Hello Dennis If you are the Dennis Todd I knew during the ANZAC Ship days, then I say hello and good to hear from you. Either way, I thank you for your comment. By coincident, today saw the release of my book about the partial clean-up.
Hi Alan. Great to see this (and great to see YOU again - so clearly ACTIVE too - after so long since we last met! Sadly, the radio activity sure does linger on but this magnificent ancient outback will undoubtedly see it out - in time!! Good that this irreplaceable video of yours is now on UA-cam for viewing by all. Congratulations!! Best wishes to you both. Noel.
Hi Alan , nice video , lots of memories , its a place that gets under your skin , the sunsets , the scenery , the show of stars at night ! , and ... dare i say ... the curries !
What a wonderful start to the day. A very welcome blast from the past. I'm sure you did some of the filming for this video and you actually appear in it, but you have to be quick to see you backing out of one of the concrete block houses. I have fond memories of you jumping over sand hills or winching me out when I got bogged. Hope you are keeping well. Alan P
@@alanparkinson9135 leading the quiet life Alan , still occasionally get out the photo album and have a look ! , it wasn't that long ago saw the photos you took of the pit full of munitions that we exposed along the Kuli rd.
Loved your video Alan. I have just been to Maralinga, wanted to see the place as my Father spent three years there from 1959 to 1962. We lived in Adelaide and he commuted by plane from Adelaide to Maralinga.
Hello Peter I'm sure you enjoyed your visit to the site - I enoyed my many visits there. A word of caution however - much of the information about the partial clean-up on the notices around the site is incorrect. A better description of what happened is given in my other videos on UA-cam.
Well I would have to call you the David Attenborough ( you even have the same dress sense ) of Maralinga great memories I imagine John was the cameraman but this should be a part of the tour to give it some gravity and history very well done Steve
Whoever John is, he did not participate in making the video, but I seem to remember that you or Micheal would have been with me for some parts, especially the journey to Emu. Yes, great memories.
Hello Rob, Ah! My younger days in a kayak on the Peak Forest canal, or on a narrow boat on the Macclesfield canal, all a long time ago. Woomera is a few hundred kilometres east of Maralinga, half a day's drive between the two. I trust you have visited my other postings on UA-cam about Maralinga, and that you find them interesting. Alan P
Hi Rusty Glad you enjoyed it. A great place to visit, but I'm not sure the general public can go north of the bomb sites (to Emu and Stonehenge for example) as I did, except by travelling in from the north.
Douglas Bader I'm sure you will enjoy the trip if you can make it. Why not check out a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. ua-cam.com/video/iXxc7u7CzIc/v-deo.html&google_comment_id=z124xrtzcyfwft3dm232hjygbxiwvdcmi&google_view_type#gpluscomments Regards Alan P
The sign was designed by representatives of the traditional owners of the land. I understand that 'Kuka Palya' means 'Good tucker' and 'Ngura Wiya' means 'No camping'. In other words, the traditional owners could enter the area for hunting, but should not set up permanent camp there.
@@alanparkinson9135 Have been learning a bit of the pitinitjara language from the top of South Australia. There payla is hello but of course there are differences in the language groups . So pleased to get a response from you thank you very much
Ha Ha. As a matter of fact, some of the workers prepared a meal for the APS guys at the site. I remember that on the menu card was "Steak Taranaki, with Mushroom Sauce." Alan P
Hello Andrew Yes beryllium was used at Maralinga as part of the source of neutrons to trigger the explosion. I understood the different colour of glazing was because of the composition of the soil - as you see it is different at Emu from that at Breakaway.
Hello Cherri At the end of the video is a shot of somebody holding a piece of glazing - black in colour, formed when the atomic fireball hit the sand surface of the ground. While that is slightly radioactive it is quite safe to hold it - at least for a short time. The traditional owners of the site now offer visits to Maralinga which I would recommend to anyone sufficiently interested. Even though a huge area is still contaminated with plutonium above the clean-up criteria, it is quite safe to visit and walk over the contaminated area. I have done so many times. The one proviso would be to not kick up dust so that it can be breathed in.
Dad was irradiated at Maralinga as a WRE officer and it gave him a messy death. But he loved the country so I visit there often. And then as an architect I was contracted to survey the structures on the Old Ghan line when the new one was built. I conclude that humans are irrelevant in this landscape. That is what is unique about Central Australia - it will kill you or turn you into a decent human being. You choose
Hello Edwin - Please accept my apologies, I had missed your comment or I would have replied earlier. I am sorry to hear that your father came to a messy end. I always enjoyed my many visits to Maralinga, and I was specially privileged because I could go further afield than most others could do. So I saw a lot of the site beyond the radioactive areas. I was not alone in my enjoyment not only the scenery but also the solitude of the place. I agree that the outback can break you or make you.
Alan. Great footage. Id love to visit stonehenge. Im very interested in ancient stone formations. Would you know if access to this area is possible at all? Thanks for the upload Dave
Hello David I have been to Stonehenge just the one occasion. I went by road from Maralinga before the land was returned to the traditional owners. The two ways to the site are from the south, as I did, but I am not sure whether you would be allowed to go that way. You need permission from the Maralinga management to go to Maralinga - they have tours of the site, but I don't know if you can then continue north along the road to Emu - there used to be gate across that road and I suspect it is still there. The other route is off the Stuart Highway from Coober Pedy and Mabel Creek to Emu and then drive south to the site. I don't know whether you need permission to travel the northern route - it is Aboriginal land. Good luck and enjoy. Alan
Alan Parkinson Thank you for the reply. It was very generous of you. We will start researching a trip for this coming winter. If we get there i will be sure to let you know. Have a safe and Merry Christmas. Dave
As a SA, I am also interested that nobody is talking about the children who got leukemia from radioactive fallout when I was going to school. I've heard the quite a few girls were affected; one died in my sister's class. There were no repercussions for these atrocities. Now, that generation has forgotten, just in time to perpetrate another holocaust? Human beings are so stupid! They don't learn from history. Even when they study it! (I am not saying it was from this test site, it may have drifted from Muraroa Atoll. ) I just remember hearing that it was a known cause!
My mum worked out there and Woomera when she was in the navy,she passed away in 2012from multiple myeloma,the British & Australian government s caused her death at 63yrs old.The govt's knew the dangers but did nothing.Now they want nuclear power and subs etc,they couldn't clean up marilinga let alone keep us safe from future nuclear accidents that will happen if we go down the nuke route.The current political people in this country couldn't run a piss up in a brewery,let alone set up and run a nuclear industry,a bunch of fools.🇦🇺🖕
Has anyone ever done any air sampling and direct monitoring for Alpha radiation/contamination close to the minor trial test sites?, I ask as I imagine even after the last clean up there must still be significant levels of Pu239 oxide from the minor trials still laying around on the surface logically you'd have thought there would still be some kind of dedicated long term monitoring of the general area including Maralinga village , I also still find it hard to actually comprehend why they were actually doing tests to evaluate Plutonium contamination after an accident its not hard to work out it will have been spread out over a wide downwind track, all you'd need to do is work your way down wind and just keep on going until you stop detecting any alpha radiation/contamination, the stronger the wind the further down wind it will be deposited, And as a retired health physics surveyor who also has over 10 years experience of working with Pu239 in glove boxes my advice is keep well away from the minor trial sites or even better avoid Maralinga completely but if you don't want to take that advice all I can say is God help you if you ended up breathing any of it in.
Hello Mel. You raise some interesting questions. The minor trials were not to evaluate plutonium contamination. The Vixen B trials were said to be to assess the safety of weapons in transit or storage. Other minor trials were in the development of the bomb. You can see the extent of contamination in some of the other videos I have posted. The plutonium was spread over a huge area and most is till there on the ground. As you know, alpha radiation is not easy to detect, and you would have to walk several kilometres to reach the ends of the plumes. The winds during the Vixen B trials blew the contamination northwards and the village is 40 km to the south. I would not let the presence of plutonium on the ground stop me from visiting Maralinga. Tourists are welcome and I understand they all find the visit worthwhile and safe. Alan P
A great little video.
Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed making the journey and recording it. Alan P
Great to see this. thanks Alan.
Hello Dennis If you are the Dennis Todd I knew during the ANZAC Ship days, then I say hello and good to hear from you. Either way, I thank you for your comment. By coincident, today saw the release of my book about the partial clean-up.
I have just found out that UA-cam does not like italics so deleted the title of my book "Maralinga Mystery." Alan P
Hi Alan.
Great to see this (and great to see YOU again - so clearly ACTIVE too - after so long since we last met! Sadly, the radio activity sure does linger on but this magnificent ancient outback will undoubtedly see it out - in time!! Good that this irreplaceable video of yours is now on UA-cam for viewing by all. Congratulations!!
Best wishes to you both.
Noel.
Hi Alan , nice video , lots of memories , its a place that gets under your skin , the sunsets , the scenery , the show of stars at night ! , and ... dare i say ... the curries !
What a wonderful start to the day. A very welcome blast from the past. I'm sure you did some of the filming for this video and you actually appear in it, but you have to be quick to see you backing out of one of the concrete block houses. I have fond memories of you jumping over sand hills or winching me out when I got bogged. Hope you are keeping well. Alan P
@@alanparkinson9135 leading the quiet life Alan , still occasionally get out the photo album and have a look ! , it wasn't that long ago saw the photos you took of the pit full of munitions that we exposed along the Kuli rd.
Hello Micheal Today saw the release of my new book about the partial clean-up and our part in it. Alan P
I have just found out that UA-cam does not like italics so deleted the title of my book "Maralinga Mystery."
@@alanparkinson9135 that's great Alan ! , where can I go to purchase a copy ?
Loved your video Alan. I have just been to Maralinga, wanted to see the place as my Father spent three years there from 1959 to 1962. We lived in Adelaide and he commuted by plane from Adelaide to Maralinga.
Hello Peter I'm sure you enjoyed your visit to the site - I enoyed my many visits there. A word of caution however - much of the information about the partial clean-up on the notices around the site is incorrect. A better description of what happened is given in my other videos on UA-cam.
Well I would have to call you the David Attenborough ( you even have the same dress sense ) of Maralinga great memories I imagine John was the cameraman but this should be a part of the tour to give it some gravity and history very well done Steve
Whoever John is, he did not participate in making the video, but I seem to remember that you or Micheal would have been with me for some parts, especially the journey to Emu. Yes, great memories.
Hello Steve Today saw the release of my new book about the partial clean-up and our part in it. Alan P
I have just found out that UA-cam does not like italics so deleted the title of my book "Maralinga Mystery."
Great video - thanks for making this and sharing it
Sorry Fred - I missed your comment. I am pleased you enjoyed it.
Hello Rob, Ah! My younger days in a kayak on the Peak Forest canal, or on a narrow boat on the Macclesfield canal, all a long time ago. Woomera is a few hundred kilometres east of Maralinga, half a day's drive between the two. I trust you have visited my other postings on UA-cam about Maralinga, and that you find them interesting. Alan P
great documentary! loved it
Hi Rusty Glad you enjoyed it. A great place to visit, but I'm not sure the general public can go north of the bomb sites (to Emu and Stonehenge for example) as I did, except by travelling in from the north.
Very well done!!
Thank you for your comment. I wouldn't mind making it all again, but age now gets in the way. Alan P
What a remarkable insight, thank you
Thank you for your comment. It is a 'different' place.
Alan Parkinson I found the ISV process very interesting
Very interesting
Its on my "bucket list" Great video mate..
Douglas Bader
I'm sure you will enjoy the trip if you can make it. Why not check out a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. ua-cam.com/video/iXxc7u7CzIc/v-deo.html&google_comment_id=z124xrtzcyfwft3dm232hjygbxiwvdcmi&google_view_type#gpluscomments
Regards Alan P
One of those signs had something palya which is a South Australian indigenous word for hello
The sign was designed by representatives of the traditional owners of the land. I understand that 'Kuka Palya' means 'Good tucker' and 'Ngura Wiya' means 'No camping'. In other words, the traditional owners could enter the area for hunting, but should not set up permanent camp there.
@@alanparkinson9135 Have been learning a bit of the pitinitjara language from the top of South Australia. There payla is hello but of course there are differences in the language groups . So pleased to get a response from you thank you very much
@@alanparkinson9135 just realised nooto palya is "are you good" , so that would make sense what you're saying .
Yer, you can buy a Currie at any service station on the way to Maralinga.
Ha Ha. As a matter of fact, some of the workers prepared a meal for the APS guys at the site. I remember that on the menu card was "Steak Taranaki, with Mushroom Sauce." Alan P
The green glass is similar to Trinitite The Brits were testing with different material some of it was Beryllium which very toxic
Hello Andrew Yes beryllium was used at Maralinga as part of the source of neutrons to trigger the explosion. I understood the different colour of glazing was because of the composition of the soil - as you see it is different at Emu from that at Breakaway.
Hi Alan, at the end you hand Radioactive sand in your hand, wasn't that dangerous? is it free to walk round in Maralinga?
Hello Cherri At the end of the video is a shot of somebody holding a piece of glazing - black in colour, formed when the atomic fireball hit the sand surface of the ground. While that is slightly radioactive it is quite safe to hold it - at least for a short time. The traditional owners of the site now offer visits to Maralinga which I would recommend to anyone sufficiently interested. Even though a huge area is still contaminated with plutonium above the clean-up criteria, it is quite safe to visit and walk over the contaminated area. I have done so many times. The one proviso would be to not kick up dust so that it can be breathed in.
@@alanparkinson9135 Thank you Alan very much, love to go there some time, Iam S.Australian from the River land,, now live in Perth, take care, Cherri
Dad was irradiated at Maralinga as a WRE officer and it gave him a messy death. But he loved the country so I visit there often. And then as an architect I was contracted to survey the structures on the Old Ghan line when the new one was built. I conclude that humans are irrelevant in this landscape. That is what is unique about Central Australia - it will kill you or turn you into a decent human being. You choose
Hello Edwin - Please accept my apologies, I had missed your comment or I would have replied earlier. I am sorry to hear that your father came to a messy end. I always enjoyed my many visits to Maralinga, and I was specially privileged because I could go further afield than most others could do. So I saw a lot of the site beyond the radioactive areas. I was not alone in my enjoyment not only the scenery but also the solitude of the place. I agree that the outback can break you or make you.
8:24 - Beadell was from NSW. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Beadell
No argument - a bit like saying Russell Crowe, the Australian actor.
Alan. Great footage. Id love to visit stonehenge. Im very interested in ancient stone formations. Would you know if access to this area is possible at all?
Thanks for the upload
Dave
Hello David I have been to Stonehenge just the one occasion. I went by road from Maralinga before the land was returned to the traditional owners. The two ways to the site are from the south, as I did, but I am not sure whether you would be allowed to go that way. You need permission from the Maralinga management to go to Maralinga - they have tours of the site, but I don't know if you can then continue north along the road to Emu - there used to be gate across that road and I suspect it is still there. The other route is off the Stuart Highway from Coober Pedy and Mabel Creek to Emu and then drive south to the site. I don't know whether you need permission to travel the northern route - it is Aboriginal land. Good luck and enjoy. Alan
Alan Parkinson Thank you for the reply. It was very generous of you. We will start researching a trip for this coming winter. If we get there i will be sure to let you know. Have a safe and Merry Christmas.
Dave
As a SA, I am also interested that nobody is talking about the children who got leukemia from radioactive fallout when I was going to school. I've heard the quite a few girls were affected; one died in my sister's class. There were no repercussions for these atrocities. Now, that generation has forgotten, just in time to perpetrate another holocaust? Human beings are so stupid! They don't learn from history. Even when they study it! (I am not saying it was from this test site, it may have drifted from Muraroa Atoll. ) I just remember hearing that it was a known cause!
My mum worked out there and Woomera when she was in the navy,she passed away in 2012from multiple myeloma,the British & Australian government s caused her death at 63yrs old.The govt's knew the dangers but did nothing.Now they want nuclear power and subs etc,they couldn't clean up marilinga let alone keep us safe from future nuclear accidents that will happen if we go down the nuke route.The current political people in this country couldn't run a piss up in a brewery,let alone set up and run a nuclear industry,a bunch of fools.🇦🇺🖕
Welcome to dalby Queensland
Has anyone ever done any air sampling and direct monitoring for Alpha radiation/contamination close to the minor trial test sites?, I ask as I imagine even after the last clean up there must still be significant levels of Pu239 oxide from the minor trials still laying around on the surface logically you'd have thought there would still be some kind of dedicated long term monitoring of the general area including Maralinga village , I also still find it hard to actually comprehend why they were actually doing tests to evaluate Plutonium contamination after an accident its not hard to work out it will have been spread out over a wide downwind track, all you'd need to do is work your way down wind and just keep on going until you stop detecting any alpha radiation/contamination, the stronger the wind the further down wind it will be deposited, And as a retired health physics surveyor who also has over 10 years experience of working with Pu239 in glove boxes my advice is keep well away from the minor trial sites or even better avoid Maralinga completely but if you don't want to take that advice all I can say is God help you if you ended up breathing any of it in.
Hello Mel. You raise some interesting questions. The minor trials were not to evaluate plutonium contamination. The Vixen B trials were said to be to assess the safety of weapons in transit or storage. Other minor trials were in the development of the bomb. You can see the extent of contamination in some of the other videos I have posted. The plutonium was spread over a huge area and most is till there on the ground. As you know, alpha radiation is not easy to detect, and you would have to walk several kilometres to reach the ends of the plumes. The winds during the Vixen B trials blew the contamination northwards and the village is 40 km to the south. I would not let the presence of plutonium on the ground stop me from visiting Maralinga. Tourists are welcome and I understand they all find the visit worthwhile and safe. Alan P
No graffiti painted on the rail cars😊
That's a novelty but good to see.
No l