The beginnings of radio astronomy in Australia

Abstract

My lecture this evening is dedicated to my late friend and fellow astronomer, Harley Wood, who died on 26 June 1984 at the age of 72. It is a fine thing that the ASA has decided to give the name of Harley Wood to an annual public lecture at the time of the society’s Annual General Meeting. For besides making a monumental contribution to the astrometry of the southern skies, Harley became a leader, a kind of organizer and father figure, among Australian astronomers. He played a leading part in the formation of this society and was its foundation President. He will also be specially remembered by a small group of us, about half a dozen, who met regularly in the charming old building of Sydney Observatory to plan the 1973 IAU General Assembly held in Sydney, the first time ever in Australia. Harley chaired not only the local organizing committee, but the ladies’ committee too. My wife still recalls the gentle, but firm way in which Harley once admonished her for addressing a remark across the table without going through the Chair. Harley was totally approachable and totally positive at all times: you could always count on his support for any sensible initiative. He had many friends and no enemies that I have heard of. And unlike so many of his profession, there was no hint of the egotist or the prima donna. I count it a privilege to have been his contemporary and colleague.