Spirit of Service Awards: Woody wins!

We are stoked to say that our legendary logistics manager, Paul Woodgate, known as Woody to Antarcticans, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the public service.

The accolade recognises individuals who have made an extraordinary impact on their community or the country through a life of service. Woody - one of the most respected and beloved figures in the Antarctic community - has certainly embodied that ethos for over 40 years.

He accepted the award (that’s the acceptance speech in the video) at the Te Hāpai Hapori | Spirit of Service Awards at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre on 26 September.

The rest of Antarctica New Zealand’s warehouse team had hoped to be there to share the moment, but their flight to Wellington boomeranged due to bad weather, in true Antarctican style.

Here’s the official write up:

“For over 40 years, no-one and nothing has travelled between New Zealand and Antarctica without passing by Paul "Woody" Woodgate.

Lorde, Sir Edmund Hillary, Princess Anne, Prime Ministers, bulldozers, helicopters, ice cores, avocados and buildings - no matter how big, awkward, fragile or famous, Paul can get it safely to and from the remotest place on earth.

However, it’s not the big names, or the time on ice that keeps him going. It’s the generations of Antarcticians – it’s always been about the people.

Paul started as a State Service Cadet in the early 1980s at what was then DSIR in crop research. A procurement role in the Antarctic Division came up in April 1981, and the rest is history.

As Logistics Manager at Antarctica New Zealand, Paul is responsible for getting everything needed to run Scott Base and support science in Antarctica.

Described by his colleagues as humble man with a heart of gold he greets dignitaries and everyday Kiwis alike with the same genuine warmth and care. While it’s not in his job description, Paul personally sees off every visitor and texts loved ones to let them know they arrived safely.

Paul has been recognised by the New Zealand and international scientific community and he received an MNZM in the 2012 New Years Honours. At 81°29S and 155°59E, on the way to the South Pole, there’s even a feature named Woodgate Crest after him.”

This couldn’t have happened to a n-icer guy. Congrats, Woody!

Read more about his “40 years of “moving stuff”.