Mawson station’s winter team settles in for the long haul, medical training is conducted on rock melons and no casualties recorded as expeditioners have a go at making Sunday dinner.

Views of Mawson

We've all been busy unpacking the resupply of Mawson but there’s always time at the end of the day to go for wander around station. These are a few of my favourite moments so far from my evening constitutionals.

The winter team at the Mawson Sign
The hut was moved from Heard Island to Mawson
Penguin footprints on side of iceberg
A Weddell seal enjoying the sun
Brightly coloured Jellyfish
Sunset over the icebreaker the Aurora Australis

Medical training

In preparation for survival and field travel training, station doctor Kate provided training for expeditioners on the use of injections under field conditions. The chef was able to provide rock melons to be a human analogue. The melons had passed their use by date in that they had a large degree of mould and were due for disposal. 

Practising giving an injection on a rock melon
The station chef is carefully clearing bubbles from the syringe.

Sunday dinner

Students of the ‘Helicopter Resources-Air Ground Support Officer International Academy of Culinary Excellence’ were dragged kicking and screaming into the kitchen to prepare Sunday dinner. By some divine intervention, a meal was produced, apparently without the loss of too many body parts — at least the correct cutting board was used — or alarm panels lighting up. Most winterers were listed as ‘stable’ by the next day. A job well done!

Jenn is looking at a jar and is not sure what to do with it
Lance is cooking noodles but the directions are in Chinese
Dale and Angus demonstrating how to cook to the the others in the kitchen
Kim the station chef is helping the group cook

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