Neil 'Fox' Mason

Fans of the film The Dish are going to enjoy this story.

I received an Australian Defence Medal awarded to Neil Francis Mason, know as Fox, from Col W of the Isis RSL sub-branch. Fox was awarded this medal for fulfilling his National Service obligation but it is his civilian career which is far more fascinating and will be familiar to many.

Fox was a member of the CSIRO staff at the Parkes radio telescope. He was part of the team during the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Specifically, 'Present in the control room were the NASA personnel, John Bolton, Dr Taffy Bowen, the PMG senior technical officer, Brian Coote, and Neil 'Fox' Mason, who was the driver given the responsibility to operate the dish at this historic moment.'

A more detailed description of the events of that day are at this link:

On Eagle's Wings: The Story of the Parkes Apollo 11 Support

This link is the ABC news story about the 40th anniversary of the landing.

Fond memories of 'the dish' for moon-landing veterans - ABC News

Fox was married to Ethel (Winkie) Phillips. He died in 2017 and is buried in the Parkes cemetery.

I have been in contact with Lynne from the Mason family and will be sending her Fox's medal in the near future. I was assisted in contacting Lynne through her cousin Barry.

The returned medal tally is now 3031.