Date:        Sun, 17 Sep 2000

Subject:    Searching for Janette Radford and Glen Cook

I've stumbled across your web site and e-mail address in the hope that it will help me find some long lost friends.  Her name is Janette Radford.  She grew up in Woomera.  She was born 07-07-49.  Glen Cook who was born around 1950 emigrated to Woomera, Australia with his parents when he was aged 8. We all met around 1971 in Gibraltar and lost contact about 1978.  Janette was one in a family of 10 children and I believe Glen only had one sister.

My name is Carol (Rampton) Webb.  I married Spider (!!) and Janette was at my wedding (photo at right).  Janette is on the left in the check skirt. Janette/Glen if your out there, it would be nice to hear from you.

Regards
Carol Webb

E-mail:    mikewebb-assoc@talk21.com

Date:        Fri, 15 Sep 2000

Subject:    Woomera Architectural History Request

I am currently researching a magazine story on Woomera and I am really interested in finding out more about the architecture and original town planning of Woomera.

I've just been to Woomera for five days - it's an incredibly interesting place - and I think I've probably trawled through most available stuff at the library, Heritage Centre. I've also asked all the local history experts at the DSCW also (many thanks to Roger Henwood)! I've also had a look at the National Archives but have really had no luck at all in finding any answers to my questions.

Hence this message . . . I am wondering if anyone out there has any knowledge about the following:

* the original town planning of Woomera. Rumour has it, that it's based on a US town in Southern California or even Alaska. I've found some similar places but nothing specific.

* the architects of the United Protestant Church (his name is K.Murray Forster but there's no further information on him anywhere), St Barbara's and the new Woomera Theatre (opened in 1963).

* the whereabouts or history of the landscape architect who started the Arboretum up, called R H Patterson.

If you know anything about all that, I would really appreciate hearing from you.

With many thanks for your time and kind regards,
Cathrin Schaer

E-mail:    CSchaer@hotmail.com

Date:        Wed, 23 Aug 2000

Subject:    Request for information

I'd love to hear from anyone who worked at Woomera from the mid-1960s to early 1970s and who may remember my aunt, Kath Ward. (She might possibly have called herself Kath Ford, as she'd been in a de facto relationship with a chap called Fred Ford for several years.)  Unfortunately, I can't supply much information regarding the exact nature of Kath's involvement, as owing to the (then) sensitive nature of the work being undertaken at Woomera, she was unable to discuss it.  I know that her involvement stemmed from the British end of things and that she travelled from the UK to Woomera with her boss at least twice sometime during the 60s and 70s.  She may have worked for a British intelligence agency, but once she did mention the Department of Supply.

I know that she really enjoyed going to Woomera as much for the social life as anything, and she always looked forward to the launch parties!  When she had time she would call us in New Zealand for a chat, but unfortunately she was never able to come and visit.  I've always regretted the fact that I never met her as she died at the comparatively young age of 55.

I couldn't believe my luck when I ran across your site Mark, as I've always been curious about Woomera and my aunt's involvement, and it was great to get details at long last about the various projects that were undertaken there, and also to read the reminiscences of those involved.

Regards
Fiona Ward

E-mail:    fward@paradise.net.nz

Date:        Tue, 22 Aug 2000

Subject:    Old Friends

Thank you once again for the site.  I spent half of my child hood there and to this day I miss the place.

I would love to get in contact with old school friends, I went to Woomera Area School from ' 85 to ' 90 (I think).

My Parents are Geoff and Larraine Smith and I have an older brother Shaun.  I would love to find out what happen to our friends such as Robbie Jordon, the two Davids, Sally.  I spent my time growing up with these people and learning from them and to know that they are going well would be great.

Rebecca Smith
Gold Coast

E-mail:    rayjon@winshop.com.au

Date:        Sat, 15 Jul 2000

Subject:    Woomera Re-Visited

I am the secretary of the Airfields Construction Squadrons Branch of the RAAF Association here in Western Australia. One of our members, Bob Cunningham, will be researching national archives in South Australia next month to try and obtain copies of photos taken during the construction period, 1947 to 1951. Between 1942 and 1974, there were 10 Construction Squadrons operating at various times in Australia and many of the Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and Thailand - a short history of these units has been written, the Book is called Always First, written by David Wilson, assistant RAAF Historian, one of many books he has written on the history of various RAAF activities.

Some of our members have constructed a model of the ACS camp and equipment at Woomera which, along with other memorabilia, will be on display at the RAAF Association Retirement Estate at Meadow Springs, near Mandurah in Western Australia.

Our committee is busy planning a National Re-Union to be held here in October 2002 (we hope), which will bring together many ex-ACS members from all over Australia, including some from Woomera days with lots of memories to recount. We still hope to have, in the Woomera Museum, some recognition of the work of 2 ACS in the early days, guess this will mainly be photographs when we can get them. If anyone out there has any, we would love to have copies, please.

Ray Smith
Secretary
RAAF Airfield Construction Squadrons Branch.

E-mail:    raynor@tik.com.au (previously, waratah@southwest.com.au)

Date:        Sat, 17 Jun 2000

Subject:    Woomera Memories

I have regularly visited your site and eagerly read contributions to the Memories section.  I too once lived at Woomera from 1958 until 1993.  My family and I visited Woomera at Easter 2000 and were very saddened by what has become of this great place - it is now a magnificant ghost town. All the amenities are being maintained, however very few people live there!  I would love to hear from people who remember me and my family - Genevieve Smith, my brothers are Nick, Tim and Bob and my sister Janine.

Please contact me at the e-mail address below.

Genevieve Smith

E-mail:    gensmith58@yahoo.com.au

Date:        Sat, 10 Jun 2000

Subject:    Ex Woomerite

I was born in Woomera 1967 - Steven Robert Anderson - son of Robert and Sandra Anderson. Rob was in the Australian Army and worked at the Woomera rocket range on radar equipment from 1965 to 1968 - same as my mother, Sandra Anderson, who also worked at the Woomera rocket range as a kinetheodolite camera operator tracking missile trajectories. She was employed by the Weapons Research Establishment. I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who knew them or anyone who was born around the same time as myself. I have plans of going back to Woomera for a visit in the future, as all I really have is the memories my parents pass on.

I can be contacted at the e-mail address below.

Steve Anderson
Mackay, QLD

E-mail:    carols@orion-online.com.au

Date:        Sat, 10 Jun 2000

Subject:    Woomera

(Two e-mails from Lynn and Norm Smith)

What a wonderful surprise to find the Woomera site and the letters. I was in Woomera from 1960 till 1974, but my parents stayed till 1982. My name was Lynn Cook and we lived in Carcoola St. My mum is still alive, her name is Ann. She worked at Paper Shop A.S.C.O. - also many years in the Tech Area. My dad passed away three years ago. His name was Tom and he was a photographer on the Range. My brothers are Glenn and Vaughan. I went to school at Woomera,  married Bill Trench and had two children there. Bill was killed in Woomera and is buried there. I am now married to Norm Smith who was in the army in Woomera at one stage. Woomera was great.  Many fabulous  memories. Smashing people. Still in touch with a few.

Lynn Smith. (See Memories 17 for Lynn's memories of her time in Woomera.)

I am Norm "COBBER" Smith. I was in 111 Battery 16 light ack ack Regiment Woodside.  Posted to 21 JSTU at Woomera as a driver for Rapier Team. I was in Woomera from 1968 till 1972.  I played for Jazza Cricket Club, Centrals Football Club  and also in the services Rugby League. Also squash for Services and Darts for Jazza. When 21 JSTU left Australia, I was posted to A.G.W.T.U. Was  one of the safety officers on  Sea Dart, Skylark, Europa, Black Arrow  and Hasp. After a great posting with many wonderful memories I went to North Head for Sig. course. I was then posted to 1 Field Regiment 105 Battery, Wacol, Queensland. Whilst in Woomera, I worked as a Barman in the three messes. Over stand down (Christmas break) was head barman at the Senior mess. To anyone out there who remembers either myself or my wife Lynn nee Trench nee Cook, please feel free to e-mail us.

Norm Smith

E-mail:    norlyn@globalfreeway.com.au

Date:        Fri, 2 Jun 2000

Subject:    Woomera 1970 -1980

Hi everyone in Woomera Land - Wow what a blast to find this on the net.  My Name is Marian Demetriou {nee Holcroft}. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me or my family. My family moved to Woomera in about 1970 and we left to move to Adelaide in 1980, so we had 10 great years with lots of wonderful memories.

My Father's name: Gordon Holcroft {Deceased} Worked at the Rocket Range.
Mother's name : Mary Holcroft
Brothers and Sisters:    Peter, Barbara, David, Andrew and then there is me being the youngest.

Over the years I haven't kept in touch with many people and when I heard about this site I thought this would be a great opportunity to catch up. Also does anyone know when the next reunion is in Adelaide or Melbourne. I would love to catch up and do what we know how to do the best "Socialise".

Marian Demetriou
Adelaide

E-mail :  dwainl@senet.com.au

 Date:        Thu, 18 May 2000

Subject:    Woomera 1966 - 1981

Hello to any ex-Woomera people who may remember me or my family - my name is Cathy Gibbs (nee Porter) and Woomera was a huge part of my family's life as we grew up. All of our years of schooling were done in Woomera, and we have many fond memories of growing up in a lovely town. My brothers are Neville and Graham and our father's name is Peter. So anyone out and about around the world who knew us, hello and my e-mail address is below.

Cathy Gibbs

E-mail:    cmgibbs@ruralnet.net.au

Date:        Fri, 12 May 2000

Subject:    Missing Woomera

(Note: The full message is in the Memories 10 section).

I just visited your site for the first time and boy did it bring back memories... My family was there from 1973 till 1975 and we all loved it. Would love to hear from some of my old friends... Karen Peterson, JoAnn Miller, Debbie Dexter, Neil Weatherill, Jimmy Rogers... those are the names I remember...

My parents were Bob and Sandi Shaw... and then there was me (Bridget), Suzette, Frank, and Robin.

Bridget Shaw Avery

E-mail:    brigerella@worldnet.att.net

Date:        Tue, 25 Apr 2000

Subject:    Woomera

I was informed of the existence of this page just one hour ago and have sat here all that time stunned. I arrived in Woomera in June of 1958 as a 2 month old baby and finally escaped its clutches in June of 1991. Woomera was and still is the greatest thing that Australia ever did. So many wonderful memories and so many life-long friends were made there. My attachment to Woomera will never be severed as my dear father Kevin "Bluey" Morgan passed away there in October 1973 and rests there peacefully with all the other Woomerites who rest there.

All these people who respond to your page are part of the history of Woomera and each of them has taken a small piece of Woomera with them and spread it all over the world. Wherever you go, you will always come across an "ex-Woomerite"....the best people on this earth.

Great pages...and thanks for the memories.

My regards to all who visit and spend some time......

Murray Morgan
PERTH,  W.A.

E-mail:    toadie_au@yahoo.com.au (e-mail address updated 4 March 2002)

Copyright © 1999-2003  Mark T. Rigby
(Last updated: 18 October, 2003)