Tristan da Cunha Station News

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Introducing Tristan da Cunha's 'Station'
In 1942 a Royal Naval Station originally code named Job 9 and later HMS Atlantic Isle
was established on Tristan da Cunha. Buildings were constructed on land below islanders' houses with a 'quarterdeck', homes for personnel, a school, hospital and a store, known as a 'canteen'. After the station left this area became the site for new expatriate homes (mostly Colt bungalows), but the name 'station' stuck, and to this day islanders often refer to expatriates living ' on the station', though today there are only four expatriate station personnel (Administrator, Doctor, Priest and UN Seismic Station Manager) plus other occasional staff.

On this page we publish stories of expatriate workers who keep up the tradition of
'those station fellas', though separate pages provide information on
doctors and visiting health workers- see Hospital News , priests - see Church News and the Administrator - see Administrator and Government News

	Clement's Farewell Party UN monitoring station manager Clement Mochet was given a farewell buffet party at The Residency on Friday 20th June. Left : Clement cutting his cake, which also marked his 24th Birthday, opposite him is Chief Islander Conrad Glass with other well-wishers looking on.

	David Morley reports that Clement has proved a popular figure on the island during his year on Tristan. He integrated well into the community and has added enormous value to life on Tristan by his willingness to help out in all sorts of areas (and weather). Clement gave valuable assistance to Ovenstone following the factory fire, and played an important part in helping to restore the island's power supply. Left : Clement talking to Carlene Glass-Green with Joanne Green right.

	Clement also designed the project for the installation of a renewable energy power source at St Mary's School. Clement departs with David Morley on the June / July Edinburgh voyage, and David hopes to meet with Clement in Cape Town to take this project forward. Left : Anita and Maria on the bar, with barfly Nelson helping out

Photograph shows
left Jean Du Boullay
and right Clement Mochet

	All change for UN monitoring station The period on the island is almost over for Jean Du Boullay, the French consultant managing the island station. He arrived in the settlement on 24 April 2006 . The new station manager, Clement Mochet, arrived with the Agulhas, and will stay until end of June 2008. Clement will be trained by his predecessor during the 3 week Agulhas stop-over. Aged 23, he has just finished his masters degree and considers this first position is a really unique experience. Despite a cold and rainy winter, Jean has been really pleased to visit the Island and to meet the Tristan community. He used to say “If you haven’t been to Tristan, you have been nowhere!” As a sailor, Jean intends to come back on the island with his own sailing ship in the next few years. Image and story from Tristan Administrator David Morley
Photograph shows left Jean Du Boullay and right Clement Mochet
	Bon Voyage Thierry Departing in June 2007 was Thierry Assef who worked as manager for the UN seismic station which monitors seismic activity, including earthquakes and nuclear tests. Thierry worked closely with Robin and Jerry Repetto and enjoyed his 9 months on the island. His photographs have appeared on tristandc.com and in the newsletter. Thierry reports that the islanders ‘..took really good care of me, sharing their best meat, fish and potatoes. I also had the real privilege to share their main events on the island, like fishing days, the break up day, sheep shearing, Queen's Day… even hunting bulls!
		Photographs show left, Thierry with a Yellowtail after a spot of successful beach fishing and above Thierry's photograph of the UN Seismic Monitoring Station 'golf balls' and other buildings which were his responsibility during his sojourn on the Tristan station. tristandc.com is very grateful to Thierry for many photographs received during his visit.
	Tristan da Cunha UN Seismic Monitoring Station Former Tristan Administrator Mike Hentley sandwiched between the aptly named Tristan 'Golf Balls': the satellite dishes used to transmit seismic data from the remote monitoring sites on the Settlement Plain to UN Headquarters in Vienna . It was the need for 24/7 electricity for this project which was a catalyst for all day power to also be available to Tristan homes, and a collapse in the Island Store candle market! By coincidence (?) the dishes are situated in the field, or ‘fence’ occasionally used as a 9-hole golf course, but more often for grazing cattle.