The full SASO in the photo at Woomera Aerodrome is just after landing in a chartered Airlines of South
Australia Convair. It was the SASO's first
visit there. Our pilot, Capt. Lionel Edwards, had a hot day and some
bad conditions to contend with for the landing, and, as the plane was
loaded towards its maximum safe limit with all on board, I do recall the
landing was very "firm" ("hard" is a more accurate
description!). The Woomera audience loved the
concert and gave Henry Krips a great reception,
especially for his customary "Straussian
encores"! Pioneering times for
sure, what with the on-site billeting and meals at the Officers'
Mess. These were novel for the players, and a
change from the usual country pubs where we generally stayed on Provincial
tours.
Woomera at that time was still under tight security and we all
had to have identity checks and the like for admission.
On a later trip, one member of the
SASO declined to have his obligatory security check and stayed behind!
Of course, Missiles, Rockets and suchlike were still being developed
at the time.
Earlier, I remember leading a
group from the Orchestra and arriving in Woomera
for concerts (probably on the 1965 trip
in the Lewis Bros bus mentioned above with the
subsequent barbecue photo, etc). The local high
school headmaster, Mick Hunkin,
was very hospitable and took a few of us out to the firing range and showed us
where firings took place. Back then, the method of firing I
think involved a launching pad, described as the "Dry
Bucket" technique. Anyway, it was all mind-blowing technology
in those times, as missiles, space etc. were still in their infancy. Mick
Hunkin sent me on my way with a beautiful garland of Sturt Desert Peas as a thank-you to all of us. What a
man of style was he!
