The 78th ANARE catch their first glimpse of the majestic Macquarie Island and farewell the outgoing team.

New beginnings

On the morning of Thursday 15 May, the excited 78th ANARE team aboard the Nuyina saw their first glimpse of a verdant Macquarie Island shrouded in mist and rising abruptly above the wild Southern Ocean.

Within two hours of anchoring, the first of the team enjoyed a short helicopter ride across to the isthmus and were met by Station Leader Bec and members of the outgoing 77th ANARE. Inductions were completed and thus began the massive effort of resupply. Over the next 18 days there was a hive of activity with personnel transfers to and from the ship, handovers between members of the incoming and outgoing teams, cargo transfer by lighter amphibious cargo (LARC) and helicopters, refuelling, down island hut resupply and field training, and numerous project teams conducting a huge range of tasks. For most of resupply there were about 60 people on island which kept our two fabulous chefs very busy.

Resupply takes a massive effort by many people including the 77th ANARE led by Bec, and the Voyage Management Team (VMT) led by Chris; it takes weeks of planning and scheduling, none of it made easier by the weather conditions on a small island in the middle of the Southern Ocean. As well as the station team and the VMT there are so many others who contribute to make it work - LARCies, helicopter pilots and aircraft ground support officers (AGSOs), the refuel co-ordinator, ships' crew, project people, and our Station Supply Officers who work tirelessly processing ingoing and outgoing cargo.

To everybody who contributed in any way to this effort – a huge thanks from the 78th team for setting us up for the year ahead.

On the evening of 3 June at 6:15pm, the 78th team farewelled the outgoing 77th team by setting off expired flares from the Ham Shack above station. The ship reciprocated with a beautiful light show, a blast of the horn, and a graceful circle in Buckles Bay before setting off homeward bound into the night.

To Bec and the 77th ANARE team, thank you for welcoming us, showing us the ropes and for your good care of this beautiful place.  We wish you all the best in your next adventures and, in turn, look forward to being custodians of Macquarie Island for the year ahead.

Karen - Station Leader

A group of smiling people standing in a group on a green helicopter deck on the back of a ship.
three black and white penguins stand on a beach watching out to an orange ship in the sea.
Two men in orange jackets stand talking on the beach with an orange ship in the ocean in the background
A pink and green aurora in the night sky above lit-up buildings
A bright green aurora with three vertical stripes set against the dark night sky with some white clouds visible.
A man wearing a dark green hood and dark green coat and pants stands in the snow with a building visible in the background.
A smiling man and woman wearing bright orange coats sit on a step with an orange ship in the background.
A women crouches in the snow and makes a radio call - a building and snow-covered mountain are in the background.
A man in an orange coat leans on a fence and looks into the distance.
A vivid green-blue aurora reaches into the night sky with a dark hill and clouds in the foreground.
An amphibious boat with sharks teeth painted on the front leaves the sea and drives onto the land. An orange ship is in the background.
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