Alison Rip, Michael Hopkins, Phil Collier, and Jaap Vogel have formed the backbone team of TM Universe in the past year. Scenic News caught up with them last week.

What inspired you to initiate this project?
In 2017 Vanessa Stanley and her husband Dr. Ross Paull donated the original Mount Tamborine Telescope back to TMU for the community. At that time, we were involved in the preparation of the Commonwealth Games event on Tamborine Mountain and thought this would make a great legacy project. Over time, we realised that only rebuilding the former Observatory would not be appealing enough for many reasons. The legacy of the original Observatory and Telescope would be much better served to be part of a contemporary, state-of-the-art astronomy and space-related education centre. The first steps were taken on 29 August 2017, when the TM Universe Association Inc was established.

Were any of you astronomers?
None of us. We are all involved in community work and projects, having contributed to several groups over the years. Michael and Phil own Three Little Pigs restaurant and Alison is a director of Professionals Real Estate. We also share a passion for science, astronomy, and space. We all own telescopes, but more importantly, we are strongly driven to create a legacy project with the community, to be enjoyed for generations to come.

You call TM Universe a Social Enterprise. What is that?
We believe in commercial and market principles. TM Universe will operate as an enterprise, a business, creating profits, and creating paid jobs for locals. It will be a great experience for locals and for visitors to Tamborine Mountain. It is a member-based organisation, with an elected board. The profits will go to help give children and schools in disadvantaged circumstances easier access to STEM education, in particular astronomy and space research. That is our social goal.

The overall result of this social enterprise will be not-for-profit. Best of both worlds.

Who will pay for the required investments?
Two hundred locals have contributed $200 each for the rebuilding of the former observatory. These founding members are acknowledged on a beautiful honour board that will be unveiled at the AGM next week.

Last year, local investors assisted in the purchase of the best block of land for TMU, at 379 Long Road, so that the project could go ahead. That land is now owned by TMU, not by individual owners, or government, and in 2022 we hope to find the millions needed to build the precinct.

Will that money come from the government?
Within 90 minutes of the Mountain, 800 schools with 460,000 students are within easy reach of the Centre. TM Universe will offer a fantastic experience for students about astronomy and space, using facilities which no individual school can offer. All our displays and presentations will be embedded in the STEM curriculum.

Even if only for that reason, we believe that government should contribute significantly. Council has waived its – normally significant – development application fees.

We will define how corporations can be included, or philanthropists. It is a good feeling that we, as a community, will always be in charge.

When will the project be completed?
Many factors are in play, and it’s a big ask, but we would like to cut the ribbons, with the community, on 23 September 2023 – the day that a little NASA spacecraft called Osiris Rex will return to Earth.

Update
TM Universe Inc will have its AGM at St Bernard’s Hotel, 5.30 pm for a strict 6 pm start. It will be a memorable AGM for a variety of reasons.

The highlight of the meeting will be a live presentation from California, by planetary scientist Dr. Pascal Lee, exclusively for TM Universe Inc. Dr. Lee is impressed with our project, and with NASA, he is involved in the preparations for future exploration of Mars. He is also the main contributor to the worldwide search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI). For him, it’s all about life in the universe, so it will be exciting to hear what he has to say about that. Media and guests will be able to attend the special presentation.

Because of this presentation (from 6.30 pm till 7 pm, plus Question Time), the first half-hour will be to inform members about the outlines of the project, including the summary of the business plan. The official AGM, strictly members only, will start at 7.15 pm and will last till about 8 pm. 

Because of the full agenda, other more informal presentations have been postponed till the TM Universe Christmas party on 12 December at the Cauldron Distillery.

Please attend the AGM and this very special presentation.
Registration is via tmuniverse.com.au.