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AUSTRALIAN MAP CIRCLE CONFERENCE MASH EXHIBIT @ MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, SYDNEY
February 2003

The MASH equipment display mounted at Macquarie University Art Gallery for the month of February 2003 proved a worthy and successful event. Major sponsor C.R. KENNEDY & LEICA GEOSYSTEMS supplied latest state of the art 21st century GPS equipment for display. LINKE AND LINKE SURVEYS displayed a varied collection of surveying, computer and drafting equipment. The event provided an excellent opportunity to meet and interface with the map makers, geographers and map collectors. ISNSW had an excellent and well attended evening to hear from the
master map collector Professor Robert Clancy.

MASH - Display

MASH - Display #2

[Click on all photos to enlarge]

MASH FIG @ PARIS
April 2003

This provided an excellent opportunity to make contact with and network with the other members of the FIG HISTORY COMMITTEE. President JAN DE GRAEVE from Belgium confirmed his intentions to attend FIG/MASH History Colloquium in Sydney in September and present a paper. Hong Kong Surveyor General (retired) GORDON ANDREASSEND who has spoken at previous Sydney Survey History functions confirmed his attendance in Sydney for FIG/MASH in September to be Chairman. Cartographic and Mapping History Expert, Professor DAVID WOODWARD attendance for the Sydney MASH event to give two papers was also confirmed. Our old friend WINNIE SHILL attended the History Colloquium in Paris. After the presentation of papers by JOHN BROCK - Catalhoyuk Plan of 6200 B.C and BOB LINKE - History of French Maritim Exploration and Mapping in Pacific and Australasian Regions, Winnie booked John and Bob to speak at the S.E. Asian Survey Conference to be held this November.

Moving on to LONDON, MASH's old friend, JIM SMITH, confirmed his intention to attend the FIG/MASH Colloquium in Sept/Sydney. Jim has confirmed he will be the Chairman for the Saturday of speakers events. MASH then caught up with STEPHEN BOOTH, the Editor of the British Magazine, GEOMATICS WORLD. Later Brocky and Bob Linke caught up with James Kavanagh of RICS. James had presented an excellent poster paper at FIG Paris on the Duke of Wellington (who had been the boss of both NSW SG Sir Thomas Mitchell and Vic SG Robert Hoddle whilst map making on the Iberian Peninsula). Brocky showed his world famous collection of movies showing Surveyors at work, play and even in advertising on a multitude of their talents.

It was a wonderful occasion to represent MASH in the middle of London overlooking Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Whitehall and Westminster Cathedral can all be viewed from the two windows of the RICS Chambers. The RICS building supplies an excellent bar for members' use. To cap off a wonderful evening, the RICS/MASH/FIG contingent adjorned to a close by excellent restaurant owned by the British Actor, Michael Caine.

Summing up the trip to Paris and London by Brocky and Bob Linke with the current disquiet and fear of international travel and SARS gives incoming speakers the confidence to continue with plans to attend MASH/FIG HISTORY COLLOQUIUM in September in Sydney.

On Saturday 7th June this year, MASH (John Brock and Bob Linke) attended the annual full day seminar of the Australian Science History Club at the Sydney Observatory. The subject of the day was Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales from 1822-1826, who made an incredible contribution to the knowledge of the southern skies by observing and cataloguing over 7000 stars of the South Sky, as well as building an observatory at Parramatta out of his own funds. Because the building was erected using timber, it became the victim of Australia's voracious white ants which destroyed the premises beyond salvation, leaving behind only the rock pedestal upon which the large telescope was mounted as the only reminder of the astonishing contribution of Sir Thomas to the celestial knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere. Many references were made by all the speakers about Surveyor-General Mitchell (New South Wales) and William Roy (Scotland) together with mention of the great skill with astronomical instruments for triangulation purposes. Also of note was the fact that Sir Thomas Brisbane as well as bringing at his expense all his own instruments to observe the heavens, etc, then constructing at this own expense an Observatory at Parramatta, had another grand surveying project in mind. Brisbane had at his own expense bought from England all the equipment, etc. to undertake a measurement of the Meridian Arc. Brisbane's aim was to repeat what Lambert and Everest were undertaking in India, Roy in the British Isles, others in Europe, Africa and South America. Unfortunately as with the current days, bureaucracy got involved and Brisbane's dreams and projects never reached completion.

Madame Suzanne Debarbat, the recently retired Chief Astronomer from the Paris Observatory, came to visit us in Sydney during July. Previously MASH had described Suzanne as the "Astronomer Royal", but she discreetly informed us that Royalty has not had much of a name in France since "The Revolution" during which Madama La Guillotine gave most of them the chop! The great lady was attending the World Astronomical Convention being held again in Sydney 30 years after it was first hosted here in 1973, the year that the Sydney Opera House was officially opened for business. Upon her arrival, Brocky took Suzanne out to view the site of the original 1770 landing spot of Lieutenant James Cook in Botany Bay. Also for Suzanne to visit La Perouse, named after the legendary French explorer who disappeared after dining with Governor Arthur Phillip when they met in Botany Bay at the occasion of the arrival of the First Fleet to colonise New South Wales in January 1788. The nearly remains of the wrecks of the two French vessels, L'Astrolabe and La Boussole, were found near 40 years later at Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands, where most of the survivors were cannibalised by the natives, and another group, including La Perouse, was never seen again after they set off in a long boat to seek rescue for the crews. On that Sunday, 13th July, there was an official Bastille Day ceremony, conducted annually by the Friends of La Perouse, which was attended by many French-Australians as well as the French Ambassador and Consul General, so Suzanne was absolutely shocked to hear so many people speaking French on our gloriously isolated big island. The Linke family were also at La Perouse for the day celebrating grandfather John's 91st birthday. It was without doubt an eminent persons day.

An afternoon was spent at the Sydney University Macleay Museum. Curator Julian Holland gave Suzanne, Brocky and Bob a fascinating tour of the collection, giving its detailed history.

Bob Linke and Brocky then showed Mme Debarbat the brilliant 360o view from the revolving floor of our highest restaurant in Sydney Tower, 300+ metres above our city. Suzanne selected some truly unique Australian dishes, such as kangaroo and emu, in addition to a bit of camel meat. We reckon that they gave us the wrong end of the hump because that camel meat was as chewy as a bit of old saddle leather, but on thing: those emu drumsticks take some getting through, that's for sure!

On Wed 24th September, MASH repeated the delightful and scenic dinner trip at Centrepoint Tower to view Sydney at night with FIG History Secretary, Jim Smith, and his charming wife, Ann.

The recent FIG colloquium held at the Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, Sydney Australia featured the history of surveying and mapping. It was a grand success with over 140 delegates including many from overseas. The MASH committee hoped all who attended enjoyed the presentations on the history of mapping. A brief description of events for the weekend and the program of the Colloquium is still available. Photos also available of the weekend.