This week at Macquarie Island: 21 April 2017

Between 10–12^th April our first team of expeditioners embarked on field familiarisation training. Led by our highly experienced Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service ranger in charge Andrea, chef Nick, meteorology senior observer Matt and myself, we spent three days and two nights off station.

We travelled to the Bauer Bay and Brothers Point areas, staying in the field huts and undergoing training in field survival skills, navigation, and parks/wildlife awareness. In addition, we got a serious dose of the majestic Macca wildlife with some amazing king and royal penguin interactions at Sandy Bay. Everyone came back full of smiles, epic tales of wildlife awesomeness and singing the praises of a field delicacy known as Fray Bentos (arguably the best steak and kidney pie in the world).

After the return of our field training team, the station got together to debrief during our formal Saturday dinner.

Formal Saturday nights are a long-held tradition across the Antarctic program, where everyone makes an effort to dress nice (read: no hi-vis or outdoor gear) for a night of fine dining, laughs and stories from the week.

Saturday nights often mark an organised social event or proper celebration of an expeditioners birthday from the week past. Speaking of which, prior to the departure of our field training team, we held the inaugural Macca ‘premium cinema experience’ on 8^th April. Everyone enjoyed a great night in our comfy cinema chairs watching the stations movie pick of ‘Deadpool’, whilst dining on some decadent movie food including salt and pepper calamari, trios of sliders and everyone’s favourite - movie lollies and chips.

On Tuesday 18^th April, we marked the 20^th anniversary opening of Cumpstons Cottage with a celebratory morning tea. Thanks to our multi–talented doctor Jan Wallace, we were treated to a sumptuous feast of muffins, cherry slice, and coffee and tea made to order!

Finally, this week we all celebrated the Easter long weekend with much cheer, chocolate and (thankfully) no rabbits!

From all of us at Macca, we hope you all had an equally enjoyable and safe Easter break.

Kyle Williams — Station Leader, Macquarie Island 70^thANARE

Tuesday 18^th April 2017 marked the 20^th anniversary of the opening of Cumpstons Cottage on Macquarie Island.

Cumpstons Cottage is a prefabricated two storey house erected during the 1995–96 summer season. The cottage is comprised of living quarters for the station leader, doctor, chef, ranger in charge and also contains the station leaders office.

Cumpstons Cottage is named in honour of the late John Stanley Cumpston (1909–1986), who was a true renaissance man: A diplomat, geographer, historian, publisher, prominent sportsman, barrister, an officer with Australian Imperial Force serving overseas in Tobruk and Lebanon, first secretary in the Department of External Affairs, as well as contributing to very important welfare initiatives including establishing the Sir Leslie Morshead War Veterans Home and the Brindabella Gardens retirement home in Canberra.

In 1939 Cumpston had assisted in the preparation and publication of the first reliable map of Antarctica. For this and his ongoing geography studies of Antarctica he was awarded a doctorate of letters from Melbourne University, as well as having his contribution to Antarctic knowledge marked by the naming of the Cumpston Massif. His classic text about Macquarie Island — published in 1968 — still remains a vital reference for all of some 50 years on.

Cumpstons Cottage itself was officially opened by Terry (Scobie) Pye on 18^th April 1997 and was the final result of construction efforts by the expeditioners of the 49^th and 50^th ANARE. ’Scobie’ casts a legendary shadow over all things Macquarie Island, having spent two winters and nine summers on Macca in a variety of roles.

To quote from the 1997 station log written by station leader Phil Barnaart of the 50^th ANARE: '…the end of summer season dinner was held tonight with the pre-dinner drinks in the new office in Cumpstons. Building officially opened by Scobie Pye — a man who has not only worked on the building but has had a 25 year association with the sub–Antarctic.'

Happy 20^th Birthday Cumpstons Cottage!

Kyle Williams — Station Leader, Macquarie Island 70^th ANARE