“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
It was 465 days from when I submitted my application to the moment I boarded the Nuyina in Hobart.
A year of interviews and medicals. A constant self-evaluation of your life, health and personality, rightly judging whether you’re suitable and worthy for this amazing, beautiful, brutal and invasive life adventure. Quietly and consciously adjusting your life and your relationships "just in case" you progress to the next stage. Who will be there for those that rely on me? Who will be there for me to rely on them?
When I finally did get that call, naturally plans are made for all the things I will do while there, nature and aurora photography, yoga and gym, beach hikes and Orca spotting, field trips and movie nights. The possibilities to learn and grow were endless.
All through training the fear of not being sent down still lingers. Horror stories of sudden sicknesses, surprise ailments and the dreaded breaking a bone while getting off the ship. All terrifying realities that your extensive planning can still be for nought. So careful, careful we go about our days to ensure full and perfect health, until the arrival and departure of the ship from Macquarie island.
After a 4 day voyage we arrive. Like a spooky fairy tale Macquarie island appears out of the fog. Seals, petrels and penguins instantly surrounding you. The journey to station like a movie set.
Straight to work, fast paced and fun. Learning on the fly as you only can in a place like this. I rarely stopped smiling for 13 straight days…and then the island decided enough of this! Blew me off the path, onto a rock and broke my leg.
How incredibly lucky I felt that I was able to stay. Lucky and relieved and sad and frustrated.
No walks. No Yoga. No stairs to movie night. No helping in the kitchen. No auroras in the dark. No being a part of all the things that make you a feel like a member of the station community.
But as always in these situations, others get their chance to shine. The gentleness and understanding I’ve been shown by members of this ANARE is commendable. Finding me the quiet spaces, bringing the movie to me, helping me navigate a safe path over the rocks and the mud. Picking up aspects of my job that I’m unable to do without any fuss whatsoever. Wonderful and soul soothing conversations. And then there's my support from home, regularly checking in and ensuring my morale stayed high. I’m so incredibly grateful.
So finally, after 8 long weeks, I can begin to plan and enjoy the rest of my year. I am now the person that hasn't watched the TV series you loved, all here is new and exciting and I have everything still to look forward to. And to my kids…I'll be more careful, I swear.
Signing off to walk confidently and carefully to tractor rock (unfortunately not a rock that looks like a tractor).
Shantel
Station Supply Officer
