The Rotary Club of Timaru is extending its reach using video technology to make contact with people outside our local community.
We held our first such live link on Tuesday 12 September 2017 with Rose Forrester and Paul Lovegrove at Scott Base in Antarctica.
Rose is the Winter Base Leader managing the winter-over team for the 2016/17 season. She oversees the general operations at Scott Base, liaises with other International Antarctic programmes, acts as a JP for Ross Island and, as a medic, she provides medical support and emergency response for base staff and visitors.Paul is a science technician responsible for the Scott Base Information Technology infrastructure gathering data such as measuring the regeneration of the ozone layer and changes in the sea ice to send to NIWA and thence to universities worldwide.
2017 is the 60th year since the Base was established with the original hut being restored over this winter. The winter–over staff of 13 include Rose & Paul, a water engineer, two domestic staff, a carpenter, a field support officer, a mechanic, a radio operator and a chef. In summer the staff rises to 35 - 40. A ship brings the year’s supplies of timber, fuel and food basics in January and fresh food is flown in 3 times a week in summer. All waste products are taken back to NZ by ship. The principal fuel is diesel, supplimented by a wind farm which generates about 40% of the electricity used at the base.
Problems living in this environment where it is dark for 24 hours for four months include the extreme cold (temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees), the obvious lack of sun during these months and the lack of exercise. One of the strategies aimed at helping maintain fitness among the winter-over staff is the Trans Antarctic Challenge which involves working towards a total of 3,500 km on the treadmill, spin bike or rowing machine. The daily routine is very important. Working days are 6 days a week from 8.00am – 5.00pm with only Sundays, Xmas Day and Boxing Day off.
This is an extraordinarily beautiful part of the world that few of us are fortunate enough to experience directly. Paul and Rose's talk helped us gain a little insight to life in the deepest south; click this link to see some photos of this beautiful place that Rose shared with us.
Many thanks to Dave Woods for organising this special video link from Scott Base with Rose and Paul.