Brisbane engineer swaps sweltering summer for sub-zero secondment

Counting penguins and going underground in Antarctica are all part of the job description for the Brisbane man who is maintaining Mawson Station.

Dean Lewcock, a mechanical engineering project officer at The University of Queensland’s Property and Facilities Division, is on secondment in Antarctica for the summer, working with the Australian Antarctic Division.

Mr Lewcock is on a team of expeditioners responsible for the maintenance of all building services equipment and systems to keep Mawson Station running smoothly, a difficult task in sub-zero conditions.

“I have just completed my first two weeks of work doing maintenance checks and repairs on the station,” Mr Lewcock said.

“As part of my duties I descended 15 metres into an underground vault to remove a frozen pump for repair.”

While the secondment is not part of his work at UQ, Mr Lewcock’s colleagues and supervisors have allowed him the time to gain the valuable work experience.

Mr Lewcock’s work in Antarctica supports the station’s research scientists who are working to increase understanding and protection of the Antarctic environment.

“One interesting task was helping count the Adélie Penguins at Béchervaise Island as part of the ongoing conservation biology studies here,” Mr Lewcock said.

“I was also fortunate to have seen Emperor penguins with their chicks on the sea ice while on a trip out to the Auster Rookery.”

Mr Lewcock plans to use his time in Antarctica to foster future partnerships and sponsorships between UQ and other national and international groups and organisations, as well as gain invaluable experience for when he returns to UQ.

Media contact: Clair Keleher (3365 2076, c.keleher@pf.uq.edu.au) or Stewart Hobbs (3365 3205, s.hobbs@pf.uq.edu.au). Email interviews are best as Mawson Station is five hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time and internet connection can be intermittent.