| Training
cont.. [pg1,
pg2, pg3,
pg4]
Station and Field training
is to prepare us for what is to come both on the station and
when out in the field. This
year at Macca we will not have the luxury of having field
training on the Island, as we are having a full changeover
when we get there, hence no Field Training Officer, which
usually stays for the Summer to take us out in the field.
Therefore we had to make up for it in the Tasmanian Central
Highlands and rely on the expertise of some of our winter
crew who have wintered at Macca previously.
We started out with an overnight camp in tents overlooking
Lake Augusta, going through some SAR (Search and Rescue) procedures
after setting up camp. The next day the weather turned it
on for us, a very real simulation with extremely cold temperatures
and snow to greet us in the morning, we packed up camp, split
into two teams and headed for an 8km hike through some rough,
hilly, trackless scrub and bush using maps and compass to
guide us to our destination while carrying our food and campsite
in our backpacks. Each person in the team had to navigate
a section of the hike. We then camped the night on the banks
of Lake Ada, in the morning we packed camp after breakfast
and headed back to our starting point. We then spent the rest
of the day going through SAR procedures, rope work etc. The
rest of the week was spent at Bronte park and nearby sites
going through the station training - environmental policies,
life on station, expected conduct and behaviour, more SAR
training, SAR etc.
| |
|
First night campsite
near Lake Augusta
|
We
are greeted the next morning by a beautiful sunrise
and falling snow
|
|
|
From
left: Mike, Louise, Don, Henry, Clint and Graham - Hiking
through the bush.
(photo by
Clint) |
Steve,
Field Training Officer (FTO) puts us through our paces
(photo by Clint) |
| |
|
Heather - FTO
teaching us anchoring systems for rope rescue.
(photo by Clint)
|
Hauling up a stretcher during a
SAR exercise. |
|
|
Moose
and Joe listen attentively during SAR training.
(photo by Clint) |
Graham (Megsy) ropes up to Abseil
down the hill.
(photo
by Clint) |
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