In this edition:
Gough65 celebrating team member, Bubele Nongwejana’s birthday. Photo: Thendo Sikhwari
Anché Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 24 October 2019
The S.A. Agulhas II departed from the Port of Cape Town at around 10pm, 02 September 2019 and will return on 07 October 2019. Click here to view the voyage schedule.
| Team Member | Position |
|---|---|
| Mr Errol Julies | Communication/Electronics Engineer and Team Leader |
| Mr Thendo Sikhwari | Senior Meteorological Technician and Deputy Team Leader |
| Ms Michelle Risi-Jones | Field Assistant and Deputy Team Leader- Scientific |
| Mr Dylan Seaton | Meteorological Technician |
| Ms Siyasanga Mphehle | Meteorological Technician |
| Mr Thabiso Maphumulo | Electrician |
| Mr Bubele Nongwejana | Medical Orderly |
| Mr Gilbert Kgang | Diesel Mechanic |
| Mr Christopher Jones | Field Assistant |
| Mr Alexis Osborne | Field Assistant |
L-R: Bubele Nongwejana, Thabiso Maphumulo, Gilbert Kgang, Errol Julies, Thendo Sikhwari, Siyasanga Mphehle and Dylan Seaton.
Field assistants: Michelle Risi-Jones, Alexis Osborne and Christopher Jones. Photo Credit: Michelle Risi-Jones.
Anché Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 04 September 2019
Mid-Winter is celebrated right across Antarctica by all the nations & stations. It is the 0ldest tradition in Antarctica and refers to the Winter Solstice (or hibernal solstice). It occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky.
At the pole, there is continuous darkness or twilight around the winter solstice. Its opposite is the summer solstice.
The winter solstice occurs during the hemisphere’s winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (usually 20 or 21 June). Although the winter solstice itself lasts only a moment, the term sometimes refers to the day on which it occurs. Other names are “midwinter”, the “extreme of winter” (Dongzhi), or the “shortest day”.
So, for Antarctic Expeditioners / Overwinterers the worst is over with regards to dark (lack of light and sunlight).
Happy Mid- Winter to all – share this email far and wide.
From all of us
Jasmine Arnold
Office Administrator to The Ship’s Operations Manager | Directorate: Southern Oceans & Antarctic Support | Office address: East Pier, Waterfront | Direct no: 021 405 9485 | Switchboard: 021 405 9400
Mid-winter Event Pretoria, South Africa – organised by Carol Jacobs :
Call for all electricians, that consist of the minimum requirements for this position, to apply as soon as possible.
Please click on the link below for more information regarding this position:
Electrician – Gough (OC03.2019)
DEADLINE: 24 June 2019
Please Contact Mr Willem Boshoff for more information – Telephone (021) 405 9418
Read more about Gough Island here.
Also view the inside of the base, where you will stay for 13 months.
Anché Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 12 June 2019
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) announced the availability of positions for the Gough Island Restoration Programme (GIRP). This programme is planned to commence in 2020 and aims to get rid of the bird-eating mice on Gough Island.
https://www.facebook.com/GoughIsland/posts/709619229472872
If you are interested in more information or if you would like to join the team, download this document – Gough Island Restoration Programme baiting team member application briefing.
Applicants need to fill out the application at the end of the document and email to pmcclelland@xtra.co.nz.
Note that the selection of the team is likely to be in September 2019, hence submit your application as soon as possible.
Feel free to contact Pete McClelland or Richard Switzer for further queries.
– Pete McClelland (baiting team) – pmcclelland@xtra.co.nz
– Richard Switzer (aviculture team) – Richard.Switzer@rspb.org.uk
Anché Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 31 May 2019
East Pier Shed, East Pier Lane,
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town,
South Africa