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Local Boys see Dr. Andy Thomas at the Investigator
first published in Toby's and Luke's local paper

The Investigator Science and Technology Centre planned a special event by first asking educators registered as members to submit their interest in attending. The staff at the Investigator knew it would be very popular so initially planned a random draw, with those successful being able to attend with a maximum of two students per school to this very special event. Because of the overwhelming response they were able to get a venue in the Wayville Showgrounds.

The result was that on Thursday 14th November, 2002 local boys Luke and Toby Herriman attended with over 300 students and teachers to meet NASA Astronaut Dr. Andy Thomas.

The Investigator Science and Technology Centre staff true to their form introduced Dr. Thomas by showing the audience some examples of jet propelled first using a very energetic and noisy balloon and then a "Coke bottle" space shuttle which shot across the auditorium on a guide wire at such a speed that it surprised us all.

Andy spoke and showed a video of his walk in space and of his first two trips in space. After the talk Andy answered questions from the children, Toby (7 years old) was lucky enough to ask "Have you been to any planets? Andy answered "No but I have seen the moon and Venus from space". Andy spent time with the students to take photos and he signed autographs for those who asked.

After the talk we inspected two Toyota Hybrid cars (battery-petrol driven). CMI Toyota have lent this highly efficient car to Dr. Thomas for the month that he is on holiday in South Australia.

Afterward attendees travelled by bus, donated by SERCO so that we could have a BBQ put on by the staff at the Investigator Science and Technology Centre.

Everyone had a great time and we appreciated the work the Investigator staff had put into making the day a great success. We appreciated the time Andy had put into talking with us and were so happy how easy he was to understand. He truly is a very humble, down to earth person who has achieved so much, someone who all South Australians can be very proud of, we certainly are. The event was even covered on Channel 7 television news. You can visit the Investigator Science and Technology Centre on the web at www.investigator.org.au. It is also well worth the visit as the displays are interactive, with heaps to do.

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