Chairman’s Chat

A spring cleaning of our society’s meeting place was long overdue. At almost 100 years of age, the Sir Herbert Baker Library Building is showing the signs of age, like an old weathered sea captain. Yet, that famous landmark still stands proudly on the bridge of the Observatory Ridge, sailing confidently through the years.

And so it was decided that an overhaul was long overdue and welcome. June 21^st and the shortest day of the year - need for a fast and snappy task force to accomplish the immense job of cleaning, sweeping, scraping, cataloguing, cutting, wiping…

2 dozen of our members heeded the call to battle and arrived armed with brooms, scrapers, hammers, paint, varnish … and my infamous green clipboard. While Bruce (get out of the kitchen while I’m working with mirrors) Dickson gingerly removed the 12 inch primary mirror from the Tinsley Telescope and expertly began the surface cleaning process, an army of first rate strippers began peeling off the inner surface walls of the Papadopoulos Dome. At the same time, Louise Penberthy and her legion of interior experts worked feverishly at the walls, windows and floor of the meeting hall. What a fantastic difference; a magical transformation.

All the while the growl of chainsaw motors and the combined attack of Chris Middleton’s battalion of helpers were hard at work at the heavy duty process of clearing our site of invader tree species. Now we understand the significance of his label: THE Tree Surgeon - an expert who knows what needs to be done! All who were present expressed amazement at the incredible north-facing view which opened up once the invader trees had fallen in battle. A special thank you, Chris Middleton, for your significant financial and labour contribution.

Lunch time and the hungry forces were well fed and watered before it was back to the afternoon onslaught and final offensive. Lerika and Melvyn, your white line painting skills with that glue-like substance is commendable. Dave Hughes, thank you for attending to essential long-overdue plumbing needs.  At 4 pm it was time to light the braai fires. Food, drinks and a book raffle, sponsored by the society, for all the helpers. Time to relax, reflect and enjoy the magnificent view. The raffle winner was our most recent addition to the membership, Bābi Prokas - enjoy your Wil Tirion Star Atlas.

Thank you to all who were present and contributed on the day. The result of the solstice 2003 grand clean-up - well see for yourselves the next time you visit the JHB Centre of the Astronomy Society.

Dave Gordon