This week at Mawson: 21 June 2024

Thought you might all like to see what we are up to on Friday for Midwinter!

Before coming to Antarctica, I had expected the penguins, icebergs and snow. What I didn’t expect were the everyday moments with my mates that make the whole experience something more than I can describe.

Every morning in the mess I hear voices chime “Good Morning”, “G’day Champion”, “How’d you sleep muscles”?

These aren’t out of place in a workplace, but what you might not hear amongt co workers are the discussions about what dreams were had, what’s the horoscope for this week, who turned the coffee grinder off, formula vs breastmilk debates and who got the best sleep score on their Garmin. This is an entirely different world than the one I came from in the NT!

Next up is the morning toolbox meeting. Again, more quality moments shared with my mates as we lie in wait for who will be chosen to be the weather reading victim. Important issues are raised including those elusive fuel tank lights, who broke the band saw, who’s going to fix that ute tail light, how’s that windmill going, if any cornices have fallen off the wall again, how’s Warren the incinerator (it’s always operator error).

Now the day begins and it’s time to hide somewhere until smoko. After jumping on the radio with a couple of “Yeah mate”s (so people know you’re out and about, and if you’re hiding in the Red Shed just carry a clip board and walk fast so people think you’re flat stick). A few more radio calls impersonating other people and it’s coffee time.

Smoko is where the crew really come together, the camaraderie really shines through. No, no, it’s not the place to try and do the daily crossword in peace, or enjoy some toast without an inspection of whether you’ve cut the bread straight, or God help you if you’ve left the coffee grinds in the machine. This is a networking event. This is when you must interrupt as many people as possible to scope out what their day entails and how you can ruin it with your own agenda. This is where every other single trade on station realise they need a sparky before they can carry on with their day.

You finally take your pick of the jobs depending on what you want to spend your next hour doing. Then a call on the radio comes through for help with a spill, or snapped door, or how to hook a forklift charger up properly. It looks like you’re needed to help some poor dieso sort his life out. You respond with all sincerity “ Sorry mate, I’m flat stick”.

Anyway, I’m off for lunch.

Bryce Kennedy

Electrician/Green Store Assistant