FILM AUSTRALIA COLLECTION

Title Details

Welcome to Woomera Out Takes

A film about ordinary people in a small town caught up in big events.
Year : 2004 | Total Duration : 55 Minutes | Producer : Steve Thomas, Kim Anning
Director : Steve Thomas |
Tape 1 - Interview Linda Biddau, Development Manager of BAE Systems, which administers Woomera Rocket Range. She describes what BAE Systems does, the business and commercial plans for the Woomera Range, and speaks generally of plans for tourism and the effect on business in the township of Woomera after the closure of the Detention Centre.
Access No. 135176 | 39 mins 30 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 2 - Interview with Area Administrator of Woomera, Bob Mackenzie about the importance of tourism and the cost of maintaining the town including the attempts made to defray these costs by the Department of Defence . He discusses morale in the community and the support provided by the village for any use of the Prohibited Area. Exterior WS of post office. MS of posters on door of post office. VS activities of post office staff. VS of souvenirs, including boomerangs, of Woomera. Line of computer monitors on desk as in Internet cafe. Interview with Rob Dillon owner of Woomera Post Office about his work and promotions to tourists. Tiger skin on wall. VS of two boys skateboarding in public square near post office.
Access No. 135181 | 56 mins 20 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 3 - Robert Dillon in sorting room of the Woomera Post Office. CUs on mail bags, sorting pigeon holes, magazine Australian Pistol Shooters Magazine. VS postman making mail deliveries on motorbike. Two boys wheeling billycart along path. K1 Launch Operation sign. VS street scenes. Soldiers in hangar gearing up with kits, painted faces, dressed in army fatigues. VS of military exercises, soldiers with back packs and semi automatic rifle (M16). Satellite dish. VS of display within missile park museum. CU on missiles and rockets, sign with Japanese and Australian flags and wording ÒJapan & Australia Space CooperationÓ. Rocket sculpture display outside museum. VS interior Woomera Sports Club including food bistro and meat tray raffle.
Access No. 135184 | 65 mins 16 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 4 - VS street scenes and road signs. Interview with representative from KESAB (Keep South Australia Beautiful) Environmental Solutions about the changes in Woomera over the years and Woomera as a contender for the Tidy Town Award. VS tour of the town as part of environmental and tourism assessment. Caravan along road, POV rear. Interior Woomera Heritage Centre. Discussion about the Detention Centre and tourism.
Access No. 135185 | 62 mins | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 5 - Interview with school headmaster, Stuart Knox, about the closure of the Woomera Detention Centre and its impact and the negative publicity about Woomera. He also describes the reliance of the town on the US Defence base in previous times and the need to devise alternative plans for the survival of the town. Discussion about the school. WS of outback road with traffic. Interview Bernie McCarthy, about his history with Woomera as Security-in-Charge at Nurrungar.
Access No. 135186 | 66 mins 50 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 6 - Interview with Bernie McCarthy, Security-in-Charge at Nurrungar, discusses the downturn in population numbers in Woomera, life in Woomera when the rocket range was operating and life in the reduced township after the closure of the rocket range and detention centre. Interview with Robert and Lynn Dillon discuss the busy life of Woomera in past times, internet dating, Lynn describes her first impressions of Woomera, the function of the Woomera Board and their hard work for the community to ensure the town's survival.
Access No. 135212 | 66 mins | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 7 - Interview with Robert and Lynn Dillon. Lynn talks about religion. Interview with Andrew Starkey Indigenous Liaison Officer, Department of Defence about fighting the proposal for a waste dump at Woomera. Low level audio. CU on red roses blowing in wind. CU of cockatoo in cage. VS Breen Park. VS tourists in Missile Park. VS of large white water tanks being spray painted on inside.
Access No. 135213 | 62 mins 40 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 8 - Interview with family on their return to Woomera describing life in Woomera. Low audio levels. Interview Peter Martin about the high employment levels in Woomera associated with the detention centre and maintenance of the pipeline which pumps water from the Murray River via Port Augusta (around 450 kls).
Access No. 135214 | 56 mins 14 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 9 - Interview with Murray & Merran Tschirpig, owners of Mobil service station in Woomera describe the importance of the Detention Centre to the economy of Woomera and the need for more population and projects for the town to flourish again. LS dirt road across barren flat red earth. and water pipeline. VS Woomera Board offices and Board meeting.
Access No. 135215 | 66 mins 42 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 10 - Woomera Board Meeting (914th). Woomera Detention Centre buildings lit at night. Road sign to Woomera Rocket Range Village. Tourist bus along outback road. VS of maintenance men working on water pipeline.
Access No. 135218 | 31 mins 18 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 11- Interview Robert Dillon showing souvenirs for sale in Woomera Post Office. VS post office activities including internet cafe setup.
Access No. 135219 | 32 mins 30 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 12 - Sorting letters in Post Office. Interview Robert Dillon in his saddle making workshop. Tools hanging on display board, screwdrivers and chisels. Exterior Post Office and mailboxes. WS of flat barren land with white cloudy sky. PAN to distant township of Woomera. VS street scenes. CU on sizzling steak on barbecue. VS interior Woomera Sports Club and meat tray raffle.
Access No. 135220 | 31 mins 30 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 13 - VS lawn bowling. Interview with man and woman about the membership of the Woomera RSL Bowling Club. Interview with Area Administrator Bob McKenzie and Linda Biddau.
Access No. 135221 | 29 mins 15 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 14 - Woomera at night, including Woomera Theatre. VS golf course in the desert and golfer teeing off in sandy dirt. VS of Golf Club. Charlie Payne at bar amongst others.
Access No. 135222 | 32 mins 30 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 15 - Robert Dillon loading up film projector in Woomera Theatre. CU on threading film. Interview. VS projector room and projectors. Interior shot of cinema. Church service with Father Jim Monaghan leading singing.
Access No. 135223 | 28 mins 45 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 16 - VS Mass service led by Father Jim Monaghan. Interview with Robert & Vasudha Lockyer about living in Woomera, working at the Detention Centre, media misrepresentation of the riots, the closing of the centre and its effect on Woomera.
Access No. 135224 | 33 mins 7 secs | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Tape 17 - Interview with Robert & Vasudha Lockyer about the closure of the Woomera Detention Centre and the resulting unemployment and lack of social life. Robert sees there is still a future for Woomera. They also discuss their friendship with some of the detainees in the centre, their marriage and wedding in Delhi
Access No. 135225 | 29 mins | 2000s | Woomera, SA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |