Who's Who at 3RF Australia?

The Three Rivers Foundation (3RF) is an organisation based entirely on the generous assistance of our core group of volunteers. To help you get to know each of us a little better, a brief biography of each of our volunteers appears below.

Lachlan MacDonald (Sydney, NSW)
Managing Director, 3RF Australia | Astronomy Volunteer, 3RF Sciences, LLC (Texas)
Managing Director of 3RF Australia in his spare time, Lachlan works in Grants Administration for Community and Industry Grants with the New South Wales State Government, as well as providing installation and technical support services for various Government Departments' VoIP Telephony Systems. Lachlan is also the webmaster for the 3RF Australia Website, and the Astronomical Society of New South Wales' website and is a recipient of the ASNSW's most prestigious award, "The McNiven Medal".
Primary Astronomical Interests: Visual astronomy using large-aperture telescopes, with a specialty in showing off all those "WOW" objects in the sky also known as "Eye Candy", as well as dabbling in astrophotography whenever time permits.

Tony Buckley (Sydney, NSW)
Director, 3RF Australia | International Liaisons Officer, 3RF Australia | Astronomy Volunteer, 3RF Sciences, LLC (Texas)
A joint Director and Core Volunteer of 3RF Australia, Tony was appointed a Commissioner in the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW prior to his much-earned retirement, and was President of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales for 10 years. Tony has been the primary point of contact for countless numbers of astronomical visitors from abroad for well over 20 years, and continues to spend his time demonstrating to astronomers from the northern hemisphere what they have been missing out on in the South all this time.
Primary Astronomical Interests: Visual observing using BIG dobsionian telescopes.

Anne Adkins (Fort Davis, Texas)
OzSky Events Co-ordinator, 3RF Australia | Board Member, Three Rivers Foundation, LLC (Texas)
One of 3RF Australia's Core Volunteers, Anne co-owns a graphic design firm based in Austin and Fort Davis, Texas and spends endless hours doing a lot of volunteer work. Anne is also the prime organiser for 3RF Australia's popular Deepest South Texas Star Safari and OzSky Alumni Star Safari events, as well as being the registrar for the famous Texas Star Party.
Primary Astronomical Interests: Observational astronomy with aspirations towards further pursuits in astrophotography and sketching at the eyepiece.

John Bambury (Central Coast, NSW)
Observations Officer, 3RF Australia
Another of 3RF Australia's Core Volunteers, John is the Manager of "The Greens, The Entrance", a Bowling Club on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and has been a keen amateur astronomer for many years.
Primary Astronomical Interests: Visual Astronomy with a specialty in "Eye Candy Objects".

Andrew Murrell (Central Coast, NSW)
Education Officer, 3RF Australia
Another of 3RF Australia's Core Volunteers, Andrew is the Sales Manager of Winning Appliances, a whitegoods retailer located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and has been an amateur astronomer for many years, as well as having served time on the committee of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales. Andrew recently discovered a faint planetary nebula which has since been confirmed and named "Murrell 1".
Primary Astronomical Interests: Deep Sky Visual Astronomy with a specialty in "Faint Fuzzies" and "Horror Lists".

Gary Kopff (Sydney, NSW)
Casual Volunteer
A fully qualified Electrical Engineer, Gary is the Managing Director and co-founder of Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd and co-developer of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer. Gary is a recipient of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales' most prestigious award, "The McNiven Medal".
Primary Astronomical Interests: Deep Sky observing and development of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer.

Mai Tran (Sydney, NSW)
Casual Volunteer
A fully qualified Electrical Engineer, Mai is a Director and co-founder of Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd and co-developer of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer. Mai is a recipient of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales' most prestigious award, "The McNiven Medal".
Primary Astronomical Interests: Deep Sky observing and development of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer.

Petra de Ruyter & David Chandler (Albury, NSW)
Casual Volunteers
David and Petra both work for the Australian Government and have recently joined our group of 3RF Oz volunteers.
David and Petra both active members of the Astronomical Society of Albury Wodonga, and are also the organisers of the famous Border Star Gaze star party held annually near Albury in conjunction with National Science Week.
Primary Astronomical Interests (Petra): Observational astronomy with a specialty in Globular Clusters, Galaxies and Planetary Nebulae, as well as dabbling in astrophotography

Primary Astronomical Interests (David): Astronomy Outreach Activities.

Donna Burton (Coonabarabran, NSW)
Casual Volunteer
A passionate amateur astronomer based in Coonabarabran (The Astronomy Capital of Australia) and post-graduate student at the University of Southern Queensland, Donna works at Siding Spring Observatory as an Operations Support Officer for the Australian National University (ANU). As well as working in one of the world's most respected observatories, Donna is also a flying instructor and a volunteer for 3RF Australia. Donna is also the Australian representative for the international group "Astronomers Without Borders"
Primary Astronomical Interests: Comet Hunting, Sidewalk Astronomy, Extra-Solar Planets and "Spotty Stars".

	Lachlan MacDonald (Sydney, NSW) Managing Director, 3RF Australia \| Astronomy Volunteer, 3RF Sciences, LLC (Texas) Managing Director of 3RF Australia in his spare time, Lachlan works in Grants Administration for Community and Industry Grants with the New South Wales State Government, as well as providing installation and technical support services for various Government Departments' VoIP Telephony Systems. Lachlan is also the webmaster for the 3RF Australia Website, and the Astronomical Society of New South Wales' website and is a recipient of the ASNSW's most prestigious award, "The McNiven Medal". Primary Astronomical Interests: Visual astronomy using large-aperture telescopes, with a specialty in showing off all those "WOW" objects in the sky also known as "Eye Candy", as well as dabbling in astrophotography whenever time permits.

	Tony Buckley (Sydney, NSW) Director, 3RF Australia \| International Liaisons Officer, 3RF Australia \| Astronomy Volunteer, 3RF Sciences, LLC (Texas) A joint Director and Core Volunteer of 3RF Australia, Tony was appointed a Commissioner in the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW prior to his much-earned retirement, and was President of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales for 10 years. Tony has been the primary point of contact for countless numbers of astronomical visitors from abroad for well over 20 years, and continues to spend his time demonstrating to astronomers from the northern hemisphere what they have been missing out on in the South all this time. Primary Astronomical Interests: Visual observing using BIG dobsionian telescopes.

	Anne Adkins (Fort Davis, Texas) OzSky Events Co-ordinator, 3RF Australia \| Board Member, Three Rivers Foundation, LLC (Texas) One of 3RF Australia's Core Volunteers, Anne co-owns a graphic design firm based in Austin and Fort Davis, Texas and spends endless hours doing a lot of volunteer work. Anne is also the prime organiser for 3RF Australia's popular Deepest South Texas Star Safari and OzSky Alumni Star Safari events, as well as being the registrar for the famous Texas Star Party. Primary Astronomical Interests: Observational astronomy with aspirations towards further pursuits in astrophotography and sketching at the eyepiece.

	John Bambury (Central Coast, NSW) Observations Officer, 3RF Australia Another of 3RF Australia's Core Volunteers, John is the Manager of "The Greens, The Entrance", a Bowling Club on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and has been a keen amateur astronomer for many years. Primary Astronomical Interests: Visual Astronomy with a specialty in "Eye Candy Objects".

	Andrew Murrell (Central Coast, NSW) Education Officer, 3RF Australia Another of 3RF Australia's Core Volunteers, Andrew is the Sales Manager of Winning Appliances, a whitegoods retailer located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and has been an amateur astronomer for many years, as well as having served time on the committee of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales. Andrew recently discovered a faint planetary nebula which has since been confirmed and named "Murrell 1". Primary Astronomical Interests: Deep Sky Visual Astronomy with a specialty in "Faint Fuzzies" and "Horror Lists".

	Gary Kopff (Sydney, NSW) Casual Volunteer A fully qualified Electrical Engineer, Gary is the Managing Director and co-founder of Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd and co-developer of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer. Gary is a recipient of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales' most prestigious award, "The McNiven Medal". Primary Astronomical Interests: Deep Sky observing and development of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer.

	Mai Tran (Sydney, NSW) Casual Volunteer A fully qualified Electrical Engineer, Mai is a Director and co-founder of Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd and co-developer of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer. Mai is a recipient of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales' most prestigious award, "The McNiven Medal". Primary Astronomical Interests: Deep Sky observing and development of the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer.

	Petra de Ruyter & David Chandler (Albury, NSW) Casual Volunteers David and Petra both work for the Australian Government and have recently joined our group of 3RF Oz volunteers. David and Petra both active members of the Astronomical Society of Albury Wodonga, and are also the organisers of the famous Border Star Gaze star party held annually near Albury in conjunction with National Science Week. Primary Astronomical Interests (Petra): Observational astronomy with a specialty in Globular Clusters, Galaxies and Planetary Nebulae, as well as dabbling in astrophotography Primary Astronomical Interests (David): Astronomy Outreach Activities.

	Donna Burton (Coonabarabran, NSW) Casual Volunteer A passionate amateur astronomer based in Coonabarabran (The Astronomy Capital of Australia) and post-graduate student at the University of Southern Queensland, Donna works at Siding Spring Observatory as an Operations Support Officer for the Australian National University (ANU). As well as working in one of the world's most respected observatories, Donna is also a flying instructor and a volunteer for 3RF Australia. Donna is also the Australian representative for the international group "Astronomers Without Borders" Primary Astronomical Interests: Comet Hunting, Sidewalk Astronomy, Extra-Solar Planets and "Spotty Stars".