In 1965 I was serving in the Royal Air Force, in their wisdom the RAF
posted me to Woomera, to No1 Air Target Aircraft Squadron, where, as a
Junior technician I sort of became aircrew to fly the Jindivik and
various other target aircraft.
It was a married accompanied posting so my brand new wife of a few
months found ourselves in the South Australian desert in a rather
strange place. We spent two and a half years there and with out a
shadow of a doubt were the happiest years of our life. Our first son
(of two) was born there.
We were lucky enough to return after migrating in 1970 and spent
another 5 years of of interesting work and most interesting social
life. No other town in Australia can compare to the social life of
Woomera. We left in 1975 to seek our fortune elswhere.
We have returned for visits on three occasions. When I intitially
heard of the aboriginal attitude to sacred sites I was not impressed.
I now know they are right. Whenever we passed Pimba and could see
Woomera in the distance we both felt that the area was saying " Hello,
you have come back again, welcome home". It does not use words, it
uses sensations, colours and the like. In 1997 when we returned for
the 50th annivesary we left the township and it was as if we were
leaving home to go home, very odd.
Woomera will always have a special place in our hearts.
Ian and Eileen Strachan
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