macquinations: Field Training (part 1)

As part of the induction process... no, there's a better term for that. Hmm, nup, can't think of it. Continuing: for two reasons, we have to complete field training as close to first arriving on station as is possible. 1. To be allowed out into the field and wander over Macca (sticking to the paths of course, it's a national park after all). 2. To go get people if there's a need for a SAR (search and rescue).

Due to the number of people on station, we're all being trained on either "on track" or "cross-country" depending on the role of the individual and which trainers are available at the time. Currently our Field Training Officers (FTOs) are Jamie the doctor, Helen the ranger boss and Luke, a former ranger boss (here as part of MIPEP). If something comes up in their respective job then there's nothing anyone else can do about it but sit on their arse and wait.

That being said, I was lucky enough to have time go into the field for a night on Monday and follow a few of the tracks with Jamie and a few of the other MIPEP crew. Where we went for lovely trundle through cold, wet, marshy bog and stayed the night at the Bauer Bay Links Hotel, a quaint 4 bed room with a ~~kitchen~~ gas cooktop and oven, table and a whole heap of food. Now with extra special little green pellet treats for the rats and mice ;) Lucky for us there were 6 people that needed to find sleeping space in the hut.

Inside Bauer Bay Hut. L to R: Lawrence, Harpo and Jamie

L to R: Keith B, Steve (back), Harpo (front) and Jamie

Bauer Bay Links Hotel

Bauer Bay

From Bauer Bay we traipsed across what is known as featherbed, up over the plateau and across to Brothers Point. Featherbed is this marshy grassland that looks only slightly boggy to walk on, but when you take a few steps and it feels like 1/2 to 1 meter of ground below has sprung downwards under your weight, you know breaking through will not be a pretty sight (or smell). Can you imagine the smell of thousands of years of peat bog build up suddenly breaking through the surface??

Mooching across the Plateau

The Googie hut at Brothers Point

From Brothers Point, after a substantial meal of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soups mixed together and a side of baked beans, we had a nice jaunt back to station and only spent about an hour in the dark. Honestly, as tired and sweaty as I was by the end, it was an amazing little trip.