Day three, Parkes and 'The Disk'

On the way to Condobolin I insisted we stop at the CSIRO Dish near Parkes. Darren not particularly enthusiastic at the prospect, in fact we nearly turned back. As we approached it he revealed he had never seen, nor even heard of the film, 'The Dish'. I was amazed and scandalised. An Aussie classic, everyone should see it, you know, Sam Neil...the part the Australians played...Mans first landing on the moon...? (Hmmm, perhaps a little over patriotic sentiment, methinks?)

The dish itself is enormous, and can be seen for miles. It sticks out of the farming landscape as a monument to man’s progress. I think it extraordinary. The intracacies of its architecture and diagonals in the structure remind me, strangely, of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Now, I was not expecting that.
We arrived 15 minutes before the visitor’s centre closed, and spent ½ the time gazing at its enormity and craftsmanship, and ½ rootling around in the extensive gift shop. Could not decide between ‘The Dish’ pencil sharpener, and ‘The Dish’ tea towel. At last chose the last and only postcard they had of ‘The Dish’.
Don’t think D was blown away by the experience; he insisted on calling it ‘The Disk’ for the rest of the day.
Grrr.