Presentation to Dr George Mueller, 1 December 1969, in the Honeysuckle Creek Conference Room.

The day before the DSS-43 Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Left to Right:

Frank Northey, Tidbinbilla Deputy Director responsible for DSS43;
Bob Leslie, Deputy of American Projects Branch;
Don Gray, Tidbinbilla Director;
Allen Sharpe, Controller R&D, Department of Supply;
Dr George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight (presented with a copy of Hamish Lindsay's photo of Honeysuckle Creek tracking Apollo 8 on its first lunar orbit, 24 December 1968);
Tom F.C. Lawrence, Dept of Supply;
Ian Homewood, Dept of Supply, Projects Branch,
Tom Reid, Honeysuckle Creek Station Director.

Scan by Glen Nagle; IDs by Colin Mackellar and Mike Dinn.
The date is on the back of the photo.

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.

The microwave tower is for the link to Honeysuckle. Since the new antenna would be in its line of sight, the tower was relocated to the other side of the Operations Building.

Slide and scan by Bruce Window.

Bruce Window took this photo of the excavation for DSS-43 on the day of the groundbreaking ceremony.

Slide and scan by Bruce Window.

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?)

Slide and scan by Bruce Window.

From left –

Dr George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight,

Senator Ken Anderson, The Australian Minister for Supply,

Dr. William Pickering, Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Slide and scan by Bruce Window.

Dr Pickering unveils the plaque, with help from Senator Anderson. Bob Cudmore at left of frame.

Slide and scan by Bruce Window.

L–R: Dr George E. Mueller, Dr. William Pickering, Senator Ken Anderson.

Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Mike Dinn.

The plaque.

Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Mike Dinn.

The gathering is addressed by Dr. William Pickering.

The Apollo wing is in the background.

Note that the microwave link tower to Honeysuckle is in its original position. Because the construction of DSS43 will block its view of the passive repeater to Honeysuckle on Deadman’s Hill, it will shortly be moved to the other side of the Operations Building.

Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath and Mike Dinn.
Scan by Colin Mackellar.

Here is a key to the guests – click for a PDF file.

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.

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.

Jeff Newnham (Senior Instrumentation Engineer) has his back to the camera – between Bob Leslie and William Pickering.

(with thanks to Mike Dinn for help in identifying.)

Photo from Clive Jones via John Heath. Scan by Colin Mackellar.