Reunion: 9 November 2012Level 2, 95-97 York St Sydney – RSVP Closed, but check with Peter Bull anyway
Below is a list of responses that I have received thus far:
WILL ATTEND
Bill Jolly will be Our DriverWednesday is our big Tram Museum outing. The outing is broadly in 3 parts.
Another Catch UpSunday 14 October Nurragingy Reserve. Lorikeet Picnic Area
by Peter Bull
Maree Giddins is arranging for another catch up for ex-OTC and ex-Reach staff. Thank you, Maree.
If it is half as good as the last one it will be great. I really enjoying catching up with people that I had not seen for years.
Please RVSP as to whether you are able to attend and I will keep a running list of those who can attend so as to better inform the larger group on who will be attending. This may result in greater interest and a larger roll up. Continue reading
by Robert Brand.
This is not about OTC, but since there are many that are interested in HAM radio and technology, I am posting this as a general interest post. If you want to take part of find out more or even track the flight, you can find out more here:
This post is straight from my WotzUp website:
I mentioned to many people that I would like to launch a high altitude balloon flight in the next School Holidays here in NSW, Australia. I had thought that it would be an experiment in stability and camera work, but it appears that another opportunity has arisen and the experiment has changed – more on that later Continue reading
Lunch Friday14th Sep 2012Peter Bull just let me know that there is a lunch for those in Sydney tomorrow and everyone is invited. I expect to be there.
OTVA lunch – all exOTC welcome – will cost about $25 or so. All you can eat hot and cold smorgasbord.
This from Peter Bull:
50 Years via Satellitesby Robert Brand
The video below is courtesy of ESA. It shows the changing face of satellite communications. Very different from our OTC days.
This introduction from ESA: Unless you were lucky enough to get your hands on a coveted London 2012 Olympics ticket, it’s likely you’ll be watching Usain Bolt from the comfort of your living room. This is all made possible by satellites which have beamed some of the most important moments in history to our homes. This year marks 50 years since the first image was beamed through space and back to earth again via satellite. Continue reading
Bringelly Receives Sputnik Signalsby Robert Brand
In my limited research of OTC stuff in the country’s archives, I came across this item:
“H5684 audio recording framed sputnik signals paper tape wood glass recording the signals from ussr sputnik satellite received at Bringelly Overseas Telecommunications Commission” Continue reading
Complications from Heart Surgery Takes the First Moon Walker[Ed] I have met most of the Apollo moon walkers and command module pilots but I never met Neil Armstrong. Unlike Buzz Aldrin, Neil had become somewhat reclusive. He avoided public appearances and refused to sign autographs. He was still passionate about space and spoke his mind on where NASA should point their rockets. As one on the many exOTC staff that supported the Apollo 11 mission, I am saddened by the world’s loss of an extraordinary astronaut that had ice water flowing in his veins. He was one cool guy that was able to walk away from many failures where others would have perished. We will miss you – Robert Brand
The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden regarding the death of former test pilot and NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was 82. Continue reading
OTVA Loftus Tram Museum Weekday Outing
I am pleased to pass on this opportunity to meet up with some old exOTC friends and to visit a great place – the Loftus Tram Museum. Consider joining the OTVA. I believe that a 12 month complimentary membership for new members will let you see the benefits of the group and I expect that the $10 a year after that will not break the bank. The advance details of the Loftus outing are below: Continue reading
OTVA look at Nov 2013 and Compacby Robert Brand
Today I attended the OTVA board meeting at the invitation of the committee. I was invited to discuss my proposal to spearhead the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Compac Cable in Nov 2012.
First of all I continue to be impressed by the OTVA and the current state of play. It is a very open group that is not like the old days. I have seriously enjoyed the lunches and get togethers over the years. Just plain fun. Continue reading
Compac 50th Coming Soon.In November 1963 the Compac cable was opened with a massive fanfare of hope and expectation. Heads of state joined in the event with a conference call never heard of in this and other countries. For the first time, there was clear and easily connected calls that would not fade or suffer from noise interference as did the radio waves. They would also not suffer from lack of privacy as did the HF radio calls of the past. The world changed and Australia became connected to the growing world of modern day telephony. Reliable “high density” data was suddenly possible and the growth in telex and other low speed services was immense. Continue reading
In August 1946, the Overseas Telecommunications Commission was established by an Act of Parliament: The Overseas Telecommunications Act, 1946.
James Malone was appointed Chairman. In October 1946, JES Stevens was appointed first General Manager. Here is the advertisement that attracted his interest: Continue reading
Life takes some pretty interesting turns and my headlong rush into the space sector started 3 years ago as mentioned in Part 1 and Part 2. Pat Barthelow, a HAM radio operator from the US, asked the OTVA to organise a Moon Bounce for the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 back in June 2009. After the next 12 months my knowledge of space had grown considerably as I was posting stories on my Echoes of Apollo Website.
OTVA also Calls for HelpThe (exOTC) web site contains a complaint emerged from Graeme Hanigan who attended the recent Open Day in support of the new Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum. The complaint related to the belief that it was too NASA focused and did not promote and give credit to the huge amount of work that was provided by OTC personnel Continue reading
Robert Brand – Part 1A lot has happened since my departure from OTC but a quick note to say that I am extremely involved in the space sector these days. I still work in comms for mines, but also satellite and beyond. What is interesting is that 3.5 years ago the OTVA got contacted by a gentleman wanting to do a commemorative HAM radio event between the Jamesburg Earth Station and the Parkes Radio telescope. Basically bouncing signals off the moon and back to earth and using big dishes to do the work. In the week before the Apollo 11 40th Anniversary (July 2009) dishes from all over the world took part in World Moon Bounce Day (WMBD) and it was a great success. Notably Jamesburg and Parkes never took part! Continue reading
A nice bit of video from Buzz Aldrin’s arrival in Carnarvon for the opening of the new Space and Technology Museum. The site is the old OTC and NASA property at Carnarvon in Western Australia.
Colin Benporath is there and when he returns I hope to post a more detailed story and some of his pictures. Until then here are two videos showing Buzz Aldrin’s arrival and a video showing some background on the moon support Continue reading
Director General Posts and Telegraphs Congratulates OTCIn what must have been a rather smug message of congratulations, Trevor Housley, sends a congratulations message to OTC in his new role as Director General Posts and Telegraphs. It seems that Trevor of course had had a lot to do with the formation of the Compac and Seacom cables and of course satellite comms Continue reading
Seacom Opening – The AGEI am just adding more material from the AGE newspaper published at the time of the Seacom opening in 1967. There are many more pages and I will add them later. It is interesting at the number of pages that the AGE dedicated to Seacom. Many are advertisements paid for by suppliers or parts or services, but there are many pages of stories. Continue reading
