Monday 14 January 1974
No helicopter movement today. Another ice sledge has failed otherwise Base routine as usual. The kitchen drain having been installed work is proceeding on the ablution drain. The Superintendent arrived at 1800 hours. He knew all about the love affair as the two here had both written to their respective spouses in NZ. The whole thing is wasting precious helicopter hours. What a mess.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 4 knots Temperature -2.0°C
Ration Strength 31
Tuesday 15 January 1974
The Superintendent and Harry McDonald flew to Vanda today. On the return journey they brought with them Ian Curphey and the three members of the Franz Lazi film team.
John Warriner suffered a shock whilst working on one of the Post Office transmitters. He claims that someone had reconnected the transmitter to the mains whilst he was at morning tea but it seems more likely that he merely forgot to disconnect himself.
In the evening a group of people including Bill Johnson and Titch Gibson were drinking and skylarking in the Mess. None of them was drunk but they had got to the point of tossing each other full opened beer cans to catch when Titch, going one better tossed Bill Johnson a full glass of brandy. The brandy splashed in his eyes causing him a good deal of pain. His eyes were bathed at once and Bill was rushed over to the McMurdo sick bay. I am told that there is unlikely to be permanent damage but meantime he cannot see out of one eye and is suffering a lot of discomfort. Titch volunteered for an extra mouse duty as a penance.
Conditions at 0900 hours Calm Temperature -1.3°C
Ration Strength 33
Wednesday 16 January 1974
The Superintendent has decided to replace Ian Curphey with Bill Johnson. I agree with the decision but will sorely miss Bill both as a friend and as an engineer. Bill Anders the astronaut visited the Base to view our survival and rescue training and see the dogs in action.
The helicopter from the ice breaker called today bringing a roll of lino underslung as a gift. Late in the day I was told by Terminal Operations that I could get Ian Curphey on an aircraft leaving at 0600 hours tomorrow. In preparation for a 0400 hours start from the Base I went to bed early but was awakened at 2230 hours with the news that the plane had been cancelled.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind East 1 knots Temperature -2.1
Ration Strength 37
Thursday 17 January 1974
The Superintendent and Harry McDonald flew to the drill site at New Harbour and Event 10 at Lake Bonney. The drillers are in good heart despite the advice I had received that our field assistants with the group had complaints. At Lake Bonney the helicopter picked up Terry Healy, at Vanda Gerry Straka and at the Lower Wright, John Rothery. All are now at Base.
One of Vaska’s pups has fallen sick. It howls frequently and seems demented. It neither takes food nor defecates and is rapidly growing weaker. In the evening Shaun and I attended the VXE 6 Squadron 19th Anniversary dinner.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-West 14 knots Temperature +0.2°C
Ration Strength 38
Friday 18 January 1974
This morning Brian Sissons and Doug Northey moved over to McMurdo to occupy quarters in the US Coastguard ice breaker Staten Island. It seems as though they may be able to complete their project after all. I spent the early morning discussing various minor aspects of the Base. The ablution block drain is proceeding.
In the afternoon I was startled when Bill Johnson after a telephone conversation with his wife decided he could not take the Vanda job. Bill Whitely was then approached but after sleeping on it decided not to accept.
The sick husky pup failed to improve and was finally killed with an injection. It had been howling almost continuously and was in obvious pain.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 13 knots Temperature -4.5°C
US Coastguard ice breaker
Ration Strength 38
Saturday 19 January 1974
With Bill Whitley no longer a prospect for Vanda leadership some hurried discussion took place with Bob Newland. Finally he agreed to spend the winter in Vanda as a general maintenance man subject to visiting the place and also getting a chance to go back to NZ and re-arrange his affairs. At 1300 hours we dispatched the Superintendent, Harry McDonald, Ian Thomas, Gerry Straka, Terry Healy Ian Curphey and Tony Atkinson in SnoTracs to Williams Field en-route to NZ. Tony was returning for a short visit for domestic reasons. At 1200 hours the Post Office told me that the aircraft had developed a fault and had still not taken off. Meantime Maurice Conly and Janet Crump had arrived from Vanda. Maurice’s paintings were on display all around the Mess.
During the afternoon everyone not on engaged on urgent work picked up rubbish to the East of the Base. Eight of us got about three clean sacks full each and there was still plenty of rubbish left. Earlier in the day Bill Johnson had organised a “Skua patrol” to the McMurdo dump and came back with welding rod to repair the second faulty ice sledge.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North 18 knots Temperature -8.9°C
Ration Strength 36
Sunday 20 January 1974
A quiet day. No helicopter movement. Most Base staff seemed to spend the day mending, darning and writing letters. At dinner Stuart Clarke mentioned that his friend Nancy was seeking permission to winter over in McMurdo. Nancy, who was having dinner with us, explained that she has a grant from her University to complete a project. Gordon Nation then commented that apart from the scientific value of her stay there would be a “spin-off” for Scott Base in that it would not be necessary to use a dozer to keep the road to McMurdo clear as Stuart would beat it flat with his feet.
In the evening the Lazi film team showed films of Ceylon and the Seychelle Islands.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind East-North-East 8 knots Temperature -5.0°C
Ration Strength 30
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