This week at Casey station, 13 November 2009.

One first and one annual event were celebrated at Casey this week.

For the first time the ceremony marking the retirement of one of the Division's longer serving employees, Richard M, was able to be joined by the stations through the use of the video conferencing system.

It was fitting that someone who has been closely involved with the expeditioners in many roles over his more than twenty years of service was to be the first to be able to share his retirement in this way.

This was also a chance for Graham Cook, as a current station leader, to be able to personally express the thanks and appreciation of Richard's contribution to the present and past station leaders and expeditioners within the forum of the ceremony.

Cookie has his say Photo: Ian P.

Casey joins in as Richard responds Photo: Ian P.

Speaking of Cookie, it seems he manages to make his birthday coincide with significant events in Antarctica each time he is down, though up to now this has usually involved the arrival of ships and aircraft. Not one to hide behind his bushel, he is quite convinced that this is the Division's way of honouring his birthday and not just a coincidence of operational activity.

On this occasion it was Richard's retirement, and I feel sure that his remark that this was the best birthday present the Division has given him referred to his being able to make his contribution to the occasion, rather than that Richard was retiring.

Given that it was difficult for the station to not know it was his birthday, Cookie was showered with gifts and presented with a cake at dinner that night. While Cookie was obviously delighted, I am left wondering what Bob was thinking, given that rather enigmatic smile.

A happy Cookie Photo: Ian P.

Cookie's cake Photo: Ian P.

With the arrival of 49 expeditioners last week and the 4 CASA C212 pilots this week it is all go at Casey. Field training has begun, the Wilkins team and the aircraft engineers being the first to be taken out into the great white hell for survival training.

More in the Mess

Butter wouldnt melt in their mouths

The once quiet mess is now abuzz at meal times, the chefs are flat out cooking for 72 and the ex Kingston desk jockey's, Jeff and Wendy, now rough tough rugged legends of the ice are up to their elbows in suds and dishes.

Surviving the wilderness

You still need to look good in the wild

Science and works programs are up and running after a big blizz on the weekend that gave all of the new crew the opportunity to experience winds to 96 knots on Sunday.

This was followed by a windy Monday with light breezes of 60 to 75 knots where they were able to fully appreciate the joy of travelling between buildings in a vertical position while Mother Nature did her best to put them in a horizontal one.

New expeditioners, new programs, flights, training programs, science in the field, Building programs, feeding the masses, getting runways and skiways up and running requires some planning and co-ordination. That usually means meetings, meetings and more meetings.

Supervisors meet

Another sign that changes are afoot is the boxes and bins that are packed for RTA, and the piles of bags that appear when a flight comes in. Out with the old and in with the new, slowly the 2009 winter team will hand-over the station that has been home for the past year.

Packed to go.

Times Change

In the past wintering teams on station would usually be replaced in their entirety by the incoming winter team at a handover ceremony during resupply. Occasionally a few of the new winterers would arrive on station on an earlier voyage or some may have gone home early but generally it was out with the old and in with the new.

The handover ceremony was held to acknowledge the efforts of the outgoing team and to officially hand the control of the station to the new team. At this time winterers were presented with the highly regarded Antarctic service medallions. With the official handover completed the team would say their goodbyes, unwind a little and soon be sent to the ship for the trip home.

Times have changed and these days more expeditioners are staying on for the summer either at the station where they wintered or they are transferred to another station by air or sea. At Casey this year the first transfer has taken place, with one of the wintering electricians flying to Davis for the summer by CASA C212 this morning.

Once the A319 flights begin in December the winter team will change rapidly. 3 members fly home on the first flight, 1 on the second, 6 on the 4^th flight, after the official handover to the new team during resupply, 2 will leave on the AA, 3 will stay on for all of the summer and 3 will fly home in January.

With changes to the way we operate there is a need to change our traditional ceremonies and handovers. At Casey in particular the ability to bring the departing team and the incoming team together for a full handover has perhaps disappeared forever.

Last night Lisa O the first member of the 62^nd ANARE to depart from Casey was presented with her wintering medallion. Lisa flew to Davis on a flight that departed at 4:30 am this morning.

It has been a tremendous honour and great pleasure to work with her for the past year. Her enthusiasm and sense of humour has been infectious.

Take care mate and enjoy your summer at Davis, we will miss you.

The first presentation. Photo: Ian P.

Lisa proudly shows her medallion and infectious smile. Photo: Ian P.