Vicki Charman, then a Technical Officer Grade 1 in the Topographic Office in Dandenong, became the first, female technical officer to join a National Mapping team on bathymetric survey operations. During her 1987 term as an assistant watchkeeper aboard the MV Cape Pillar, surveys were undertaken in the Bonaparte Gulf, west of Darwin, and around Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs, north of Lord Howe Island. Now Vicki McRae, she has kindly provided her recollections of her bathymetric days as well as photographs taken at the time.
John Doherty worked for National Mapping in 1967. During that year he was a field party member in both Groundmarking and Aerodist. John has kindly provided details of his Year with National Mapping which he extracted from his correspondence home that had been saved by his Mother and held for the last fifty years.
A multi-million dollar project to rehabilitate a protected island of the Great Barrier Reef prompted Paul Wise to recall his stay on that same island some 45 years ago.
Kevin Burke and Syd Kirkby recall their sides of the story when the Aerodist helicopter ran out of fuel in Queensland. Their recall of events and Laurie McLean's coordination is acknowledged.
H.A. (Bill) Johnson recalls his 1965 aerial reconnaissance of the Tanami Desert in a letter back in 1980.
Des Young recollects the Desert flight of the Dornier the 1966 spot photography mission thorugh WA and Queensland, as well as providing photos of his time in Queensland on Aerodist ground operations.
The 1966 & 1967 field seasons from Andrew & Murray Porteous: Andrew in Geodesy & Murray in Ground Marking/Aerodist.
Photos courtesy of Andrew and Murray taken during these years.
