lance Olsen
Leaving Macquarie Island and the 1979 expeditioners was a mixed bag ofemotions. I witnessed the grieving of some of the expeditioners from the loss oneof their mates, a biologist. I felt for them and wondered what wintering on theIsland was going to be like for them. I was pleased to finally go home Aboard theDanish ice breaker, Thala Dan. 15 Months was a long time away from home on anisolated Australian Scientific Research Station. I boarded the ship after sheserviced the other Australian Stations in Antarctica.Seeing Australia for the first time in 15 months was going to be an unknown, as Ihad changed and wondered where life takes me now. Approaching the Australianmainland, I could smell the burnt summer air which I no longer take for granted.In 1980, I reapplied to go south again to Antarctica with 1981 Expedition, this timeto Casey, Another story unfolds and is told in this book, along with the MacquarieIsland story.