FOR PRESS : 66

TIME CAPSULE PROJECT

Statement "by the Minister for National Development, The Hon, David Fair "bairn, DÃ¢ÂÂFÂ»C.

The Minister for National Development,

the Hon, David Fairbairn, speaking in Sydney today,

referred to the installation on Australia Day,

January So, 1965, of a time capsule in the "basement

of the Angel Arcade to preserve for posterity a picture

of Australian family life in 1965. The capsule, an

aluminium alloy sphere 3 ’  in diameter, has "been designed

to last for at least 500 years, .

Mr, Fairbairn said that the Australian. Atomic Energy

Commission had been invited to participate in the project

by irradiating foodstuffs for iuelusion in the time :

capsule. The irradiations have been carried out at the

Commission’s Research Establishment at Lucas Heights,'

Mr. Fairbairn said that in the field of radiation

chemistry, the Commission has, for some time, been

engaged in research and development of high intensity"

radiation which is used for food preservation and for

other purposes, including the sterilisation of medical

and pharmaceutical products, control of insect pests

and so on. This method has been used for the steriLisation

of certain foods overseas, although food sterilisation

by this process is not yet being used in Australia,

The Minister said that the use of radiation for

sterilisation of foodstuffs does not make them radioafctive,

nor does it affect them in any way. It greatly extends

the life of the food provided storage takes place under

acceptable conditions. Refrigeration is rendered Ã¢ÂÂ  .

unnecessary. This method of preservation may one day Ã¢ÂÂ

make a major contribution towards overcoming, the serious

world shortage of food* '

CANBERRA JANUARY 26,  1965 ~ A.M

