Cooks Resignation Day – 1 Nov 1970 – at Casey

Had a request from Bill Plant re Cook’s Resignation Day, an event that occurred at Casey in 1970.
Might pay for the ANARE Club to record this somewhere for future reference.
And maybe there is even a story in it for “Aurora”
Apparently in 1980 Ricky Schmitter observed the day while he was down South and went working on a building site and the Sparky of the Day did the
cooking.
Cheers,
Noddy

From: Ralph Sent: Wednesday, 6 January 2016 3:26 PM To: Bill Subject: FW: Chef's resignation day in Antarctica Herb, This is from John Gillies former Editor of Aurora. About the best I can do I am afraid. I had a look in the index of the Tim Bowden book "The Silence is calling" and there was no reference to it. Cheers, Noddy

From: John Sent: Wednesday, 6 January 2016 1:09 PM To: Ralph Subject: RE: Chef's resignation day in Antarctica Hi Ralph, it was at Casey in 1970 from what I remember just what day it was I am not sure. Probably before midwinter. I have read it somewhere try Tim Bowden, it may be in Aurora, somewhere way back I have not done any article on it. Look on the posters and see who was there that year, Ian Waters was Super and Tech Dave Bishop Radio tech Cheers John

Subject: Nov 1st at Casey: Cook's resignation day. ("I cant go on!") Hi Noddy, Phill, John, Casey station thanks for the info. Put together it points to Nov 1 1970. I checked the old logs here and eureka (not the stockade) I found it: Station log Nov 1, 1970: "Cloudy with some snow in area"....(well dah...) ""Main event of day was the resignation of John Singleton as cook. He asked at dinner table if he could see me at half past five (xxx). This being the local time of the evening meal. I thought that he wanted to see me then as meal times are the only times when one is not likely to be overheard in the oicery. However on seeking him out at 1/4 to 6 I discovered that he had meant 0530Z. He stated that he was not prepared to go on cooking but gave no reason - just kept repeating ""I cant go on"". Suggested that he have a holiday at Browning Peninsula and then reconsider. However at this and subsequent interviews he remained adamant. Told men at film that he would not be cooking at least for the present and they agreed that the slushy should be cook with volunteer help fpr slushy duties. John had his resignation on my table after films so sent code to Director. Field party still at HR. Browning relief party expected to depart in morning" All of this agrees with my understanding of events gleaned from older expeditioners in 1980. I understood he never worked again in the kitchen but was very hard working with the tradies on the building site. No one thought poorly of him and slushies cooked for the remainder of the year. That was the story passed to me at the time. We observed Cook's Resignation Day, Nov 1st 1980 with Chef, Rick Schmitter (sorry about the spelling) working on the building site that day. Sparky: Tony Smith cooked. Also Donna: I am not suggesting you resign on Nov 1st just take a well earned day off! cheers Bill

Cooks Resignation Day – 1 Nov 1970 – at Casey

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