A Queenstown priest is preparing for another "busman's
holiday" of ministering to more than 1500 people in the
coldest, driest and windiest environment on Earth.
Fr Tony Harrison, of St Joseph's Catholic Parish, will work
as one of two chaplains at McMurdo Station, on Ross Island,
the Antarctic. It will be his third Antarctic experience
after trips in 2003 and 2005.
He will leave from Christchurch on September 29, after he
completes a battery of medical and dental fitness tests.
Fr Harrison said he was invited to return to the frozen
continent by the Christchurch-based co-ordinator of Catholic
chaplaincy and would be joined by a chaplain from the United
States Air National Guard.
"Throughout the summer season, there are five priests who go
down in rotation, and I'm the first up.
"We go in and say a cheery word."
About 1200 international transient scientists, researchers
and support staff work at McMurdo Station at the height of
the summer season.
The civilian-run township has a sheriff's office, basic
hospital, fire station, 10-pin bowling alley and three bars.
They work in 24-hour daylight with outside temperatures
averaging -10degC.
Fr Harrison will also brave the elements and minister to the
80 people operating at Scott Base and the 250 working at
South Pole Station at the height of the season.
He will conduct daily interdenominational church services, be
available for drop-ins at the chaplain's office, and
administer the sacraments as required.
Chaplains also provide space for other faiths to worship.
"You've got to be seen around the station. People don't come
to you. The dining hall is a good place at breakfast and you
go to a different table each day.
"There's the capacity for people to get cabin fever during
the winter months, but these days there's all that internet
available and it's just a phone call from New Zealand to
McMurdo."
Fr Harrison said he was inspired to make the expeditions
after growing up in Dunedin in the 1950s.
He saw heavily laden Super DC-3 aircraft fly south from
Dunedin and US weather picket ships enter and exit the
harbour.
"Going to Antarctica was like going to the moon. Still, now,
while there's a large number who go down there yearly,
there's only a small percentage of the world who are able to
go.
"It's a real privilege to be there."
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