One of those events we are trained for, yet rather hope do not occur, is a medical emergency.  One or two members of each party were given 2-3 weeks exposure to surgical procedures at Royal Melbourne Hospital, including the administration of 'open ether' anaesthetic.  Dave Rogers, a Radio operator, had a sudden onset of abdominal pain, diagnosed by the Doctor, Lyn Murray, as acute appendicitis, and it needed surgery. On March 6th, after the evening meal, the dining room was cleared and scrubbed clean, and the operation duly performed.   It began at 21h00 and lasted until 23h30. Here are some photographs of the event taken by John Pollard. An audio file of Dave Rogers telling his story is also attached.

Then this is how Dave's operation was reported in the Melbourne Age newspaper: