Awards

In March 1999 the Society formed a sub-committee to establish a number of new awards, with the desire to recognise contributions to Astronomy by amateur astronomers, encourage publication of original articles in the Society's newsletter, and recognise significant contributions to Society activities by its members.

• The Bill Bradfield Astronomy Award
• The Annual Service Awards
• The Editor's Award

The award is named after Bill Bradfield, a Past President and Honorary Life Member of the Society and discoverer of 17 comets - the most comet discoveries by an amateur astronomer in the 20th century. Bill developed a special interest in comets in 1970 when at the age of 43 he observed the bright Comet Bennett discovered by an amateur comet hunter in South Africa. Inspired by Bennett's discovery Bill set about to discover a comet of his own.

He purchased a 150mm diameter f/5.5 refractor telescope from a friend and started comet hunting on January 1 1971. He searched for 260 hours until on March 12 1972 he found Comet 1972f.

Bill became determined to find another comet to prove to himself and others that his first discovery was the result of more than some good luck. This he did time and time again, and he remains an active comet hunter to this day. An inspiration to many amateur astronomers in Australia and overseas the Society is justifiable proud to have the award named in honour of its most famous member, Bill Bradfield.

The Bill Bradfield Astronomy Award is awarded at the discretion of Council in recognition of a notable contribution to Astronomy by an amateur astronomer either through astronomical discovery, research, or observational astronomy over an extended period of time. To be eligible for the prize, a recipient must be an amateur astronomy and a resident of South Australia. Professional astronomers are not eligible for the award.

• Michael Mattiazzo received the award in 2003, presented by Bill Bradfield.

  Michael has spent many nights of diligently searching for comets, doing variable star observations and occultation reports. Mike typifies the best of what we should all aspire to in observational astronomy, as Bill has before him. Too few members are involved in this, so to receive this is a great honour indeed.

• Jenni Kay received the award in 2002, presented by Bill Bradfield.

  Jenni has spent many years painstakingly studying deek sky objects. She has also written a book entitled "A Visual Survey of Star Cluster and Nebulae of the Magellanic Clouds".

• At the 2001 Annual Dinner, Bill presented the award to Justin Tilbrook for his thorough research of the sky for comets. At the time the award was presented, Justin had discovered two comets and continues to search for them.

• Fraser Farrell was presented with the first award by Bill Bradfield in 2000. He received the award for:

  1. consistent observation and reporting of variable stars,
  2. publishing Binocular Variables for Southern Observers, a collection of observing charts and notes for neglected bright southern variables (The Dot Book), and
  3. participation in international observing campaigns through the VSS, RASNZ, AAVSO and VSNET.

The Service Award is given to individual members in recognition of considerable contribution to the Society over several years up to and including the current membership year. To be eligible for the Award, a recipient must be a member in good standing.

• Peter Nation
  Peter has been a member of ASSA for at least 15 years and is a regular helper at public and school viewing nights in the southern area. Peter was one of the main instigators for developing a southern viewing site. This began with the Douglas Scrub Observatory in 1995 and now the Tooperang viewing site. Peter also served two years on Council during 1996 and 1997.



• John Murray
  John has coordinated the Whyalla regional group since its inception over six years ago. This year, John again led the small but enthusiastic group who ran successful viewing nights at Middleback, and several school visits. At one of these, John and his two helpers entertained several hundred visitors. As you can imagine, it was an extremely busy couple of hours for them!



• Michael Williams
  Both Ian and Stephen Coulter (father and son) have been regular helpers at The Heights for many years. They are also regular helpers at Stockport on the Star Party nights. Typically, they arrive together in their trusty Volvo with the larger dobsonian 'scope travelling behind in a trailer. They set up and Stephen 'runs' the scope with Ian either assisting or often tuning into CB, UHF, and/or HAM radio broadcasts with his hand held transceiver. Ian has tuned into the Shuttle and Space Station and also has the Iridium predictions ready for the public viewing nights. On several occasions, Ian has sold the tickets and kept both the public and myself informed of the night's proceedings to help things run smoothly. Stephen has been on Council before and was also an Office Bearer as Assistant Secretary. Like many members who assist, they are simply always there and just get on with helping out without being asked and not seeking any thanks or recognition.

• Greg Weaver
  Greg has organised the videotaping of general meetings. The DVDs are well made and an invaluable record for the future. Much work goes into making them. These discs are now available to borrow and cover many meetings since 2000.



• Michael Williams
  Michael organises and participates in works at Stockport. He has built floors, a DVD projection holder and does general maintenance and improvements. He helps out at the Heights viewing nights and runs the deep sky section.



• Blair Lade
  Again, Blair has spent hundreds of hours at Stockport during the week and weekends, in order to fix, build and plan all sorts of work relating to the domes, mirrors, telescopes, electrical upgrades etc. Blair also initiated the re-coating of The Heights 'scope mirrors and the refurbishment of the entire telescope. He runs the telescope clinics and helps at all the public nights and functions.

• Blair Lade
  Blair seemingly breezed into the Society a couple of years ago but he is a returnee to the ASSA fold. He travelled around Australia for years and joined other astronomical societies. Blair has spent extensive time working on the telescopes, computers and CCDs at Stockport and the Heights, and worked with the students. He has also helped at Whyalla and the Scrub. Blair is a font of practical knowledge highly sought by all.



• Phillip Pudney
  Phillip has been looking after and improving the ASSA website. This takes countless hours. He also arranged for the ASSA to be hosted by Gordon Russell, Managing Director of Your IT Manager, which is better known to us as Hang 10 Web Design. This has saved the Society hundreds of dollars every year. Phillip monitors traffic on ASSA-Chat. Phillip makes the website management look easy, but it isn't.



• Steve Cook
  Steve has had a continuous commitment to the Stockport site over many years, turning up to most working bees and viewing nights there. Steve also made plastic parts for the telescopes at Stockport and makes the observatory-shaped Bill Bradfield awards.

• Andrew Miller
  Andrew is a mechanical engineer who has been on Council as our Instrument Officer for over ten years. He has spent countless hours at Stockport sorting out equipment for installation and repair. He has also done much of the landscaping and annual clearing up of the Stockport site.



• Fraser Farrell
  Fraser has run the Douglas Scrub viewing site for over a decade. He has an accessible web site convering all kinds of topics, such as buying telescopes, cameras and filters, general astronomy and variable star study. Fraser has also performed a huge role in the education and publicising of the 2002 total solar eclipse and has come one of, if not the most authoritative source of information about it.



• John McCarthy
  John's story appears on the Solar Scene page of the Bulletin every month - without missing a beat.

• Lyn Grida
  Lyn has spent many years dedicated especially to the setting up of Stockport Observatory, sometimes venturing to Stockport 3-4 times a week. This year is without exception. Lyn was instrumental in winning the $25,000 Jubilee award in 1986. She has been on Council for many years and is currently serving as the Observatories Director.



• Earle Laurence
  Earl runs the Beginners' Group prior to every general meeting. He also does educational sessions for the young people at the Heights and Adelaide University. Earle serves on Council.



• Janita Hill
  Janita is on Council as the Editor, and has previously served as the Assistant Secretary. Each month she produces the Society's 16-page Bulletin, almost entirely on her own. She also helps out at viewing nights.

• Paul Rogers
  Paul has consistently managed the ASSA public nights at the Heights Observatory for 10 years. He has served on Council and unofficially maintains updates to the Constitution. He also attends most of the working bees and public nights at Stockport.



• Ian Anderson
  Ian has done years of programming and designing equipment for the Stockport Jubilee 20" telescope, maintaining and updating same. He is now working on the 36" telescope.



• Arthur Beales
  For several years Arthur has organised volunteers for the Bulletin FLAP every month. Collating the Bulletin with volunteers has saved the ASSA a lot of money.

• The award for 2005 went to Martin Lewicki.
• The award for 2004 went to Jeff Jensen.
• The award for 2003 went to Terry Moon.
• The award for 2002 went to Fraser Farrell.
• The award for 2001 went to Justin Tilbrook.
• The award for 2000 went to Paul Curnow.