8 Boori Street, Woomera 1970 - 1976
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ray.st...@delphi.com
Aug 11, 2008, 6:44:21 PM8/11/08
to Woomera on the Web
What a revelation this amazing site (WoTW) was. I vaguely recall
finding it once before some years back, but for whatever reason I
failed to check it out fully. In fact, I only found it again when I
went to the official Woomera site to read the current Gibber Gabber (a
habit I picked up a few months back) only to find that the site was
down. So, I did a quick google for Woomera and here I am.
I emailed Mark to make certain that the site and group are still
active, and I thank him for his very prompt response, particularly as
it came from Russia.
Woomera! What a place to spend the majority of one's teenage years. My
parents, Ivan and Margaret, plucked my sister Julie and I from our
comfortable urban lifestyle in the outter suburbs of Perth in 1970 and
relocated us to what seemed at the time, a barren, forbidding, desert
existence in the wide open expanses of absolutely nowhere. It was, to
say the very least a huge culture shock (mum cried for at least the
first several months), and it did take some time to come to terms with
the change.
But what a change it was!
Aside from forming some very close friendships over the years there,
the strongest memory I have now, is of the amazing night skies. The
clarity of the desert nights made it seem, to me at least, as if the
stars were sitting just out of reach. Despite having spent time in
many parts of Australia and several visits to similar landscapes in
the US, I've never seen anything that comes close to those night
skies. With those nights, and the many adventures at Oakden Hills,
South Gap, Andamooka, the Grottos, Lake Richardson etc, my memories
these days are all positive.
And like so many others who have posted in the memories section of
WoTW, I fondly recall eternal summers spent at the pool being "brave"
enough to perform the odd bomb or two from the boards whilst the ever
present Tarzan's eyes were elsewhere and then, usually getting caught
because his eyes were actually always watching. I swear Tarzan seemed
to me, to be almost omniscient.
Unfortunately, as happens so often in one's life, I've lost contact
with almost everyone I knew in Woomera. The one exception being Ron
Moodie, who I have visited a few times in Port Lincoln and with whom I
still have the occasional contact. If you happen to read this Ron,
drop me a line, because once again, I've lost your email address. I'd
also welcome contact from any of the many friends I had back then,
particularly Colin Gibbs (his dad Frank ran the local taxi service for
many years) whom I seem to recall was working for the SA Police
Service the last time I had contact with him.
Mum worked for many years at Nurrungar, firstly I believe with Philco
and later with JDSCS, whilst dad worked for Short Brothers (range
ferry and recovery) as an Aircraft Engineer and I'd also welcome
contact from anyone who knew them. Sadly mum passed away in 2006 after
a, 6 month battle with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Dad is still very much
alive and kicking and living a reasonably full and active life in
Mildura.
Here's hoping that this google group takes off as well as the original
site has. I'll be checking back regularly to see what updates have
taken place, though I know that Mark's obviously very busy schedule
means a bit of a delay. And finally (for now) Mark, I have to add my
congrats regarding the work you've done. It really is quite amazing
considering you yourself were not a resident. You know very well
though that your efforts are greatly appreciated.
I can be reached at:
ray.st...@delphi.com
cheers
Ray
finding it once before some years back, but for whatever reason I
failed to check it out fully. In fact, I only found it again when I
went to the official Woomera site to read the current Gibber Gabber (a
habit I picked up a few months back) only to find that the site was
down. So, I did a quick google for Woomera and here I am.
I emailed Mark to make certain that the site and group are still
active, and I thank him for his very prompt response, particularly as
it came from Russia.
Woomera! What a place to spend the majority of one's teenage years. My
parents, Ivan and Margaret, plucked my sister Julie and I from our
comfortable urban lifestyle in the outter suburbs of Perth in 1970 and
relocated us to what seemed at the time, a barren, forbidding, desert
existence in the wide open expanses of absolutely nowhere. It was, to
say the very least a huge culture shock (mum cried for at least the
first several months), and it did take some time to come to terms with
the change.
But what a change it was!
Aside from forming some very close friendships over the years there,
the strongest memory I have now, is of the amazing night skies. The
clarity of the desert nights made it seem, to me at least, as if the
stars were sitting just out of reach. Despite having spent time in
many parts of Australia and several visits to similar landscapes in
the US, I've never seen anything that comes close to those night
skies. With those nights, and the many adventures at Oakden Hills,
South Gap, Andamooka, the Grottos, Lake Richardson etc, my memories
these days are all positive.
And like so many others who have posted in the memories section of
WoTW, I fondly recall eternal summers spent at the pool being "brave"
enough to perform the odd bomb or two from the boards whilst the ever
present Tarzan's eyes were elsewhere and then, usually getting caught
because his eyes were actually always watching. I swear Tarzan seemed
to me, to be almost omniscient.
Unfortunately, as happens so often in one's life, I've lost contact
with almost everyone I knew in Woomera. The one exception being Ron
Moodie, who I have visited a few times in Port Lincoln and with whom I
still have the occasional contact. If you happen to read this Ron,
drop me a line, because once again, I've lost your email address. I'd
also welcome contact from any of the many friends I had back then,
particularly Colin Gibbs (his dad Frank ran the local taxi service for
many years) whom I seem to recall was working for the SA Police
Service the last time I had contact with him.
Mum worked for many years at Nurrungar, firstly I believe with Philco
and later with JDSCS, whilst dad worked for Short Brothers (range
ferry and recovery) as an Aircraft Engineer and I'd also welcome
contact from anyone who knew them. Sadly mum passed away in 2006 after
a, 6 month battle with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Dad is still very much
alive and kicking and living a reasonably full and active life in
Mildura.
Here's hoping that this google group takes off as well as the original
site has. I'll be checking back regularly to see what updates have
taken place, though I know that Mark's obviously very busy schedule
means a bit of a delay. And finally (for now) Mark, I have to add my
congrats regarding the work you've done. It really is quite amazing
considering you yourself were not a resident. You know very well
though that your efforts are greatly appreciated.
I can be reached at:
ray.st...@delphi.com
cheers
Ray
kcar...@gmail.com
Mar 31, 2018, 4:09:48 AM3/31/18
to Woomera on the Web
hi, ray, i also know ron moodie ans my wife and i have also visited him in port lincolin back in 2015, he and his wife and kids are doing well last i heard ,he has no idea how to use the computer ,anyway i to have been back to woomera over the years ,as i was married there in 1975 to my lovely wife ,and we had our firs child ther , i worked in asco as did my wife , so you posted this back in 2008 i hope you get back to visit this site and read this , yours , kevin carr and monika carr ..0439387259.tin can bay ,queensland.
kevin carr
Mar 31, 2018, 4:11:39 AM3/31/18
to Woomera on the Web
HI RAY, IM KEVIN CARR ,A MATE OF RON MOODIE, I WAS IN WOOMERA BETWEEN 1974 AND 1978 THEN MOVED TO PORT LINCOLIN ,HOPE YOU SEE THIS POST ,CHEERS.
On Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 8:44:21 AM UTC+10, ray.st...@delphi.com wrote:
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