arise that would require surgery or general nursing of a patient.

Our amazing station doctor, Winnie Yum, leads us for training and refresher sessions every fortnight where we continue to learn, develop and hone our skills. There has been a lot to learn given that the skill set for my role on station is operating plant - excavators, loaders, bull dozers, snow groomers.

Our other LSAs are the Station Supply Officer, one of the plumbers and our boilermaker/welder. We may appear to be a motley crew at first glance but we come together in a very orchestrated way when we don our theatre attire and glide around the medical suite.

These training sessions deal with a lot of potential scenarios that we could most likely face ie. slips, trips and falls, treatment of cold exposure and cold-related injuries, broken bones and of course surgery. A favourite training session for the PMU (Polar Medicine Unit) is an appendectomy, which so happens to be the most recent training event we had. 

I have really enjoyed my season so far and now that we have passed the winter solstice I look forward to the sun reappearing and sunglasses needing to be worn. As with all good things I know the 79th ANARE will come to an end and in time I shall be looking back on this time as a great privilege and experience.

Five people wearing medical scrubs gather around a dummy laying on an operating table
The engoine of a yellow plant vehicle is covered in snow
A large auger drill attachment is connected to the front of a small yellow bulldozer and starting to dig a hole, just over 1m wide in the sea ice
A square swimming hole has been cut out in the sea ice, with a ladder entering the water that is lit up. In the background are beach style decorations and two Hagglunds Vehicles
A large yellow crane is lifting a red watercraft onto a wharf
A yellow bulldozer is carrying a bucket filled with snow
A man wearing a backpack with a pair of sunglasses pushed up onto his head is standing in a snowy landscape with large icebergs visible in the background. It is a bright and sunny day with a pale blue sky.
A dark blue sky, studded with stars is lit up by ribbons of green aurora hovering just above square buildings sitting in a snowy landscape.
A yellow snow groomer is partially buried by snow. It is dark.
A pink Hagglunds vehicle and a small yellow skidsteer with a large auger drill attachment sit in a snowy landscape.

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