A rare weather phenomenon transforms the landscape, and scrappy radio operators sail to the scene to tell the world. This clip from the 1975 documentary On Eyre depicts a sublime moment in maritime radio history: Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in South Australia, a lake that is typically empty and dry, filled with water after a few years of unseasonable rain. This 16mm documentary clip follows amateur radio operator Bill Rice and cameraman Tim Robinson (call sign VK3YBP), who sail onto the lake in hopes of broadcasting from these unusual tides.

The camera shows Rice inside the catamaran, broadcasting to radio operators worldwide. Rice's giddy chatter is married with shots of ocean waves and birds flying overhead, lending the footage a dreamy atmosphere. The clip reflects the experience of beholding a rare moment of beauty in nature, as well as the power of technology to facilitate long-distance, live connections.

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre filled to capacity in 1974, one of only three complete fillings recorded since 1860.