This TWX was sent to all the Australian stations supporting Apollo 8, by Acting Secretary of Supply Lloyd Bott on Christmas morning 1968.

“The Prime Minister has asked me to pass on to the Australian teams participating in the Apollo 8 Mission his warmest seasonal greetings and his personal congratulations on your dedication and the wonderful job you have done to assist in this historic venture.”

Preserved by David Hancock of Cooby Creek.
Thanks to David’s son, Roger, for the scan.

This TWX was sent to the Station Directors of Cooby Creek, Honeysuckle Creek, Carnarvon, Tidbinbilla and the Officer in Charge of Deakin Switch, by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. Senator Ken Anderson, on 31st December 1968.

It relays a message from Acting NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine. He wrote:

“On this occasion of the successful completion of the Apollo 8 mission please accept our deepest appreciation for the splendid efforts of you and your organisation and the superb performance of the Australian stations which were so vital throughout this historic event.

With this beginning of man’s flight into the deeper regions of the cosmos, we look forward with pleasure to your continuing participation in this exciting activities in space research and exploration which are so truly a benefit to all mankind.”

Senator Anderson continues,

“You will be interested to know I have replied to Dr Paine as under.

Your gracious message paving tribute to the role of the stations in Australia which supported Apollo 8 is deeply appeciated.

We feel immensely proud and privileged to have been associated with such an historic event. The superb performance of both the spacecraft and the crew was an achievement for which there are no adequate superlatives. Would you kindly accept on behalf or all involved in the mission our sincere congratulations.

We hear in international news of possibility of world tour by Apollo 8 crew. Can assure you that visit to Australia to meet staff of tracking stations and people in major centres of population would be most welcome.”

Preserved by David Hancock of Cooby Creek.
Thanks to David’s son, Roger, for the scan.

NASA Acting Administrator Thomas O. Paine (right) presents a NASA Group Achievement Award to the Australian Department of Supply for their support of Apollo 8.

Receiving the award is the Australian Minister for Supply, the Hon. Ken Anderson. The award is dated 8th January 1969.

Photo from the Tidbinbilla archives. Scan courtesy of Glen Nagle at CDSCC.

Here’s a detail from the above photo, showing the award.
Image enhancement by Colin Mackellar.