Field Gear.

Many of the necessary items for field work in Antarctica already belong to the University, and these include sleeping bags, windproof clothing, and certain kitchen utensils. However, a number of necessary items which the University does not possess were obtained from Antarctic Division. This equipment consisted of two polar tents, two 557 radios, one first aid box, marker flags to attach to bamboo poles, and kerosene for the Primuses. Small personal first aid kits were purchased, but the D. S. I. R. first aid boxes contain the restricted drugs and dressings necessary in an emergency. Three University Commanda radios taken with us in case of emergency proved invaluable. Already proclaimed by a number of radio experts as useless, on a number of occasions they were used to relay messages when the 557's were non-operational, and in one instance one was used to relay to McMurdo the whereabouts of a crash-landed helicopter in the Wright Valley.

Kitchen gear purchased included two pressure cookers in addition to the usual kitchen supplies. Pressure cookers are a standard item of D.S.I.R. kitchen boxes and it was felt an addition of these two items to the VUWAE supplies is an investment for future expeditions as they enable a complete meal to be cooked on one Primus in a matter of 15 minutes.

Two new special survival sheets were taken into the field in case of emergency.