Before anyone can leave station for work or recreational purposes all expeditioners are required to attend a number of field training sessions. Two courses were conducted on Bruny island (Tasmania) before we departed Australia with the remaining course ‘Field Famil’ to be completed here on Macquarie Island. The Field Famil course requires everyone to complete 3 consecutive days and 2 nights in the field. The team are put through various navigational scenarios, test our ability to walk up and down steep slopes, understand hut living requirements and how to recognise the hazards and landscape on the island. Pete, Richard and Mango have done an excellent job with training the team, not only has it been challenging at times, it’s been fun and definitely worthwhile.
This week at Macquarie Island: 11 May 2012
Field famil training
Daily work routine on Macca
It didn’t take long before the team were into the full swing of a daily work routine and it’s encouraging to see everyone work together and support each other.
One of the projects the Communication Team of two, Colin and Mango, are working on is the ARPANSA Project. Macquarie Island is one of 80 radionuclide stations that can detect radioactive debris from atmospheric explosions or vented by underground or underwater nuclear explosions. Colin and Mango carry out this testing on behalf of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). Australia is a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to ban all nuclear explosions along with 182 other countries. The presence of specific radionuclides provides unambiguous evidence of a nuclear explosion. Colin can be seen compressing a sample for testing in one of these photos.
After hours enjoyment
We are often asked “What do you do in your spare time?” or “Don’t you get bored on station when you finish work?”. Our answer to both questions is a definite “No.”. There’s always plenty to do!
Maquarie Island wildlife
And now for the weekly wildlife photos!
