Operation Southern Discovery 2025-26: from Hobart to Antarctica
Hopefully readers will remember various
blogs in the last 12 months about AHQLB’s contribution to Operation Southern
Discovery (OpSD). While OpSD has been running for some years,
this is only the second year that AHQ has been involved.
Once again, another dozen personnel are
deploying to Antarctica for the 2025-26 summer season. The first group of six has been in Hobart
for nearly a month, staying at Anglesea Barracks, and undergoing induction and
briefings at the Antarctic Division in Kingston. In good preparation for the Antarctic
weather, Hobart has had typical equinox weather, with snow, hail, sleet, rain
and sunshine, sometimes all in one day.
Jan-Maree organised the making of the quilts
and laundry bags, each with the relevant service crest, Op SD logo, Lockheed
Martin logo and personalised initials on the laundry bags. The quilt tops were
made by Bobbie and the Mystery BOMers, and were embellished and quilted by the
Garage Girls and Philomena. The parcels
were posted down to me for safe keeping, and my dining room has been a sight,
with lots of lovely quilts and bags, labelled and tied with ribbon.
On Monday, 29 September, I had the pleasure of presenting the first
group with their quilts and laundry bags at Anglesea Barracks. They knew
about AHQ, and were very pleased to receive their gifts. The penguins and whales were a hit!
The group are all communication specialists
and their role down there will be to instal new communication systems at the
various Australian bases. The icebreaker
RSV Nuyina sailed from Hobart last weekend (with a couple of last season’s
recipients on board), but this group will fly down to Wilkins Airbase in the
near future. They will be deployed for
periods between two months to nearly four months. Some will fly back and two will be lucky
enough to sail back on the Nuyina.
Wishing them a safe and successful
deployment.
(Quilt tops by Bobbie and the Mystery
BOMers, embellished by the Garage Girls, quilted by Philomena.)
(LBs by Bridget R and Anne H)
Operation Southern Discovery (OpSD) is an enduring peace-time
activity in support of the Australian Antarctic Division and the Australian
Antarctic Program (AAP).
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