It's been years since I've been to Parkes. My ex-sister-in-law's family were big land owners in the Parkes/Forbes area and we used to go there quite often. Each and every time my father would let us visit the dish - because if he didn't, he'd get a screaming, unbalanced & narky kid in the back seat for the whole trip home to Sydney.
I was in 1st class (equivalent grade now?) in 1969 which was a month before my 7th birthday. I still remember the whole class sitting around the b/w telly, watching in complete and absolute awe as Neil stepped out on to the surface. That event still registers with me like it was just yesterday. It was a life-changer. I've been fascinated to the point of obsession with the whole space program (both US and Russian) ever since. If I could've been involved professionally during my career at some point I'd be whole.
We have the movie in our collection and it is watched often. It departs from the truth in several spots apparently, but who cares. What a great feel-good flick. Both it and Apollo 13 are brilliant to watch one after the other on a rainy Sunday arvo when nothing else is going on......or even if it is!
