21 July 1969, Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station, ACT, Australia
This, the first landing of man on the moon, is a success which excites the wonder and admiration of us all. The United States has achieved a great and peaceful triumph for mankind generally.
All Australians congratulate the uniited states, the three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins, the national aeronautics and space administration and those people all around the world who have been associated with this Apollo mission. Australia is proud to be playing a part in this adventure through its tracking stations, through the Parkes radio telescope and through other facilities. This moon landing will begin a new era in space science and technology and it demonstrates in the most dramatic way what man can do by the application of advanced technology for peaceful uses.
We marvel at the high courage and the skill of the astronauts and at the scientific genius which made this adventure possible. These astronauts have dared dangerously and successfully and they have carried out man's urge to go always a little further, to explore and know the previously unknown, to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.
There is no time more memorable than a first time, no triumph greater than one sought and achieved in peace and the world is the richer because of this epic journey. To these men on the moon, we say: 'Thank you..... Godspeed.... .and a safe return home.'"
