DSS-43 Groundbreaking Ceremony
Tuesday December 2nd 1969
A groundbreaking ceremony was held and a plaque was unveiled to mark
the start of construction.
Bruce Window took this photo of the excavation for DSS-43 on the day of the groundbreaking ceremony. The chairs and tent set up for the occasion are visible at right. |
Bruce Window took this photo of the excavation for DSS-43 on the day of the groundbreaking ceremony. |
Tidbinbilla StaDir Don Gray welcomes the crowd. It’s a misty day with rain threatening (hence the plastic bag over the microphone). (What are the two men in the tent doing? Changing film? Working PA system?) |
From left – |
Dr Pickering unveils the plaque, with help from Senator Anderson. Bob Cudmore at left of frame. |
(Image restoration on the above Colin Mackellar.)
| Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Mike Dinn. |
L–R: Dr George E. Mueller, Dr. William Pickering, Senator Ken Anderson. Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Mike Dinn. |
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The plaque. Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Mike Dinn. |
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The gathering addressed by Dr.
William Pickering. In the front row (second from left) is Dr George E. Mueller, on his left is the US Ambassador, then Allan Cooley (the Secretary of the Department of Supply). Ian Homewood (Dept of Supply, Projects Branch) is standing just behind the man in the front row on the right hand side. Don Gray (Station Director) is standing at the right in the dark suit, and Bob Cudmore is at the far right hand edge of the picture. The Apollo wing is in the background. Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Mike Dinn. |
At a meeting at Tidbinbilla the same day Standing (L-R) – Walt Larkin, Bob Leslie, William Pickering. In the foreground, RF Engineer Nigel Barkham. Slide and scan by Bruce Window. |
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Another view. From left to right: Eric Donnelly (Support Services Manager) is just visible through the door; Frank Northey leaning next to the door (Frank was Tid Deputy Director responsible for DSS43, ex Cooby Creek Deputy Director); Walt Larkin (seated. Walt was the first Manager of the Goldstone complex), Bob Leslie (seated). William Pickering (addressing the meeting) and Don Gray both standing. With his back to the camera between Bob Leslie and William Pickering is Jeff Newnham (Senior Instrumentation Engineer). (with thanks to Mike Dinn for help in identifying.) Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Mike Dinn. |