Wally Schirra’s Visit to Carnarvon

Background

In 1966, Astronauts Wally Schirra and Frank Borman made an eight-week Goodwill trip to Asia and Australia.

They arrived in Perth on Monday 7th March 1966, in a Presidential Boeing 707.

After a parade through the streets of Perth, Wally Schirra and his entourage flew
in a chartered Fokker Friendship to Carnarvon to visit the tracking station.
Frank Borman, suffering from a head cold, was confined to bed in Perth.
(Carnarvon and Apollo, Paul Dench and Alison Gregg, 2010, pages 129-131.)

After the visit to Western Australia, Schirra and Borman travelled to the eastern states. Photos here.

Astronaut Wally Schirra visited 8th-9th March 1966

Several photographers captured images of Schirra’s visit.

This page includes black and white photos taken by Hamish Lindsay,
from 2019 negative scans by Colin Mackellar.
Hamish has some great photos of the crowd, with station personnel, their families,
and visitors to the station. Higher resolutions available.

Wally Schirra arrives at the Port Hotel – 8th March 1966.

Wally Schirra, wearing suit, is standing behind the open car door. To the right, back to camera, is CRO StaDir Lewis Wainwright. He is speaking with Port Hotel publican and Mayor of Carnarvon Wilson Tuckey.

Paul Dench notes that the policeman a couple of cars back is Sergeant Bob Stevens. Here’s a labelled version of the photo.

Photo: Frank Barrow.

Frank directed the AWA 112A Intercom equipment installation team at Carnarvon in 1966.

Wally Schirra with Mayor Wilson Tuckey in the parade through Carnarvon.

Photo: John Lambie.

Handprint ceremony, 8th March 1966.

Hamish Lindsay 01.

The crowd gathers opposite the main doors to the T & C building, next to the AWA fountain.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 02.

Station Director Lewis Wainwright addresses the crowd.
The Department of Supply’s Jim Mills (grey suit) watches at left.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 03.

Lewis Wainwright addresses the crowd.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

John Lambie 1.

Station Director Lewis Wainwright at microphone, with Astronaut Walter Schirra.

Wilson Tuckey (later a long-serving Member of the Australian Parliament) who was the local Publican and Carnarvon Shire President at that time, stands at left. Monte Sala is at far left in dark suit.

Photo: John Lambie

Hamish Lindsay 04.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Walter Schirra leaves his mark by impressing his hands into wet cement. Large, Larger.

Photo: John Lambie.

Hamish Lindsay 05.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 06.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 07.

Unknown photographer.

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Preserved by: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 08.

Unknown photographer.

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Preserved by: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 09.

Local girls Christine Jones (foreground) and Maureen Tiddums (partially hidden) present two paintings to Wally Schirra, with encouragement from AWA Company Representative Fred Mitchell.

Alan Gilham in the distance at left, watches the proceedings, as does Monte Sala (in dark suit), and Mayor of Carnarvon Wilson Tuckey. Station Director Lewis Wainwright stands at the right.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar. With thanks to Maureen (Tiddums) Tittum and Alan Gilham for help with identification.

One of the two paintings presented may have been for Frank Borman, who was suffering from a head cold and so did not travel from Perth.

The visit was reported in Perth Newspapers.

This clipping from The West Australian, 10th March 1966, was preserved by Station Director Lewis Wainwright.
Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 10.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.

Hamish Lindsay 11.

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Photo: Hamish Lindsay. Scan: Colin Mackellar.