WOOMERA REQUESTS
ARCHIVE
2004 - B
Latest requests are at the top of the page,
but many requests are ongoing for contact purposes.
Some of the sections of the Memories pages also have contact
requests.
Date: December 22, 2004
Subject: Research
I am researching the activity of Woomera in 1951 on behalf of a
good friend. Her father, Leading Aircraftman John Patrick HILTON,
served there from 01/51-04/57.
Unfortunately, Mr Hilton passed away when my friend was only 4,
she is now 42, and is interested in her dad's service in Woomera and I
offered to help.
Any information as to activities or links would be much
appreciated.
Maree Grady
E-mail:
mjgrady@iprimus.com.au
Date: December 22, 2004
Subject: Woomera
My name is Bethany Borders
(formerly Bjork). I left a
message on the site years ago looking for any of my dear lost friends.
My email address has changed, though. If and when you update
would you please update my email address.
Thank you Bethany
E-mail:
baborders_76@hotmail.com
Date: December 13, 2004
Subject: Woomera Rocket range
1947-1957
I
am writing to you as a long shot because my Uncle, Jack Richard Edwin
Harrington Medcalf (aka John and Johnny), was an atomic engineer, and
left his homeland in England to work in South Australia around
1947-1948. The family believe he went to work at the Woomera rocket
range. He was born 8 April 1907 at Saffron Walden, Essex, England.
We know he went back a few years later to Guys hospital, London,
England for an operation for bowel cancer. He returned to Woomera again
after this and is believed to have died there sometime in the mid to
late 1950's.
I was wondering if any of your contacts had heard of him or knew him? I
have been unable to trace any death certificate for him in England, so
hoped someone in Australia may know. This is a shot in the dark
really, but would like to know more about him for the family tree.
His youngest
brother remembers him making a small
toy replica of an atomic bomb in the mid 1940's and his passport, which
is held by my 92 year old mother (his sister), states his occupation as
'atomic engineer'.
I wondered if
you could help me trace his career
or any info at all that may fill in the gaps. Looking forward to
hearing from you.
Best wishes
Monique Jones (nee Amos)
E-mail:
novosoft@slingshot.co.nz
Date: December 6, 2004
Subject: KARL WITTWER: CONTACT
DETAILS: GERMANY
All,
It is now finally time to say
* Auf wiedersehen.
* So long and thanks for all the fish.
* To infinity and beyond!
I have now completed my last day of work at RAAF EDINBURGH SA. I am
departing this great organisation and country to get married to my
childhood sweetheart and to pursue my interests in the space industry.
Both of these tasks require my physical presence in Germany. Thus, as
of 12 Dec 04, I will be leaving Oz and moving to Germany to get married
and to live there for the next 2-3 years.
Please update your contact details for me (see below).
Thanks to everyone for your friendship, support and encouragement over
the years. It has been greatly appreciated. If anyone is visiting north
Germany in the next few years please drop in and say G'day.
Ad Astra,
Karl Wittwer
E-mail: karlwittwer@gmx.de
Date: November 19, 2004
Subject: Woomera 82-83
I was taken back when I
stumbled across this site… it was so wonderful to read the memories of
others, and to know that so many were touched by their Woomera
experience, as I was.
I am Roland Gonzales. I was six
years old when we arrived in 82. My father was in the USAF and
brought his wife and three sons to this small desert town. I
would soon find out that this was the place of many fond memories that
I and my family would hold dearly forever… still to this day we talk
much about what we experienced there…this place was such a change from
the “Yank” life we were accustomed to. My older brother Eric and I went
to St Josephs school, where we would make many friends.
There’s just so many memories
that I remember in such a short period of time, but would love to chat
with anyone who was there the same time I was.
Roland
Gonzales
E-mail:
Roland.Gonzales@ttu.edu
Date: November 13, 2004
Subject: Information
I have stumbled upon your web site and thought I would ask for some
help. Back in about 1970 /75 my wife's brother left Hobart to work in
Woomera. He left his wife and young children and it was quite awhile
until anyone heard from him. His trade was electrical work and we
believe he was employed by the government in some type of work with the
defence. It all seemed very secret when he did finally get back in
touch with his family.
He moved to Sydney about the 1980s where he died in January 1985 of a
massive heart attack. His sudden death devastated his parents and his
mother passed away not long after. At his funeral service, and it has
always played on my mind, there were three or four service men in
uniform and they played the "last post" - something that is reserved
for service men and women. He was never in any type of service and I
now get back to my request. If I could find any background on the type
of work he done, or if indeed if he was in any secretive workings
with the air force, I know his sister (only surviving family member)
and his sons who he never really saw again from the age of two (!)
would dearly love to know about.
His name was Desmond Robert McGuire. He was born in Hobart and, as I
said, died in Sydney in 1985.
If any information from any archives available could be forwarded on it
would be appreciated.
James Heffernan
E-mail:
jimheff@hotmail.com
Date: November 11, 2004
Subject: Looking for a friend
Hi
Mark,
I
watched the documentary on
Woomera last night and it bought back some wonderful memories of my
childhood. I lived there from 1965 until 1973. It got me thinking about
an American girl I went to St Joseph's with who left Woomera before me.
We were inseparable as kids and I would love to know what she is up to
now. Her name was Marcie Barszewski.
Thanks
for a great web site
Tanya
Holness (now Sexton)
E-mail:
tanyas@audit.sa.gov.au
Date: November 4, 2004
Subject: Requests
Well,
I have
been told about this fantastic
site but only just discovered it. I have many fond memories of Woomera
and saw it through the good, the bad and the more recent ugly with the
detention centre. Woomera was where I enjoyed my child, teen and
adulthood.
I
have
organized a few class re-unions over
the years and would love to catch up with anyone living in Florida, as I
will be over on holiday this month.
My
name is
Fiona Cleland and I heading over
to Fort Lauderdale on November 11,
2004, where I will be enjoying a cruise followed by some time in Florida. I
would love to be able to catch up with any Woomerarites who remember
me.
I
would
really like to catch up with anyone
from school.
Cheers
Fiona Pillar (nee Cleland)
E-mail:
fionapillar@dodo.com.au
Date: October
26, 2004
Subject: Nice web site!
I
just learned of your site
and found it quite enjoyable. My family and I lived there back in the
early '70s and was wondering if you knew of any way to get in contact
with people who lived there from the fall of 1970 to the summer of
1972. Any info would be greatly appreciated and thanks again for your
web site.
Jeff Hanson
Durham Ca. USA
E-mail:
Jeffdrh7@aol.com
Date: August 9, 2004
Subject: Island Lagoon
Woomera
was always a delight
for me as an engineer working for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, for many years to be privileged to visit the
Island
Lagoon Tracking Station (DSS 41) a
number of times. My last trip there was to close and salvage all the
equipment that could be used in support of the remaining stations of
the Deep Space Tracking Network. This was in 1972.
Am attaching a photograph of the station and the staff as it was in
1968.
I am still in contact with several in the photograph - Derek and
Carol Bee, Robert Beard, Ian Warren and John Murray. Would like to hear
from anyone that might know the whereabouts of Nevil Horsebrough.
Dale
Wells
E-mail:
d.ivandalewells@verizon.net
PLEASE NOTE:
Earlier requests are archived through the
link given below.
Even though they are older, many requests
still apply.
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Copyright © 1998-2005 Mark T.
Rigby
(Last updated: 28 March, 2005)