Thursday 31 March 2011
After a sleepless night and an early start, off to Hobart for the day for an interview with the Australian Antarctic Division. The last time I was in Hobart was two years ago when I attended the Australian Resuscitation Council Conference with a Ski Patrol colleague, who sadly died far too young late last year from a sudden event.
07:00 Leave home by taxi
10:30 Arrive at Antarctic Division
Interviews
15:30 Leave by taxi
18:50 Home
By amazing coincidence, along one edge of the runway perimeter is a row of neat green fir trees, which instantly reminded me of my beloved Oslo (Gardermoen Airport). Our approach to Hobart was over the ocean on a clear morning. A whole forest of fluffy sea fronds was visible below the surface, and the shadow of the 'plane grew larger and larger on the water as we came in to land. In the terminal we all had to present our hand luggage to the cute and industrious sniffer dog seeking out contraband fruit and vegetables (Tasmania being an island). Hobart is very spread-out around the harbor and surrounding hills, but in the centre of town there are still many elegant colonial-era sandstone buildings. There is also the famous Constitution Dock (Sydney to Hobart yacht race) and Salamanca Place (preserved colonial warehouses now shops, restaurants and an outdoor market).
The AAD headquarters in Kingston (about 20mins south of town) comprises a sprawling complex of buildings somewhat like the Tardis - bigger on the inside than the outside, and has an educational centre and library (both watched over by several stuffed huskies) and cafe, with glass cabinets full of jumbled fluffy toy Antarctic animals with their noses pressed up against the glass intently imploring for a quick release.
Australia operates four year-round research bases - Macquarie Island and the Antarctic Casey, Davis and Mawson Stations, each needing at least one resident doctor.
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