Out in the Boondocks

The Mungullah Community lease two station properties. I believe that this was to try to maintain some connection with their original tribal situations and/or conditions.

(Right - this track is evidence of the local feral goat population - which sometimes can be useful in harvesting for goat meat -

unfortunately that market goes up and down!)

The two leases are some couple of hours inland from Carnarvon. I

did not expect that I would get to see them - for two reasons - the first being that I did not have a vehicle which I felt could be reliable enough to make the trip out and back (actually I was quite right on this count, as the chaps would borrow it when they had to take a work party out to one of the stations, and on one such trip it broke down. Fortunately they were in a group with 2 vehicles so were able to tow it back - however that ended my usage as they couldn't afford to have it repaired!!), and secondly I figured that there would not be any signposts to mark the way!! And I was right on that count too, as the day I went out, my driver, who has been out many times got "lost" a couple of times!!

One day the local Sheriff told me that he was driving out for a meeting with the chap who runs the Gilroyd lease property, and would I like to go for the ride. Naturally I said yes. This was the last Friday I was at Mungullah, as I finished up the following week.

The Sheriff loves the country out here and occasionally goes out camping. Nearby there is a lot of work being done in building a new gas pipe line for the WA Government, and occasionally one comes across magnificent leveled roads and very wide as they need to have sufficient truck width and then that is multiplied by three to place road shoulders sufficient IF they get the possible rain storms!! Of course one also comes across some of the giant road building plant.

Sunset at the Beach

In an earlier blog I showed some pictures from a sunset. That one I walked down specially to see and photograph.

This particular one occurred when I was walking home from a visit to have a meal out at a restaurant. My eating place was right across the road from the beach.

The beach is not really a swimming place, but its location is great.

(Left - the sun has sunk from view and the colour is gone, but the setting is still great)

Our Community Hall at Mungullah

One of the very nice things we have at Mungullah is a Community Hall. This was provided in a grant from Government a few years back.

(Right - the Eastern side of the Hall opens up to allow more access)

The Hall sits on Community land and is used for a variety of purposes ranging from educational or activity programs for children of the residents to Community Meetings.

(Left - the doors slide back, providing good access)

(Right - one of the Community sits on a bench awaiting the start of the Meeting)

I was shown the interior at one stage but was also proud to be part of a community meeting held in the building to discuss some local matters. I was the only non-indigenous person amongst the 32 people there.

(Left and right - setting up for our meeting)

Entertaiment at Carnarvon (the Airport)

My work hours are "about 9-5" Carnarvon time!!! I found this out when the truck that I had been provided with broek down and I was given lifts to and from work each day.

(Left - the airport grounds entrance)

Whilst I had been told to be ready at 8.30am in the mornings, I could be picked up anytime in the next hour!! Depending on how keen my driver was to get out of bed. So that was "Carnarvon time" - when we get there - we have arrived!!

(Right - this mural on the terminal wall is quite comprehensive in the depiction of the town of Carnarvon)

Also without any vehicles at weekends I was severely limited in where I could go to for sightseeing. Actually I thought that the condition of the vehicle was such that I wouldn't have been game to go far out of town, as whilst my mobile phone worked in town, I wouldn't have been game to go too far out of town as the reception would drop off immediateley!

(Left - the OTC dish is quite visible from the airport)

So after walking round town a few times, and visiting the beach and the one mile jetty, about the only thing left was the airport.

(Right - the dialy flight arrives from Perth)

This is actually located within walking distance of the town center - so I decided to visit to see the activity. The problem is that there is only one plane each day, so I had to pick that, and went out to see the arrival and departure of the daily flight to Geraldton and Perth.

(Left - the airport has two terminals - an old one and a newer one built with some Government subsidy - but the aircraft still parks nearest the old one!!)

The airline is AirWest and they use Fokker Friendship aircraft. So here are some pictures of my day's entertainment!!!

(Right - the highlight was this - no airbridges here, so the passenger needing assistance is loaded onto a pallet, with enclosed sides and then lifted on a forklift into the rear door of the aircraft!!)

(Left - then the regular passengers are allowed to board)

Sunset at Carnarvon

Carnarvon is on the coast, and was a regular port of call for vessels on the west coast trade runs. That has long since passed, but the sunsets over the beach are really majestic.

Here are some samples - not every night mind you, but I was lucky to catch one.

Around the Beachfront at Carnarvon

Entertainment in Carnarvon is not really that great - especially if you don't have transport. Anyway, on one of the occasions that I did have wheels I took these pictures - a bit around town, but mainly around the seafront.

(Left - this tower sports the "welcome" sign to the visitors.

(Right - this road leads to the seafront)

(Left - a small boat harbour is available for the pleasure craft)



(Right - plenty of masts)













(Left - tied up in port is the local prawn fleet. I was not there for the "season", but was told that they have lovely prawns here. I was also told that this fleet of prawn boats is up for sale)

Overseas Telecommunications Commission - Earth Station

On the horizon quite visible from Mungullah community is the Satellite dish. So I had to take a drive out there to have a look. Here is the background of the dish which just sits there now.

By 1963 a number of countries had begun discussions on creating of a global satellite communications system.

In Washington in August 1964, eleven Governments, including Australia, agreed to form an International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (INTELSAT). The aim was to have a global communications satellite system in place by 1967 (later revised to 1968).

By 1968, 63 member countries were involved. Australia, through its government owned international carrier, The Overseas Telecommunications Commission, had an ownership share of 2.5% of the space segment and was the sixth largest contributor.

In April 1965 the first internationally-owned commercial communications satellite, INTELSAT I (also known as Early Bird), was placed in a geosynchronous orbit above the Atlantic Ocean and enabled reliable telephone communication between North America and Europe.

Also in 1965, NASA approached INTELSAT with the aim of acquiring a satellite communications network for its rapidly expanding needs. An agreement was reached – INTELSAT would launch and manage two INTELSAT II satellites for NASA’s purposes – one above the Pacific, and the other to serve the Atlantic area and part of the Indian Ocean area.

In addition to the satellites, a network of earth stations was needed to relay voice and data from the NASA tracking stations, ships and the ARIA aircraft, back to NASA centres in the US.

This background explains why Australia’s first satellite earth station was built at Carnarvon.

It was at the end of Brown’s Range, just 4 kilometres north of the existing NASA Carnarvon Tracking Station. It was purpose built to support the NASA station’s communications needs for the Gemini and Apollo Programs. The two stations were linked by landlines.

Initially, the OTC Carnarvon earth station had one 42 foot (12.8m) antenna, serviced by three semi-transportable vans (operations, maintenance and emergency power), housing the major equipment.

Permanent fixtures included two buildings, one for supplementary equipment and stores, and another for primary power.

The whole station, including equipment, buildings and staff housing, cost $3 million, and was completed in under 12 months. It was opened in late 1966.