Midwinter's Day, also known as Winter Solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It is an important date in the Antarctic Community and has been marked since the early Antarctic explorers with a formal celebration dinner and reunion. Midwinter dinners or, in some situations lunches, are held throughout Australia each year, and at times overseas, in the weeks each side of Midwinter's day, 21 June.
The functions are staggered to allow Club members to attend several dinners each year, if desired.
Traditionally the following has been followed for forward planning of Midwinter dates.
21/22 June ANARE Stations Mawson, Casey, Davis and Macquarie Island.
20/21 June ANARE Stations Mawson, Casey, Davis and Macquarie Island.
On 19 October 2013 the Anareclub Facebook site requested feedback and comments regarding attendance at Melbourne Midwinter dinner. Comments received indicated that an open Midwinter dinner was preferred, (with a surcharge for non-members).
In 2013-14 an email newsletter to financial members who have email addresses registered in their membership profiles requesting feedback regarding Midwinter dinners. Email responses received indicated a preference for members and non-members attending midwinter dinners.
In Nov 2014 a MWD Voting Referendum was distributed to financial members in Aurora journal with a closing date of 16 Nov 2014. Returned voting slips indicated Option 2 was the preferred option (i.e opening Melbourne Midwinter dinner to a wider audience).
In Jan 2016 – A detailed survey was distributed to Financial members in Aurora with a closing date of 21 Mar 2016 requesting responses for a number of questions regarding midwinter dinners.
Full Responses are collated here in XLS spreadsheet. A SummaryAnalysis and listing of Comments sorted according to state are also available.