Few people have the perseverance to see a complex vision through to reality. Hence, you probably haven’t met many people like Hugh Pett. Hugh joined the RASC OC in 2006, and almost immediately established himself as a key contributor. He was an enthusiastic participant in outreach events, and particularly dedicated to our then-regular visits to the Cancer Rotary Lodge. He pitched in wholeheartedly in the early development of the Okanagan Observatory, and probably has better photographic documentation of the OO’s transformation from abandoned gravel pit to active observatory than anyone. He’s been a leader in the implementation and monitoring of the OO’s security system, which has an enviable record for a remote facility. He has given many talks at general meetings of the Okanagan Centre, and voluntarily taken on shifts at special events to help publicize the club and spread word of the allure of the stars and the wonders of our universe. Hugh has served as editor of the club’s Focus newsletter, and in a similar vein issued occasional detailed updates on a project he’s overseen at the observatory (more on that in a moment). If we stopped right here, that would be an impressive résumé for anyone, and particularly so when you allow that Hugh’s so-called prime of life ought to be in the rear-view mirror. For all of his high-visibility devotion, Hugh’s greatest passion in astronomy, without question, lies in the invisible realm of radio waves. A long-time amateur radio operator and electronics guru, Hugh was quick to see the potential of the Okanagan Observatory site for an installation to scan the radio sky. So the adventure began, with countless hours and a substantial part of the Pett retirement savings invested in making the Radio Park a reality. It’s hard to do any justice to this effort in a couple of paragraphs. Hugh’s efforts and continued funding have been instrumental in providing infrastructure not only for the Radio Park but for the observatory as a whole. Mapping, trenching, underground conduits, a security camera system, emergency phone service... all of these and more bear fingerprints of Hugh’s commitment. For years he’s been the lynchpin of the OO Watcher Team, who have monitored conditions on site via the online security camera system. Undaunted by occasional setbacks, Hugh has persevered through an evolution of the radio receivers planned for the observatory, culminating in the last year with successful reception by CHIMETTE of neutral hydrogen emission from the hub of the Milky Way. With this, is it time to simply sit back and enjoy? Not on your life. Hugh continues to plan for shared use of CHIMETTE by amateurs, educators and students in and beyond the Okanagan. Hugh’s work is not done, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds. Rather than simply stand by, we are proud to acknowledge his tremendous contributions to the RASC OC over many years with a Lifetime Achievement Award.