LOCAL astronomer Trevor Barry, who has dedicated his life to observing Saturn through a homemade telescope in his backyard observatory, will launch a book in collaboration with award-winning journalist Liz Hayes, and producer Ali Smith next month.
Mr Barry, who grew up in Broken Hill and worked in the mines before falling in love with Saturn when looking through a friend’s telescope, said his life has been a series of events he’d never planned for.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I expect my life would take the direction it did,” he said.
The book, Outback Astronomer, is due to be published on August 26, with a launch event to be held the same day at 10am at the Zinc Broken Hill Bowling Club.
Hayes said the story of Mr Barry stayed with her long after she first met him to interview him for 60 Minutes.
“Some stories stay with you,” she said.
“Trevor’s journey from the mines of Broken Hill to working with NASA wasn’t just inspiring television, it was a fundamentally Australian story about following your dreams, no matter where you live, your age or background.”
Co-writer Ali Smith said she was thrilled to work with Hayes and Mr Barry again for the project.
‘The highlight for us was the chance to tell a cracking country yarn about a self-described “ordinary” Aussie bloke doing an extraordinary thing, all from his bush backyard,” she said.
“It doesn’t get much better than that. We might appear to be a bit of an unlikely trio – Liz is a legendary reporter who has travelled around the world covering huge international events, Trev is a Broken Hill mine worker turned greenkeeper who’s made his mark as an astronomer, and I live on a farm at Burren Junction, chasing local stories around the Narrabri region – but I think we share similar values, a deep appreciation of what rural Australia has to offer, and, above all, a passion for positive storytelling. Trev is a shining example of this – he’ll tell you Broken Hill is the centre of the universe.’
Mr Barry said the writing process involved him writing the basics of his life story, and then sending it off to Hayes and Ms Smith to edit.
“I’d write it and send it off and they’d tart it up a bit from time to time,” he said.
“It’s very easy to interpret which bits Trev didn’t add.”
Mr Barry said his desire for the book is that it might inspire young astronomers.
“I’ve been trying to get young people inspired, get them into STEM subjects,” he said.
“And I think well, I’m a pretty ordinary person. I went to school and then to work in the mines, but these amazing things have happened to me. My point is that we live in Broken Hill and we’re so isolated, and being out here makes you resilient, because everything isn’t just at hand. So I want these young students to realise you can make something of yourself out here.”
Mr Barry said the book will document his journey from the mines to the stars, proving the point that you can find success in your endeavors, regardless of where you come from or your education.
“It’s just a pinch me moment,” he said. “It’s been just a crazy ride.”
