In October 2024, the largest optical telescope on Australian soil celebrated its fiftieth anniversary amid accolades that included a warm message from HM the King, who had opened it on 16 October 1974. Among the individuals most closely associated with the telescope’s conception, construction and commissioning one name stands out—that of Ben Gascoigne, a professor of astronomy at the Australian National University (ANU). With a second entirely different career flourishing in his later years, this extraordinary scientist’s life makes for a remarkable story.

David Headley Green AM, FAA, FRS was an outstanding geologist and leader in experimental petrology and geochemistry whose research shaped our understanding of the composition of the Earth’s mantle and the origin of magmas. He also fostered Antarctic geology and marine and climate science, and contributed to science policy. His achievements were recognised with many international and national awards. Photographer unknown. Photograph courtesy of the Green family.