The Heavy Diesel Field Service Technician first went down to the icy southern continent in 2021, where he and two others completed power plant rebuilds to support the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) at McMurdo Station and the South Pole.
"Then they asked us to spend a winter at the South Pole," said Anthony.
We all said no… and then I said yes. I knew I wanted to make the most of it.
With Antarctica seeing only two seasons a year, staying for winter wasn't a decision taken lightly. The already harsh environment becomes even more hostile, with Anthony recalling one freezing day when temperatures dropped to -73° Celsius.
It was hard on the body and the brain. I've got a wife and three kids at home, so it was hard thinking about what I was leaving behind. Keeping in touch by messaging each day was a huge help, even when it was just 'good morning' and 'good night'.
Over winter, "there were 44 people, plus penguins at McMurdo, plenty of seals, and even orcas," says Anthony.
Everyone down there, we got on like a house on fire too. We enjoyed each other's company and knew to respect each other's space. You're there to work, but you're also there to enjoy it. Take in the sights, take photos, jump on a snowmobile and go for a trip.
That was the story behind this photo, for which Anthony earned first prize in our 2022 Mental Health Awareness Week photo competition:
I took that photo on the roof of our underground workshop because it was the first day the sun rose after a long winter – I would go up there all the time. It was a quick walk, probably about 30 meters from the South Pole!
Anthony remembers many of his 'firsts' in Antarctica as the best parts of his trip.
I remember stepping off the plane when we first landed in McMurdo, immediately slipping around on the sea ice and just going ', sh** we're in Antarctica!' That was definitely a highlight. My first aurora was awesome as well. And, of course, seeing that first light from the sun after a long winter was a highlight. It was the little things.
Anthony's first days back at work in Whangārei have been all about catching up with everybody – and readapting.
The noise and humidity have been killer. It's a desert with zero moisture in the air that gets up to maybe 1 degree in the summer. Now, just walking barefoot in the grass, sitting out on a deck and taking in the sky has been great. And the food! For anybody who gets the chance, just bloody do it. It's unforgettable. I'd do it again for sure – if they want me back! For the moment, there's a lot of work to catch up on here.
Check out the rest of Anthony's photos below!
