Summer 2022 SKA-Low update
On Monday 5 December we had an unforgettable day at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, to launch the start of on-site construction of the SKA-Low telescope by the SKA Observatory (SKAO).
Celebrating together
We were joined by almost 100 members of the local community, representatives from partner organisations, media, staff and guests who attended the event in outback WA, on Wajarri Country.
The official ceremony began with a Welcome to Country by Wendy Merry and Wajarri cultural dance by Godfrey Simpson, Geoffrey Mongoo and Gerard Boddington.
SKAO Director-General Professor Phil Diamond announced the launch of on-site construction, and introduced Minister for Industry and Science The Hon Ed Husic MP who spoke about the benefits of the SKA project for Australia, and the first contract awarded for SKA-Low infrastructure activities.
They were joined by WA Government representative Ms Sabine Winton MLA, CSIRO’s Professor Elanor Huntington and Murchison Shire President Rossco Foulkes-Taylor, to speak about their perspectives on the importance of the project. Wajarri representatives Colin Hamlett and Dwayne Mallard spoke about the expectations of the Wajarri Traditional Owners for the benefits that the SKA-Low will deliver to their community, now and into the future.
Meaningful gifts
Wajarri artist Susan Merry presented Minister Husic with a painting of the SKA-Low telescope under the sky and stars, as a gift from the SKA-Low team to commemorate the event.
To mark the turning of the soil that will begin construction, Gail Simpson from the Minangu Land Committee presented Wajarri digging sticks to Minister Husic, Professor Diamond and Ms Winton, together with Ivan Merry, Edward (Teddo) Ryan and Colin Hamlett from the Wajarri.
I was honoured to be one of several SKA project representatives, together with Rebecca Wheadon from CSIRO and Janean Richards from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, to be gifted a digging stick from the Wajarri representatives.
It was a really moving symbol of the road we are walking together in sharing the sky and stars, and the relationship we are building between the partner organisations and the Wajarri. Thank you to Colin, Gail and the Wajarri for this gift.
International project, global community
Each attendee at the event received a framed reproduction of the SKA-Low Wajarri artwork by Susan Merry and a booklet about the project. In the evening, about 180 people joined us at an evening reception at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, a chance to catch up with new and long-time colleagues and collaborators, to celebrate this momentous occasion.
The SKA-Low telescope launch was part of a series of global events to mark the start of construction, with associated events happening around the world, including in South Africa and the UK, as well as SKAO member countries.
It was wonderful to be joined by Wajarri Elders, Wajarri and Pia Wadjarri community members, local pastoralists, Murchison Shire representatives and others from the local community, to commemorate this key milestone. It was a huge effort by a collaborative team across SKAO, CSIRO, the Australian Government and our partner organisations. Thank you to everyone who helped to plan and run the event.
Ant Schinckel, SKA-Low Site Construction Director, SKAO