Cracking the Code: An afternoon of Espionage History

An afternoon of cinematic brilliance followed by top-shelf espionage history! From Bletchley Park to the SMSA: See the machine that changed history. To locate a functioning Enigma machine these days, one would have to scour the planet with a magnifying glass. There are mere three hundred left in captivity, and the average Joe has about as much chance of spotting one as a tortoise has of winning the Grand National. Enter Mike Pritchard, a Sydney fellow who has spent decades collecting a jaw-dropping assortment of spygear that would give Whitehall a severe attack of the vapours. He doesn't just talk the talk, he posesses concealed cameras, covert radios, original items from famous Cold War spy cases as well as original letters from Mata Hari and Ian Fleming. 12.00 PM - The Imitation Game This ripping afternoon kicks off with The Imititation Game. The film follows the saga of Alan Turing, the brilliant but prickly mathematician, who overcame immense bureaucratic obstacles at Bletchley Park to smash the German naval code and shorten the war. 🍪 2:10 PM – Intermission 🎤 2:30 PM – The Talk & Enigma Live Demo After a short intermission, Mike will take the ahem mic to share stories of the secret war. He will demonstrate a genuine, clinking Enigma machine right before your eyes and showcase a curated selection of rare spy objects that will bring the history you just witnessed roaring to life. Who is Mike? Mike worked for thirty years in IT and cybersecurity before going ten toes in on his dream of building a Spy Museum in Sydney. He’s rocked conferences and universities and now he’s bringing the fire to the SMSA. You should take a peek at some of the Australian Spy Museum's collection. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: bag your tickets now! 🎟️ Free for SMSA Members 🎟️ Free for U3A & Older Women's Network Members 🎟️$10 for friends and non-members Not a member? For the price of two forgettable cocktails, you could have a year of films, events and unfettered access to our library which, we should note, is suspiciously well-stocked with murder mysteries. One might even call it an alibi for a good time. Join today! A year of intrigue is just $50 (or a $40 for concessions) JOIN SMSA