by Ria Olivier | Oct 8, 2021 | Gough Island, Newsletters>Gough Island Newsletters
Final Newsletter from Gough 66 Overwintering team,
Read in this issue
- Final Words from the team leader: ” Our 13 months on the island has been filled with a lot of adventure and we were part of history in the making, we accommodated the Geo Searcher crew after they lost their vessel in the sea and got to be part of GIRP. …. I will forever cherish the time I spent on this island with the rest of G66 team members and all our visitors.”
- From The editor: “Here we are once again, with another final issue of a Gough Bunting newsletter. Thank you G66 and GIRP for the best, and busiest, year this island has ever seen. Thank you all once again, and to all the readers of our newsletters.”
- THE GOUGH ISLAND RESTORATION PROGRAMME Some closing words from Andrew Callender (Gough Island Programme Executive), Pete McClelland (Operations Manager) and Amy King (Senior Aviculturist) on the restoration of Gough Island.
- FAREWELL FROM G66 some goodbyes from the Gough Island 66 overwintering team.
- FROM THE METKASSIES monthly weather stats from the SAWS team
by Ria Olivier | Sep 30, 2021 | Antarctica, Data Management, Gough Island, Marion Island, Not-Assigned, Prince Edward Islands, Research, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Infratsructure, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean
South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI): Launch of the Preparatory Phase
The SAPRI team is pleased to inform you that the contractual agreement for the starting of the SAPRI implementation phase is being finalized between the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF). We have now entered the Preparatory Phase of SAPRI’s operationalisation and interim measures are being put in place to ensure progress is made. Until the formal signature of the contract, the SAPRI cannot officially initiate Phase 1, but in the interim the Preparatory Phase will continue the conceptual design of the RI and predispose priority actions with the support of the community.
These achievements would not have been possible without the trust demonstrated by the scientific SANAP community towards the SAPRI team, the contribution and constructive support of the DFFE Oceans & Coasts Branch managing the SANAP logistics, and the commitment to collaborate offered by other institutions that have historically been involved in polar research. This gestation and birth of SAPRI is a major advancement to streamline, consolidate and grow the South African polar sciences, and represent a systemic innovation to maximize the investments of the various governmental institutions involved. The SAPRI will officially start from the advantageous position of being incubated within South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), which will fast-track the establishment of the governance and of the consortium agreements.
The launch of the SAPRI Preparatory Phase was announced via a webinar and a Q&A session to illustrate the main aspects of SAPRI, its organization into integrated facilities, and the first steps of the implementation phase listed in the business plan. To accelerate the implementation phase, it is proposed to initiate an informal Preparatory Phase of SAPRI and to discuss the following actions with the community of stakeholders:
- Establishment of the User Fora overseeing the requirements of the integrated facilities.
- Implementation of the Task Team for the reorganization of SANAP within the NRF.
- Consultation and discussion on the implementation steps for the Polar Science Transformation Plan.
- Establishment of the DFFE-SAPRI Task Team for assisting with science-related logistics. This will include discussions around the SA Agulhas II dry dock scheduled for November 2021.
The virtual webinar took place on 29th September 13:00-15:00 and was led by the SAPRI team; Tamaryn Morris, Marcello Vichi, Juliet Hermes, Johannes Pauw.
- Overview of SAPRI
- Current status, Business Plan priorities, budget requirements and transformation actions
- Q&A
- Preparatory phase
The following links are available to the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa Archive of the webinar recordings and presentations of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI): launch of the Preparatory Phase:
IMPORTANT documents related to and to be read together with SAPRI proposal available on ALSA archive:
by Ria Olivier | Sep 23, 2021 | Announcement, Gough Island, News, Overwintering Team, SANAP, Southern Ocean, Take-Over Operations, Tristan da Cunha
The 67th Gough Island overwintering team, all crew onboard the S.A. Agulhas II, and take-over personnel have gone through an isolation period and Covid19 testing prior to departure to Gough Island. The vessel departed from East Pier, Cape Town Harbor on the 15th of September 2021 and after a stop at Tristan da Cunha, arrived at Gough Island today, 23 September 2021.
This take-over will be led by Mardené de Villiers (Meteorological Officer at South African Weather Service), as Chief Scientist. The team leader of the new Gough Island team (G67) is Sandile Nkebe, who is also appointed as the Medical Orderly of the team. The deputy team leader is Peter Chuku, the Communications Engineer, who has overwintered on Gough Island before (2017/2018).
Three of the team members of G66, Kim Stevens, Vonica Perold, and Roelf Daling, will stay on as part of G67 and continue to play a crucial role in the follow-up stages of the Gough Island Restoration Programme. Read more about this mice eradication programme here.
All the best to all involved in this take-over operations, including the team returning home and to the new team that will be taking over duties on Gough Island.
Meet the rest of the team:
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 23 September 2021
by Ria Olivier | Sep 21, 2020 | Gough Island, Overwintering Team, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, sub-Antarctic, Take-Over Operations, Uncategorised
Gough Island is located at 40°S, 9°W – 2600 km from East Pier, Cape Town Harbour. (Image above by Christopher Jones currently onthe Island) South Africa has been operating a weather station on Gough Island since 1956. The first overwintering team consists of 4 members , but since then the team structure has developed to include more members. The team consists of a Medical Orderly, Diesel Mechanic, Electrical Engineer and a Communications Engineer. The South African Weather Service(SAWS send a team that consist of a Senior Meteorological Technician and two Meteorological Technicians. The rest of the team is made up of 3 Field assistants of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB). A team leader and deputy team leader are also appointed for the duration of their time.
(Above L-R: Tshimangadzo Jufter(Jay) Munyai – Leader and Electrical Engineer, Catherine(Cathy) Mbazwana – Deputy Leader and Medical Orderly, S’Celo Ndwalane – Diesel Mechanic and Gert Benadé – Communications Engineer)
(Above L-R: Zinhle(Zee) Shongwe – Senior Meteorological Technician and Meteorological Technicians (Asa) Somaxaka and Dylan Seaton (of Gough65 staying on for another year)
(Above L-R: RSPB field assistants; Vonica Perold, Roelf Daling and Kim Stevens
As with Marion77 overwintering team the 2020 annual S.A. Agulhas II relief voyage to Gough Island departed on 19 September 2020 under strict Covid-19 health protocols. In the midst of these protocols and given the clear the Gough 66 made time to be part of South Africa Heritage Celebrations and answered the call by President Ramaphosa and create a video of the #JeruslaemDanceChallenge (have a look on Facebook). Gough will stop at Tristan de Cunha on the way to Gough Island and then Gough 66 will take-over form Gough65
(Above L-R: Richard Hall – Logistics Manager, Vonica Perold, Roelf Daling and Kim Stevens – RSPB Field Asisstants and Nini van der Merwe(BirdlifeSA) with poster of restoration programme. The Gough Island Restoration 2021 also gets underway with the departure of Gough 66. RSPB;” Six months after having made the devastating decision to postpone the 2020 restoration of Gough Island, our team is back in strength and starting to gear up for what we hope will be a 2021 mouse eradication attempt.”
Above a few preliminary team photos (L-R: girls of 66, Team66, Guys of 66) Follow #GOUGH66 on Twitter @Antarcticlegacy and Facebook
by Ria Olivier | Sep 16, 2020 | Announcement, Gough Island, Overwintering Team, SA Agulhas II, sub-Antarctic, Take-Over Operations, Tristan da Cunha
Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries : Media Statement – 15 September 2020 : SA Agulhas II will depart for Gough Island under strict health protocols:
The 2020 annual SA Agulhas II relief voyage to Gough Island will depart on 17 September 2020 under strict Covid-19 health protocols.
by Ria Olivier | Aug 21, 2020 | Antarctica, Gough Island, Marion Island, SANAP
A friend of mine once told me that I am a borne civil servant, and it turns out she was right. Although I got accepted at the University of the Free State to study civil engineering after I matriculated, at the time my parents lacked the financial means for me to go through with it, and so started my career in the civil service at the Department of Public Works in Bloemfontein. One year later I was awarded a study bursary, and completed a four-year part-time qualification in Public Management and Administration at the Free State Technikon. In 2000 I was promoted, relocated to Cape Town, and joined the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. This was the best decision I ever made. (Image left: Gough Island – Image right: Marion Island)
(Images L-R: offloading at SANAE depot – SANAE helipad Neumayer delegation – Day trip to Neumayer)
So, working in procurement and supply chain management at the Directorate: Antarctica and Islands, I became part of the SANAP family (that was the spirit in those days). My first opportunity to participate in the South African National Antarctic Programme came in 2002, and to Antarctica no less. Thrown in at the deep end, as part of fast-tracking the next generation of DCO’s, I was on my way to SANAE. During the next few years, I participated (and coordinated) in relief voyages to SANAE, Marion Island, and Gough Island. I was incredibly lucky to be mentored by people such as Henry Valentine, Adriaan Dreyer, and Sam Oosthuizen. Their passion for the Programme was unmistaken and they taught me what SANAP was all about.
(Images L-R: Initiation ceremony onboard the SA Agulhas – DEAT team Marion Island – Gough Island Captain’s visit)
Since my early years I had a keen interest in construction and that led me to end my career in the public sector, and in 2006 I ventured into the unknown. I knew that to successfully manage a business you have to learn from the bottom up. So, I enrolled for a plumbing qualification at a Northlink College. Suddenly I found myself in a man’s world, and it took some convincing to secure an apprenticeship. Despite being a woman in my mid-thirties I insisted on no preferential treatment, and for the following 6 months I was spending my days digging trenches and chasing walls. My efforts paid off, and months later I was the owner of that very same business!
Turns out SANAP is my “Hotel California” and how true is the lyrics of the song. I checked out of my job at SANAP years earlier, but it seems I could never leave. In 2010 I placed everything on hold and jumped at the opportunity to spend the entire construction voyage (5 months) on Marion Island and to be one of the first occupants of the new Marion Island base. Appointed as Laboratory Manager by the CIB at Stellenbosch University, I coordinated the relocation and setup of the new laboratory facilities. Whilst on Marion, my passion for the Programme was rekindled and I vowed to return one day (one day turned out be 2019). Back home, and in between managing my own business, I enrolled at UNISA for a degree in Environmental Management. (Image top left: Marion Island construction voyage – Image top right: Time to relax with Hein Smith,Linda Clokie and Adriaan Dreyer).
When I look back, I realize how lucky I am to be able to draw on a wide range of expertise accumulated over the years. I honestly believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. Many people will insist that one needs to maintain a narrow focus to be successful, but I don’t agree with this view. Many of us have broad interests (this is certainly true for me), and I have lived most of my passions to the fullest. I am particularly proud of so far conquering two of the seven summits. My advice would be to live and pursue all of your interest to the fullest, and then push the boundaries and do even more. (Image left: Summit Mount Kilimanjaro).
I still participate in SANAP whenever possible, the most recent trip being the 2019 Marion Island relief voyage. Currently I live and work in Johannesburg, and under the supervision of Prof David Hedding (UNISA) I will complete my Hons in Geography this year. My project is linked to Marion Island spatial data – full circle back to SANAP.
Text and images supplied by Sandra Durand (ALSA will submit these images to the digital archive)
South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI): Launch of the Preparatory Phase
The SAPRI team is pleased to inform you that the contractual agreement for the starting of the SAPRI implementation phase is being finalized between the 
These achievements would not have been possible without the trust demonstrated by the scientific 
The launch of the SAPRI Preparatory Phase was announced via a webinar and a Q&A session to illustrate the main aspects of SAPRI, its organization into integrated facilities, and the first steps of the implementation phase listed in the business plan. To accelerate the implementation phase, it is proposed to initiate an informal Preparatory Phase of SAPRI and to discuss the following actions with the community of stakeholders:
The virtual webinar took place on 29th September 13:00-15:00 and was led by the SAPRI team; Tamaryn Morris, Marcello Vichi, Juliet Hermes, Johannes Pauw.
(Above L-R: Tshimangadzo Jufter(Jay) Munyai – Leader and Electrical Engineer, Catherine(Cathy) Mbazwana – Deputy Leader and Medical Orderly, S’Celo Ndwalane – Diesel Mechanic and Gert Benadé – Communications Engineer)
(Above L-R: Zinhle(Zee) Shongwe – Senior Meteorological Technician and Meteorological Technicians (Asa) Somaxaka and Dylan Seaton (of Gough65 staying on for another year)
(Above L-R: RSPB field assistants; Vonica Perold, Roelf Daling and Kim Stevens
As with 
(Above L-R: Richard Hall – Logistics Manager, Vonica Perold, Roelf Daling and Kim Stevens – RSPB Field Asisstants and Nini van der Merwe(BirdlifeSA) with poster of restoration programme. The 
Above a few preliminary team photos (L-R: girls of 66, Team66, Guys of 66) Follow #GOUGH66 on Twitter @Antarcticlegacy and 
Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries : Media Statement – 15 September 2020 : SA Agulhas II will depart for Gough Island under strict health protocols:
Gough Island, some 2600 km south-west of Cape Town, is very strategic for South Africa’s weather observations and forecasting. The weather data collected at Gough and Marion Islands and at SANAE IV on Antarctica, is important for the navigation of passing vessels, warning South Africa of impending severe weather systems (in the case of Gough Island), as well as providing insight into climate change. These datasets are also key to improving the accuracy of our global and regional weather forecast models.
A friend of mine once told me that I am a borne civil servant, and it turns out she was right. Although I got accepted at the 
(Images L-R: offloading at SANAE depot – SANAE helipad Neumayer delegation – Day trip to Neumayer)
(Images L-R: Initiation ceremony onboard the 
Turns out SANAP is my “
When I look back, I realize how lucky I am to be able to draw on a wide range of expertise accumulated over the years. I honestly believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. Many people will insist that one needs to maintain a narrow focus to be successful, but I don’t agree with this view. Many of us have broad interests (this is certainly true for me), and I have lived most of my passions to the fullest. I am particularly proud of so far conquering two of the seven summits. My advice would be to live and pursue all of your interest to the fullest, and then push the boundaries and do even more. (Image left: 
Currently I live and work in Johannesburg, and under the supervision of 
