Finally I begin to head South. Expeditioners for the summer and also winterers for 2003 involved with the Australian Antarctic Division programs gathered at Bronte Park in central Tasmania for an intensive week of field training. Information and skills ranging from glacier travel techniques, environmental impact and the meals times on the base were presented, practiced and absorbed by all. The numerous introduction courses and general chats with experienced Antarcticans made the rapidly approaching trip south much more real. Bronte Park was also an ideal environment for cameraman Matthew Rooke and I to meet the other expeditioners who we will live with for the next 3/4 months.
Still there is a great deal to arrange and do including the fine tuning of art equipment I shall take with me. This art equipment has been kindly supplied by Art Spectrum in Melbourne whose support has been fantastic as are their products. It is a little difficult to predict my mode of working and the quantity of art gear I will need whilst situated at Davis base but I shall sort this out and if need be I will adapt and improvise down south. The remainder of my time in Hobart will be spent preparing this gear and my head for my second Antarctic journey. My hope is to set up a studio in one of the unused dry labs on board the Aurora Australis where I can with luck commence my painting and drawing. My next intransit text could be sent from such a lab somewhere in the massive Southern ocean. Comments are closed.
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