As the Station Leader at Mawson I can unequivocally state that when the ship is fast appoaching the station, it's alway a tumultuous time. This is regardless of how things seem externally, from both a station community and an individual perspective.
This past week we crammed in as much as we could before the Nuyina's scheduled arrival. There was the usual cleaning up bedrooms, the packing of gear for those moving out, and then the spruce up for the rest of the Red Shed and workspaces.
On a personal level there is letting yourself think about seeing your friends and family again in person, and those 'what do I do when I get back' thoughts. We also enjoyed a cloudy but warm Mawson Australia Day, having a quick dip in the sea before a long soak in a warm spa and a delicious spit roast lunch with hydroponics salad. That was followed by an 'End of Summer impromptu Mawson Award Ceremony' on Friday, which was a lot of laughs.
For me it doesn't really become a reality until you get sent a picture of Mawson from the ship, and although you cant see them, you know they can see you. Before you know it RSV Nuyina is right there at the mouth of the harbour - looking sleek and capable, while cutting through sea ice that has held fast to the harbour and islands in the local area.
With delays elsewhere, there was that niggling worry on station that we could be back later into Hobart. But as often happens, the ship arrived exactly on time. The usual katabatics have been light and variable, but with the help of the ship we now have a group of eager expeditioners to inform, before we climb on board and head home.
This morning's 25 to 30 knot winds have put us in a better postion, with the sea ice pushed up to the foot of the harbour. My gut feeling?.. cargo and refuelling ops are imminent!
This will be the last article from the 77th ANARE. We are now handing over the weekly Station News to a new, eager bunch of expeditioners, ready to relate their experiences.
Thanks for your patronage over the past months.
Ali Dean, outgoing Mawson Station Leader
Through the eyes of an incoming Station Team.
We entered the sea ice north of Mawson near Iceberg Alley, which was the most dramatic and suspense-building approach you could hope for. The mountain ranges that characterise the Mawson operational footprint loomed large, and the entire ship's crew and passengers marvelled at the impressive and captivating scenery. Forty-three days aboard the ship was well worth this inspiring entrance.
The iconic Mawson wind turbine gradually got bigger and finally the station and all its features were in front of us. The waving arms of the 77th ANARE team on the West Arm was a true indicator around how warmly and genuinly our arrival was met. The fact it took the best part of two days to break enough ice to launch the smaller people transporters to shore, only built the anticipation and excitement from the 78th ANARE team. We are a really close group, having spent so much time training and travelling together. Now we have reached the “start line”, we will really get to understand and embrace the challenges ahead.
We are grateful for every part of the AAD machine in getting us to this point, and we are excited and humbled to be met by Ali Dean and her 77th team, and take instruction and teaching from a great group. Handover, resupply, refuelling and a steep learning curve is all ahead of us, and we are totally ready.
Dave Roberts, incoming Station Leader
