Presentation to Dr George Mueller, 1 December 1969, apparently 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; ID 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.

Large, Larger. Slide and scan by Bruce Window.

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

Large, Larger. 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?)

Large, Larger. 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.

Large, Larger. Slide and scan by Bruce Window.

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

Large, Larger. 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 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.

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.