Far from the cold of a Canberra winter, a small group of ANU staff are providing support for research in northern Australia.

In 1973 a research facility was set up in the suburbs of Darwin to provide a base and logistical support for researchers from ANU and other institutions undertaking research in North Australia. The North Australia Research Unit (NARU) has maintained this function for 35 years as well as taking on management of the Arafura Timor Research Facility, a joint venture between ANU and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Kevin Mahoney is the facility’s Operations Manager responsible for the overall management of NARU and the ATRF and feels he has the best job at ANU. "The best thing about working up here is the diverse nature and interests of the people you work with," Kevin said. "Plus being able to take a walk in a beautiful tropical garden or a swim in the pool when it all gets too much. The perfect weather, for six months of the year, also enhances this paradise."

Between 80 and 100 visitors per year use the facilities, about 40 per cent of which are ANU personnel. The other 60 per cent come from higher education and other institutions around Australia and overseas. Kevin and the other permanent staff members, Andrew Williams and Nicole Everett, provide office space, residential accommodation, field equipment and, thanks to the joint venture with AIMS, state of the art laboratory facilities as well.

According to Kevin, the busiest period is from April through to September (dry season), in June and July (the heart of winter down south) most of the residences are booked out with researchers fleeing north. "The evenings and mornings are perfect during this period but it can still get a little bit hot in the middle of the day. From October to March we have busy periods but the wet (cyclone) season deters most people except for our regulars like for our regulars like Pat Backwell from BoZo and her students who come annually for several months to sit in the mangrove swamp and study Fiddler Crabs."

"The vast majority of our guests just keep coming back which is the best type of feedback. We have plenty of regulars from Canberra, but also clients from Melbourne, Tasmania, Queensland, Adelaide, Perth and overseas," said Kevin. "The feedback we receive the most is that NARU is a secure, serene, charismatic place to work and/or stay."

If your research takes you to the Top End or you feel that NARU's services could assist your studies, more information can be found at http://naru.anu.edu.au/ or phone 08 8920 9999.

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