23 July 2012

postcards from The Dish in Parkes NSW

Greetings all,
In the school holidays we visited The Dish in Parkes NSW.  This week is the anniversary of the moon landing too.  We grow up in Australia very proud knowing the images of the first man landing on the moon in 1969, came from this humble dish in the middle of a sheep paddock.  We arrived as the information centre opened for the day & the weather was perfect, albeit, windy so the dish was locked in the upright position (winds over 35km per hour) just like the anxious moments in the fantastic movie The Dish.
The information centre is free to visit, there are movies (including 3D) which weren't playing when we were there, so we took snapshots & read all the details on the plaques.  Did you know i studied physics a University??  It came in handy explaining how the dish & various ancient machines worked (even though i was at Uni in the mid 1990s, the equipment didn't look any more technical than these bulky boxes with chunky dials & knobs!!)
 My 3rd daughter (top left) was whispering messages to her brother (top centre) at the other side of the garden, as the discs formed perfect parabolas.  Geek heaven - sun dials included!!  We're all set for any future school assignments.
The Dish stands out, but it's not ugly, i find circular objects, even serious 68m wide construction, look beautiful anywhere, even across these lush meadows.
Next time you're cruising the Newell Highway (20km outside the Parkes township), absolutely stop by & take a look.  They mention these areas in the latest Donna Hay magazine - with a little NSW tourism pull out book too.  Love Posie

10 comments:

Libby said...

hi,
never been....must get the KATs there toot sweet!!
thought your post yesterday was very bold and forthright....well done!

Sally said...

Geek heaven indeed.
I remember a family holiday to the dish when I was a kid... I think we travelled all the way there to find that it wasn't open!

All For Love said...

Love these pics Posie, beautiful! I have never seen the dish in the flesh, but my, it does look impressive! Great memories for your children.
Hubby plays golf in the annual Parkes Open, EVERY year, so he is familiar with the dish. The fact that he does go there every year for golf, will make it very unlikely that we'll ever get out there for a family road trip.
xoxo

TexWisGirl said...

that's really cool - and a great piece of scientific history. what man can do if they set their minds to it.

emma @ frog, goose and bear said...

I love that it sits in the middle of sheep paddocks. We have visited a couple of times - pretty cool. Loved that movie - an Australian classic!

Nat - Muddy Farmwife said...

It's been years since I've actually stopped at the Dish, but I love when it first appears on the horizon when I'm travelling south for work. Such a special thing to have, with such a great history.

polkadotpeticoat said...

My boys would have loved this......super cool!

The Accidental Housewife said...

Just dropped back here to say you inspired me! I took the kids to Tidbinbilla space centre yesterday. They loved it! :)

Anonymous said...

is that really winter in australia x M

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Loved the movie, would love to see it for real. Thanks, Sooz