Midwinters is on the way and Macca is preparing something big. The ballon release shed gets new doors. Finally some nice photos to finish.

Maccawood music clip

As midwinter approaches, a team gathered to put together a special video surprise for all to enjoy back at HQ in Kingston. This task required a good sense of humour, the losing of any inhabitions, cooperation and the ability to simply cut loose.
 
After an endless discussion on music, a song was finally picked only to be changed another two times before filming began. Finally, with spirits high, we were on our way. We knew we were awesome as Aaron kept reminding us — we were the creative genius phenomenon!
 
It was really all about lights, camera, action, showing the camera our enthusiasm and style! With Mark as Executive Producer, Barry as Director and cinematographer Patty as Creative Director, Chef Tony as Assistant Director and Aaron as Best Boy/Editor in Chief, we were unstoppable.
 
And so it was “Move over Hollywood, Maccawood is now in the house!” including unbelievable award-winning performances and (Yes! Oh yes!), we are the stars!
 
Thanks to all who participated may you forever shine.
Aaron, Baz, Patty and Chef Tony at the top of Ham shack overlooking the station
A gathering of some of the station crew for the music videos standing by the gate
Baz with his back towards the camera filming Dean driving the red buggy
Dave standing in his red jacket
The fire team Patty, Lionel, Chef Tony, Josh, Aaron and Greg in there gear in a line
Macca group dressed as penguins playing instruments

Balloon release building doors

One of the major jobs on the maintenance crew’s schedule for this winter is to remove the old balloon-release building doors. This has been giving the BOM staff difficulty when opening and closing these doors for some time now.

The new doors were constructed back in the workshop at HQ in Kingston, Tasmania and with all the sizes, specifications and technical data that had to be emailed back and forwards between Kingston and Macca, we double, triple and quadrupled checked the new against the old prior to any work being commenced. To the credit of those back in Kingston, and Jim the previous building services supervisor, the doors went in just as we had all hoped with minimal adjustments with big hammers, grinders or other aggressive means.

Part of the process was to set up a temporary building for the balloon release while the works were being done. We wandered aimlessly back and forth selecting a building then rejecting it for all types of technical, logistic or even practical reasons, as in the case when the station leader office in Compton Cottage was suggested.

While walking for the 4th time past the boat shed, Barry in jest said lets pull the wall out. This was rejected with looks of disbelief from the select group set the task of finding the new location, so that is of cause what we did and with great success.

Old balloon release doors
Temporary balloon release doors in the boat shed made out of wood in the center, before the doors there's a table used for holding down the balloon as it inflates
The new metal balloon shed doors
Aaron testing the helium gas flow in the temporary balloon release in the boat shed
The balloon shed, showing the scaffold in the shed and big wooden boxes to store the old doors

Macca gallery

Below is a variety photos featuring scenes and daily life on Macquarie Island.

The boat crew with their wet suites on sitting down on the boats eating lunch
Mark in a his dry suit sitting with the water behind him and a rainbow in the background
Looking south the seneray shows the mountains and in the foreground there is tussock grass
Penguins standing together
Rainbow on Maquarie Island
Perseverance Bluff and Razorback Ridge
A photo of a puddle reflecting the colures of the sky which are soft pink, blues and greys and in the back ground are huts amongst a tussock hill
on