Just a small correction to the SMH. In the Obituary for Harold Cottee [Yes, That Cottee!] (http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/businessmans-untamed-taste-for-the-new/2006/10/02/1159641260759.html) it states that he was involved with the purchase of the nations first satellite.

It may have been the first COMMERCIAL satellite, but OSCAR-5 (http://www.asri.org.au:81/ASRI/satellites/australis-oscar-5/index.jsp) was actually Australia’s first, launched January 23rd, 1970 in California. It lasted in orbit for 46 days, and was built by the University of Melbourne. Strangely though it was the 2nd Australian satellite into orbit with WRESAT built and launched whilst OSCAR-5 was waiting for a launch.