April 2018

Page 2 April 2018
In a sheep pasture
outside the little
town of Parkes in
New South Wales
stands the pride and
joy of Australian
astronomy, a radio
telescope the size of
a football field.
Most days it eavesdrops
on the stars.
In 1969, it gets a
momentous assignment:
relaying the
television signals from the moon that will
show Neil Armstrong's one small step for
man, one giant leap for mankind.
Parkes is agog. This is the town's shining
hour. The Dish, a smiling human comedy,
treats the moon walk not as an event 240,000
miles away, but as a small step taken by every
single member of mankind, particularly those
in Parkes.
Cast
Sam Neill as Cliff Buxton
Tom Long as Glenn Latham
Patrick Warburton as Al Burnett
Genevieve Mooy as May McIntyre
Arthur Page Observatory
At last month’s meeting, Jaap Vogel spoke of plans
to rebuild an observatory building, on land provided
under an agreement with John Penglis, owner of
Cedar Creek Winery, to house the original Arthur
Page telescope, which was acquired eight years ago.
On 19 May a special screening will take place at the
Zamia Theatre of the Australian comedy The Dish.
As a curtain-raiser, a silent movie from 1902 will be
screened, about a journey to the moon, followed by
a short presentation about the progress of the TM
Universe project.
The $10 entrance fee for this special event will help
rebuild a local TM Observatory, as well as establishing
a planetarium and science centre.
You are invited to attend the screening, which takes
place with the support of TMLT. Bring your own
food and/or beverages with you. Seating will be at
tables, cabaret-style.
Jaap Vogel
Our President—Cath Buckley
A most successful day on the mountain welcoming the Commonwealth
games baton wound up with entertainment at Geissmann
Oval, where President Cath presided with aplomb as compere of
the afternoon’s performances.
Cath is a consummate performer and pulled the show together with
her usual skill, filling in time between acts with amusing banter.
She is now preparing for perhaps
her most revealing role in amateur
theatre when she gets ready to pose
for the CWA calendar of the year!
Cath has just celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary with the
love of her life, who also appears in the June production.
We wish her and the cast a successful and fun rehearsal period.
Bookings now open at tmlt.com.au