› Technical Tour

Day Tours

OT1 - Introducing Sydney
Sunday 22 September 2002
1300hrs - 1700hrs


Participants were introduced to the beauty, charm and style of the cosmopolitan gateway to Australia. Included were restored colonial buildings in The Rocks, Australia's oldest settlement; the Sydney Harbour Bridge; the Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair (a special seat carved in the rock), which has perfect views of the Opera House with the harbour and Harbour Bridge in the background. Travel was through some of Sydney's exclusive Eastern Suburbs with their magnificent homes and fine harbour views on the way to famous Bondi Beach, a haven for surfers and sun lovers.

OT2 - Koala Park
Monday 23 September 2002
1300hrs - 1700hrs

Participants had the rare opportunity to meet Australia's native wildlife face to face and become acquainted with a variety of unique Australian animals including koalas, kangaroos and wombats, along with a myriad of Australian native birds - all in a lush, parkland setting.

After being greeted on arrival by a tame dingo and a wombat, the tour included a walk through a spacious open koala enclosure and the opportunity to be photographed with a cuddly koala and hand feed the free-roaming kangaroos. Also seen were emus, wallabies, echidnas, cockatoos, eagles, and parrots.

Participants enjoyed an Australian afternoon tea of billy tea and dampered in the Stockman's camp whilst listening to the tales of an Australian Stockman.

OT3 - Bridge Climb
OT3D Day Climb
Wednesday 25 September 2002

OT3N Night Climb
Monday 23 September 2002

Built in 1932, it has taken almost 70 years for the Sydney Harbour Bridge to be opened to people with a sense of adventure. Participants made their way over the catwalk to the pylon and then set out across the arch on their way to the summit. Before them was a spectacular 360° view of one of the greatest harbours…. one of the greatest cities.

OT4 - Evening at the Opera House - Tosca (Puccini)
OT4A (Starry Nights)
Tuesday 24 September 2002
Included 2 course dinner + Opera House guided tour
OT4B (Showcase) Tuesday 24 September 2002

Puccini's Tosca is both a tragic love story and a nail-biting thriller, with its story of intrigue, deception and torture matched by music of tremendous force and power. From the famous, dark opening chords to its unforgettable conclusion, Tosca packs an emotional wallop, never more so than in this "sizzling" (The Bulletin) and spectacular John Copley production that has enthralled Australian audiences for more than two decades.

Australian soprano Joan Carden has been hailed for her rich and masterful performance in the title role. In 2002 her acclaimed portrayal will be matched by those of Gregory Tomlinson, as her lover Cavaradossi and, in his first performances of the cruel Baron Scarpia for Opera Australia, the superb Australian baritone Jonathan Summers.

Technical Tour

Microwave and RF Research Facilities at the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Commonwealth Science & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

In Lucas Heights, South of Sydney

Organised by Prof. Nguyen Tran, Industrial Research Institute of Swinburne (IRIS)

Participants were given a rare opportunity to attend a specially organised technical tour of the facilities on microwave and RF processing at the two top research organisations in Australia, ANSTO and CSIRO.

The tour began with an overview of the ANSTO facilities, followed by:

• A visit to the microwave fluidised bed drying research (ANSTO)
  
• A visit to the RF plasma and material research (ANSTO)
  
• A visit to the industrial microwave sensing research (CSIRO).
  

Transport was provided from the Congress venue. Lunch was also included.