Antarctica soldier talks at Our City

All military activities are banned there. Yet without the military, scientific research on Antarctica would be less fruitful and less satisfactory than it is today.

It is military personnel that enables scientific programmes in the harshest of conditions anywhere on Earth (the US and NZ military help with transporting scientists and equipment to Scott Base and McMurdo Station and around Antarctica).

Each year around September, Operation Antarctica finds New Zealand Defence Force beginning its large scale preparations at Harewood, Christchurch to air-lift supplies to Antarctica.

In 1993 - at that time a Captain - Lieutenant Colonel Chuck Dowdell did a tour of duty at Scott Base with the Royal New Zealand Army.

This Saturday, at Our City O-Tautahi, LtCol Dowdell will recount the ethereal experience of being in Antarctica, speaking of the astounding beauty and otherworldliness of the ice-bound continent.

His talk is a special event for the exhibition Antarctica: The Big Ice. Exploration. Science. Inspiration.
Our City O-Tautahi Exhibition Coordinator, Fiona Clayton say the talk promises to be a telling experience. 

"We're looking forward to a talk and discussion which encourages its audience to think about the Antarctic experience in new ways - the challenges, the rewards and LtCol Dowdell's obvious enthusiasm for Antarctica." says Ms Clayton.

LtCol Dowdell will talk of his impressions: of the vastness he experienced, of the colourlessness of the environment and the quietude that beckons for his return.

"To be sent there to work was a real bonus. It's certainly the nicest place I've ever been sent to," says LtCol Dowdell.

LtCol Dowdell was part of a team chosen not just for their technical skill but for their 'personality fit' after an extensive selection and training process.

The stringent selection process and developing the team socially before heading to Antarctica meant that he received important support from a team who were like family when he needed it most during his six months spent on the ice.

"My first child was six months old when I went there so I missed the first Christmas and first birthday.

"It was difficult because it was my first time away but we had a great team. They really are your family away from home," says LtCol Dowdell.

"Once there it was important to normalise the cold and remoteness through routine and cope with conditions where simple tasks like tying your bootlaces became a major challenge," he says.

LtCol Chuck Dowdell will begin the talk at 2.30pm on Saturday 13 October at Our City O-Tautahi, cnr Oxford Tce and Worcester Blvd.

The New Zealand Defence Force's Role
Each year Antarctica New Zealand requests New Zealand Defence Force support for the forthcoming Antarctic summer season. The NZDF also provides support to the United States Antarctic Programme.
Jobs include search and rescue support, air transport, Terminal Operations at Harewood (Christchurch Int. Airport) and McMurdo, ship offload operations and Scott Base support personnel