The National Trust invites you to celebrate Australia’s natural and cultural heritage and to be part of one of the largest and longest running community festivals in the state. In what will be the twenty-ninth year of the National Trust Heritage Festival, 2009 will once again see a fantastic variety of over 400 community-hosted events held across metropolitan and regional NSW from Saturday 4 April to Sunday 19 April 2009.

 

As the host, the Trust brings together community groups, schools, the business community and local government to create a unique program of events. This year’s theme is about Australia’s history and place in the numerous discoveries we have made in the world of Astronomy – one of Australia’s most highly cited sciences.

With 90% of Australia's infrastructure for Astronomy lying inside the borders of NSW, which includes the major radio observatories (CSIRO's Parkes, Narrabri and Coonabarabran Observatories, and the University of Sydney's Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope) – its not hard to see why some 20,000 people across the country own their own telescope to observe the night sky.

We want to hear your stories about Australia’s history and strengths in the world of Astronomy. From the discoveries made by the Aborigines some 40,000 years ago, right through to the discoveries and sightings being made by the 300 professional and 4000 amateur Astronomers that our country boasts.

We’d like to hear about the people whose lives and contributions have shaped Australia’s place in the science of Astronomy and what it means to you to live in a country that has made some of the worlds most amazing discoveries of galaxies and constellations and how it has shaped not only our country but you as an individual.

This year’s theme links the events being planned in NSW and in every city, every major town and village across the state and country for the ‘2009 International Year of Astronomy’. By joining the National Trust Heritage Festival, you ensure that you are part of this dynamic and exciting state-wide celebration of Australia’s part in the science of Astronomy.

 

When you register your event with the National Trust Heritage Festival, your activity and organisation will be promoted free of charge via the Trust website and in the Heritage Festival Program. 35,000 Programs will be distributed to National Trust members, National Trust properties, event organisers and the general public through motor registries, councils, libraries, visitor information offices, and cultural organisations.

 

• Talks/lectures about the people who have shaped Australia’s part in the science of Astronomy. Our occupation and interaction with our landscape (built and natural), future urban expansion, urban planning and ecological sustainability and how this may affect one of the world’s largest wonders – The Sky.
• Exhibitions and historical displays of the evolution of Astronomy and the discoveries made.
• Photographic exhibitions of the night sky.
• Tours of observatories and the towns the house them.
• Educational competitions.
• Star gazing nights.
• Movie nights screening space, space discovery movies.

Supported by an extensive public relations campaign, the program of events plays a key role in fostering an appreciation of our heritage, our cultural identity and our conservation of these for the future.

 

 

 

If you are a past supporter of the National Trust Heritage Festival, we thank you and look forward to your involvement in 2009. If you are new to the National Trust Heritage Festival, we eagerly await your contribution!