Inspector Paul Ross hopes 30 years in the police force has given him the skills required to survive a year in one of the most remote places on the planet.
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As station leader at Casey Research Station in Antarctica and neighbouring Wilkins Intercontinental Aerodome, the Warrnambool police officer will lead a team of 100 expeditioners on a range of science, infrastructure and logistics programs for 13 months.
Inspector Ross will leave Warrnambool on October 26 after Australian Antarctica Division appointed him to the role, with the support of Leadership Great South Coast.
“It’s really humbling to have been chosen for this unique and valuable experience,” he said
“I have an interest in the environment and I’m really interested in Australia’s involvement in Antarctica, which makes up 42 per cent of the continent.”
Inspector Ross believes his 30 years in the Victorian police force will give him the foundations needed for the challenge.
“I’ll be drawing on my experience in people management, incident management and emergency management as well as operational skills – and all this in a complex environment,” Inspector Ross said.
“The concepts are similar.”
Inspector Ross can expect limited access and extreme weather. For eight months the group cannot leave the base or welcome visitors.
“During the winter months we can’t get anyone in or out, so we need to be prepared and hope for no emergency medical situations,” he said
“Antarctica is made up of summers with temperatures up to six degrees and winters that can get down to minus 45 degrees and everything in between.
“Then storms can make it a very unforgiving place.
“The station is very self-sufficient.
“But we will have to deal with isolation.”
Inspector Ross is a participant of the 2016 Leadership Great South Coast program.
He said he can thank the South West Community Foundation for the scholarship which supported his LGSC journey.
