The Royal Society of Bulletin and Proceedings 342 ABN 76 470 896 415 ISSN 1039-1843 February 2011

Future Events 2011 Annual Dinner 2011 Lectures in Sydney are held in Lecture Room 1, Darlington Centre, University There are still places available for the Society’s Annual Dinner on Friday of Sydney at 7 pm on the first 18 February at St Paul’s College at Sydney University. Wednesday of the month with drinks available from 6.30 pm. Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW is our guest of honour, and will present our Awards for 2010. Friday 18 February 2011 at 6.30pm All members, friends, colleagues and family are encouraged to attend. The 2011 Annual Dinner closing date has been extended to Friday 11 February. Dress: Black Tie St Paul’s College, Sydney University The Annual Meeting of the Four Societies

Thursday 24 February 2011 at 5.30pm “Geothermal Energy - Current State of Play and Developments” Annual Meeting of the Four Dr. Stuart Mc Donnell , Chief Operating O"cer for Geodynamics Societies Mr Stephen de Belle of Granite Power Hamilton Room, Trade & Investment Centre, Industry & Investment NSW, Level 47, MLC Hamilton Room, Trade & Investment Centre, Industry & Investment NSW, Level 47, MLC Centre, 19 Centre, 19 Martin Place, Sydney Martin Place, Sydney (see details at right) Thursday February 24, 2011 5:30 for 6pm Free admittance Registration: Preferred by Noon, Monday 21 February [email protected]

Tuesday 22 March 2011 at 6.30pm For further technical information contact Denis Cooke on 0411 030 936 or [email protected] Joint Meeting of Australian Venue kindly sponsored by Institute of & The Royal Society of New South Wales The Society will conduct its February OGM at this meeting Searching for Nanosecond Laser Pulses from Outer Space March Meeting Dr Ragbir Bhathal, School of Engineering, University of Western Sydney Searching for Nanosecond Laser Pulses from Outer Space .

Slade Lecture Theatre, School of Physics, Our March Ordinary General Meeting will be held in University of Sydney conjunction with the Australian Institute of Physics Wednesday 6 April 2011 at 7.00pm on Tuesday 22 March at 6.30pm in the Slade Lecture Annual General Meeting of the Society Theatre, School of Physics, University of Sydney. The speaker will be Dr Ragbir Bhathal, a former President Southern Highlands Branch of the Society. Meetings are held on the third Thursday Dr Ragbir Bhathal of each month in the Drama Theatre at Frensham School, Mittagong (enter off Patrons of The Royal Society of NSW Waverley Parade), at 6.30pm. Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO Governor of NSW

RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 1 Announcing our Award Winners for 2010 The Society takes great pleasure in announcing its Award Winners for 2010. As in past years, we received outstanding nominations from many quarters. The winners will be presented with their Awards at our Annual Dinner on 18 February by our Patron, Professor Marie Bashir, AC CVO Governor of NSW. Congratulations to our three winners. The Clarke Medal The Edgeworth Walter Bur"tt Prize David Medal Kenton Campbell Angela Moles Richard Shine

rofessor Kenton Campbell is ngela Moles is an Associate Professor ick is a Professor in Biology at PEmeritus Professor of Geology at Ain the Evolution & Ecology Research Rthe University of Sydney. His the Australian National University. He Centre at the University of New South research spans a wide range of species, is Australia’s senior palaeontologist, Wales. Her primary research goals are to ecosystems and conceptual areas, with a special interest in neuroanatomy. understand the different ways in which but focuses most strongly on the His research began in stratigraphy, and plants grow and reproduce in different ecology and evolution of reptiles and moved into the study of fossils and environments around the world, and to amphibians. In particular, his recent work evolution. He became an international better understand the selective processes explores ways in which fundamental authority on the nervous system of underlying plant ecological strategies. field-based ecological research can be the lungfish and the way in which it used to develop innovative approaches Angela’s main research projects at present has evolved. He began publishing his to conservation challenges. He has are 1) “The World Herbivory Project”, scientific research in 1952. He worked published more than 700 papers in in which she travelled to 75 different at the Universities of Queensland and scientific journals, and is among the ecosystems around the world to quantify New England before going to the world’s most highly cited authors in his global patterns in interactions between Australian National University in 1962. field. Rick has received numerous awards plants and animals, and the factors that While most of his work has been done for excellence in research, including affect these patterns, 2) Quantifying the in Australia, he worked for short periods the E. O. Wilson Award by the American extent to which introduced species have in Cambridge, Harvard, Chicago and Society of Naturalists, the Mueller evolved since they arrived in Australia and . He became a Fellow of the Medal by ANZAAS, the Eureka Prize for 3) Using clonal plants to get new insights Australian Academy of Science in 1982, biodiversity research, and the Macfarlane to the evolutionary advantages of sexual and won the Academy’s Mawson Medal Burnet Medal by the Australian Academy reproduction. At home, Angela and her in 1986. He gave the Clarke Memorial of Science. He was elected a Fellow of partner Stephen are learning about the Lecture of the Royal Society of New the Australian Academy of Science in joys and sleep deprivation of parenting South Wales in 1975. 2003, and received an Order of Australia with their one year old son Sam. (AM) in 2005. He contributes regularly to media debates, and was included in the Sydney Magazine’s list of Sydney’s 100 most influential people for 2008. For more information and lists of publications please see http://sydney. edu.au/science/biology/sites/Shinelab/ For a general website about the cane toad project please see http://www. canetoadsinoz.com

2 RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 From the President honour. Not only will she be presenting our Awards for 2010, but she will also be conferring honours on our new Fellows. Full details appear elsewhere in this Bulletin. We are fortunate in having established good relations with several like-minded organisations over the years. This has led to several joint activities which we are part of and which are now ongoing. This includes the forthcoming Four Societies meeting on the 24th of this month and his year the Royal Society celebrated the joint meeting with the Australian its 350th anniversary. It has been Institute of Physics on 22 March. In the T a fantastic year for the Society, in part same vein we were fortunate in having thanks to your enthusiam for science the support of the Royal Australian and its discoveries that has shaped our Chemical Institute for our Liversidge life today. irstly I would like to wish everyone Lecture in November last year. These Fall the very best for the New Year. joint activities are to be encouraged and Many activities were planned this year This year promises to be as interesting hopefully more will emerge over coming to celebrate the past 350 years and to and exciting as 2010 with an array of years. help to inform science for the next 350 interesting speakers at our monthly years. These included a wide range of This year is the International Year of meetings and some special events in events in London as well as throughout Chemistry and we will be doing what we planning for later in the year. I always the country as part of the Capital can to support it. The Royal Australian look forward to your feedback on what Science scheme and the Local Heroes Chemical Institute is the overall organiser we do and how we do it so please feel programme. Ten Discussion Meetings of the celebrations. Go to the IYC2011 free to contact me or any member of were specially chosen for this year which website for more information http:// Council about the Society. focused on mapping the future of areas iyc2011.org.au/ . Last year’s Studentship Awards on 1 of great importance to science, many December were again very impressive We were saddened recently to hear of marking developments with lasting with high levels of professionalism and the death of a long-serving supporter significance. of the Society, Professor Gavin Brown dedication to their fields of research A major highlight of our anniversary AO CorrFRSE FRSN, the former Vice- shown by the three winners. We thank year has been the See Further: The Chancellor of the University of Sydney them for sharing their intelligence and Festival of Science + Arts that was held and until recently, Director of the Royal enthusiasm with us. The Christmas at Southbank Centre in London from Institution of Australia. We are truly Party that followed was a very enjoyable 25th June to 4th July. This was a unique indebted to Professor Brown’s interest event. Once again the venue proved a celebration of science and culture that in the Society and its aims, philosophy major winner, with the coolness of the included a series of talks and debates, and values and we will sorely miss evening conducive to holding the event as well as an enhanced version of the him. I will be representing the Society within the hallowed walls of one of St Society’s annual Summer Science at his Memorial Ceremony at Sydney Paul’s atmospheric common rooms. Exhibition. University on 18 February. I have sent a We need to continue our quest for message of condolence on behalf of the To celebrate the range of science greater recognition of the important Society to his widow. discussed during the Royal Society’s science advocacy work we do and in 350th anniversary year, we have particular to translate this into funding ohn Hardie launched Science sees further – offering support. We need your help to introduce J an opportunity for all those interested in the Society to others who may be science to look at the key scientific issues unfamiliar with it with the view to their of today, and those of tomorrow. becoming members and ultimately New Members Available online with a host of interactive supporters of and advocates for the ix new members were announced audio and video material, Science sees Society. at the December meeting of the S further contains 12 chapters based on Society: As you would know, our Annual Dinner the subjects of the Discussion Meetings is coming up very shortly and I would David Baker – Full Member in 2010, comprising a subject summary encourage everyone who hasn’t already Roger Garland – Full Member (authored by the meeting organisers) done so to book your place at this Dennis Black – Associate Member and short historical context using important black-tie event, which this Kerensa McElroy – Associate Member material from the Society’s Centre for year will be held in the hallowed halls Lidia Matesic – Associate Member History of Science. of St Paul’s College. This year we are John White – Associate Member privileged to have the Governor of NSW, Discover more at www.royalsociety.org/ We welcome them into the Society. Professor Marie Bashir, as our guest-of- further

RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 3 Royal Society of NSW Fellows for 2010 t the Liversidge Research Lecture Lords Appointments Commission”. In of Melbourne, and her Ph.D. (1975) Afor 2010 held on 26 November, the 2002, The Queen appointed him to the from the in President announced that the Society Order of Merit (the fifth Australian in its England. She did her postdoctoral work had created five new Fellows. This 100-year history). in molecular and cellular biology from honour is awarded for distinguished 1975 to 1977 at Yale. His many honours include: the Royal contributions to science. The formal Swedish Academy’s Crafoord Prize In 1978, Blackburn joined the faculty at presentation ceremony will occur on 18 (bioscience and ecology’s equivalent of the University of California at Berkeley February at the Society’s Annual Dinner a Nobel Prize); the Swiss-Italian Balzan in the Department of Molecular Biology. in Sydney. The Society’s new Fellows Prize; and the Japanese Blue Planet Prize. In 1990, she joined the Department will continue their work to promote the He is a Foreign Member of the US National of Microbiology and Immunology at importance of scientific endeavour in Academy of Sciences, an Overseas UC San Francisco, where she served as Australia. They are now entitled to use Fellow of the Australian Academy of Department Chair from 1993 to 1999. the postnominal FRSN. Sciences, and an Honorary Fellow of Blackburn is currently a faculty member the Royal Academy of Engineering and in the Department of Biochemistry and Robert, Professor Lord May of several other Academies and Learned Biophysics at UCSF. She is also a Non- Oxford, OM AC Kt FRS FAA FRSN Societies in the UK, USA and Australia. Resident Fellow of the Salk Institute. In 2007 he received the Royal Society’s Throughout her career, Blackburn has Copley Medal, its oldest (1731) and most been honoured by her peers as the prestigious award, given annually for recipient of many prestigious awards. “outstanding achievements in research She was elected President of the in any branch of science”. American Society for Cell Biology for Professor Elizabeth Blackburn the year 1998. Blackburn is an elected AC FRS FRSN Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1991), the Royal Society of London (1992), the American Academy of Microbiology (1993), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2000). She was elected Foreign Associate of Robert, Lord May of Oxford, holds a the National Academy of Sciences in Professorship jointly at Oxford University 1993, and was elected as a Member of and Imperial College, London and is a the Institute of Medicine in 2000. She Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. He was awarded the Albert Lasker Medical was until recently President of The Royal Research Award in Basic Medical Society of London (2000-2005), and Research (2006). In 2007 she was named before that Chief Scientific Adviser to one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most the UK Government and Head of the UK influential People and she is the 2008 Office of Science and Technology (1995- North American Laureate for L’Oreal- 2000). He is also, amongst others things, UNESCO For . a member of the UK Government’s Dr. Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Morris Herztein In 2009, Dr. Blackburn was awarded the Climate Change Committee, a Non- Professor of Biology and Physiology in Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Executive Director of the UK Defence the Department of Biochemistry and Science & Technology Laboratories and Biophysics at the University of California, Professor Kurt Lambeck AO FRS until recently Chaired the Trustees of the San Francisco, is a leader in the area of FAA FRSN Natural History Museum. telomere and telomerase research. His career includes a Personal Chair in She discovered the molecular nature Theoretical Physics at Sydney University of telomeres – the ends of eukaryotic aged 33, Class of 1877 Professor of chromosomes that serve as protective Zoology and Chairman of the Research caps essential for preserving genetic Board at Princeton, and in 1988 a move information – and the ribonucleoprotein to Britain and Oxford as Royal Society enzyme telomerase. Blackburn and her Research Professor. research team are working with various cells including human cells, with the He was awarded a Knighthood in 1996, goal of understanding telomerase and and appointed a Companion of the Order telomere biology. of Australia in 1998, both for “Services to Science”. In 2001 he was one of the first Blackburn earned her B.Sc. (1970) and 15 Life Peers created by the “House of M.Sc. (1972) degrees from the University

4 RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 Professor Kurt Lambeck has been at the Professor Michelle Simmons is a became Scientia Professor in 1999 and Australian National University since 1977, Federation Fellow and Director of Emeritus Scientia Professor in 2003. She including ten years as Director of the the Atomic Fabrication Facility at the was elected Fellow of the Australian Research School of Earth Sciences. He University of NSW. In the , she spent Academy of Science in 2002. ix years as a Research Fellow working is the immediate past President of the In 2007 she developed new research with Professor Sir FRS at Australian Academy of Science and a interests at the University of Newcastle the in Cambridge, member of the Antarctic Ecosystem and and was awarded an NHMRC grant UK, in quantum electronics. Her Environment CRC. Before returning to in 2008. She further expanded her research in nanoelectronics combines Australia he was Professor at the University research interests in 2009 with three molecular beam epitaxy and scanning of Paris. He has also worked at the other NHMRC grants. She received the tunnelling microscopy to develop Smithsonian and Harvard Observatories Centenary Medal of Federation, Australia novel electronic devices at the atomic in Cambridge, USA. He has studied at in 2001. the University of New South Wales, the scale. She has published more than 260 Technical University of Delft, Netherlands, papers in refereed journals (with over the National Technical University of 3200 citations), published a book on Athens and Oxford University from which , four book chapters he obtained DPhil and DSc degrees. on quantum electronics, has filed four He has held visiting appointments patents and has presented over 50 in Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, invited and plenary presentations at Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. international conferences. He was elected to the Australian In 2005 she was awarded the Pawsey Academy of Science in 1984 and to the Medal by the Australian Academy of Royal Society in 1994. He is a foreign Science and in 2006 became the one member of the Royal Netherlands of the youngest elected Fellows of this Academy of Arts and Sciences (1993), Academy. Professor Simmons is the Norwegian Academy of Science and only women in Australia to have twice Letters (1994), Academia Europaea received a Federation Fellowship, the International Year of (1999),the Académie des Sciences, Australian Research Council’s most Chemistry 2011 Institut de France (2005), and the US prestigious award of this kind. She was National Academy of Sciences (2009). He one of the first women to be made a he United Nations Organisation has has received a number of international professor of physics in Australia. declared 2011 as the International prizes and awards including the T Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011).IYC Tage Erlander Prize from the Swedish Emeritus Scientia Professor 2011 is a worldwide celebration of Research Council (2001), the Prix George Eugenie Lumbers FAA FRSN the achievements of chemistry Lemaître from the Université catholique and its contributions to the well- de Louvain (2001), and the Eminent being of humankind.In Australia, the Scientist Award from the Japan Society International Year of Chemistry will be for the Promotion of Science (2004). spearheaded by the Royal Australian He has published two books and Chemical Institute (RACI).The RACI has more than 250 papers on subjects been furthering the field of chemistry in geophysics, geology, geodesy, since its founding in 1917. The RACI is space science, celestial mechanics, both the qualifying body in Australia environmental geoscience, and for professional chemists and a society glaciology. dedicated to the promotion and practice of chemistry. 2011 will be an Professor Michelle Simmons FAA exciting year for chemistry, with events, FRSN activities, promotional opportunities and media events emphasising Professor Eugenie Lumbers is an that chemistry is a creative science, internationally respected authority on essential for sustainability and on-going foetal and maternal physiology. For many improvements to our way of life. years she has worked in cardiovascular and renal physiology, with particular More details at http://iyc2011.org.au/ reference to blood pressure regulation in the renin-angiotensin system. She graduated MBBS in Adelaide in 1965 and received an MD in 1970. She was awarded a DSc at the University of NSW in1986 where she was given a personal chair in 1988. She received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 1997,

RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 5 Archibald Liversidge, FRS: Imperial Science under the Southern Cross by Roy McLeod Extract from chapter 8 Dean and Docto r n 1874, when William Macleay ‘broke off’ an arc stretching from New Guinea to by Liversidge, had repaid its mortgage. Ifrom the Royal Society of NSW to form Antarctica. The idea, he pointed out, was Thanks to the Jennings’ government, the Linnean Society, many feared that not before its time. Through Petermann’s subsequently confirmed by James Inglis, the colony’s small scientific community Mittheilungen , he claimed, German Parkes’ Minister of Public Instruction, its would not survive. Liversidge’s reforms geographers knew more about Australia endowment was doubled by a grant were a calculated response, and as we than Britons did. of matching funds, pound for pound have seen, won a reprieve. Even so, based on subscription income. In 1887, The significance of these events was the Royal Society entered the 1880s this brought in £400 in public funds, lost neither upon Liversidge nor the unsure whether the specialist sections and with it new growth. By 1890, the Royal Society of NSW. Although safe in of engineering and medicine were library, housed in handsome cases, was its ‘castle’ on Elizabeth Street, the Society going to follow the Linneans, and break beginning to burst at the seams. But was always grateful to be alive. In 1883, away. To preserve solidarity at home, the prosperity bred caution. No anniversary its President, Christopher Rolleston – Society needed to reach abroad. address failed to recall the hardship veteran public servant and councillor of earlier years. In 1888, the ageing Sir These arguments were played out of the Society since Denison’s day – Alfred Roberts supposed it might be against a growing tide of colonial greeted the Society’s survival with near- ‘difficult to measure the exact amount nationalism. In November and December disbelief: ‘I think it not exaggerating,’ of good which has been accomplished 1883, Sydney hosted an intercolonial he told the membership, ‘when I say up to the present time’. But he hoped conference to discuss the future of the Society is acquiring such a station that, with its ‘primary difficulties’ now Papua and New Guinea. To forestall in the public estimation that we may, surmounted, at last the Society could the expansionist interests of imperial without presumption, look forward to become ‘increasingly productive of Germany, Queensland’s Premier had the time when its advice and assistance practical good’– particularly in what he raised the Union Jack at Port Moresby on questions of public interest involving called ‘Nature’s own great laboratory’, in February, and in April announced its scientific enquiry may be sought by the Antarctic, where there were real ‘annexation’. The British government of the Government of the Country.’ Such prospects for intercolonial cooperation. Lord Derby at first repudiated the act, a happy outcome would see the but in October 1884 changed its mind Society – ‘respectfully’, in the steps of In 1885, following an appeal by Baron and formally claimed the southern what Rolleston called our ‘great English von Mueller, an Australian Antarctic coast of New Guinea, ten days before prototype’, the Royal Society of London Exploration Committee was set up Bismarck informed Britain that the north – become an unofficial ‘department of in Melbourne, convened jointly by eastern quarter of the island was already science’. the Royal Society of Victoria and a German protectorate. In Sydney and the Victorian Branch of the Royal This uplifting forecast, and the upturn Melbourne, proceedings focused on Geographical Society. In April 1887, in membership revenue on which it a place that had been of scientific and Captain Crawford Pasco, RN, and H.K. was based, spoke well for Liversidge’s strategic interest since W.J. Macleay’s Rusden, representing the Committee, reforms. But Rolleston exaggerated the Chevert expedition in 1875. asked the Royal Society of NSW to Society’s vitality. Although its members mobilise the NSW Branch of the Royal Not for the first time, political events were many, its leaders were few. Since Geographical Society and the Linnean captured scientific interest. In April 1883, relieving the Governor of the day from Society in asking the NSW government Edmond Morin La Meslée, a member the automatic courtesy title of president, to support an intercolonial expedition. of the Paris Geological Society then the Society had elected a ‘scientific’ This was a foretaste of things to come. living in Sydney, called a public meeting president, so following its venerable So too, was the approach, in August that at which he proposed the creation parent society in London. But only six year, from the Royal Society of South of a ‘Federal Geographical Society of men served as president through the Australia, which asked the Society’s help Australasia’. Rejecting ties with either 1880s, and these rotated in a game of in persuading the NSW Government the Royal Society of NSW or Britain’s musical chairs, with Rolleston, Russell to offer concessionary rail fares to Royal Geographical Society, La Meslée and Liversidge each serving twice. doctors attending the first Intercolonial argued for an association ‘independent The same few faces dominated its Medical Congress in Adelaide. The and national’, not colonial: ‘Geography program. Of the 500 members in 1886, Society agreed. Throughout this is a science that cannot wait,’ he said, only thirty-six contributed papers, and correspondence, the hand of Liversidge ‘as our very future depends upon the most of these papers were the work of (bracketed with Leibius) was always more or less perfect acquaintance only seven or eight. Liversidge himself in evidence. ‘Indefatigable’ was the which is gained of the natural resources delivered thirty-three papers, making sobriquet Smith applied to both, a term of the country.’ A new society was him easily the Society’s single most his successors ritually copied. Given needed to serve the ‘information and productive member. their energy, it is not accidental that the benefit of the people of Australasia’, he Nonetheless, by 1886, the Society had Royal Society of NSW became the host said, commanding the ‘commercial, money in the bank, and due to a timely of the first pan-Australasian gathering political and natural sciences’, across gift from the Fairfax family, negotiated of science.

6 RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 The immediate inspiration for this declined. There was perhaps little reason and Parkes’ establishment of the [Royal] meeting arose in September 1884; the to support a study likely to interest only National Park in 1879. But it signified a occasion, the annual Congress of the one colony. continuing trend that Liversidge would

British Association in distant Montreal. do his best to maintain. Henry Parkes agreed to sponsor a survey That year, for the first time in its fifty- of caves by Edward Ramsay and the Second, it contributed to the realisation three-year history, the BA held its annual Australian Museum, but his government of Liversidge’s plans for intercolonial meeting outside Britain. The sea voyage fell before it could get a vote (estimated cooperation. The story began in 1882, was intended to give new life to a at £340) into its budget for 1878. when Alexander Morton had canvassed body showing signs of senility, and an When Parkes returned again to power the rivers of Queensland, looking for imperial boost to British science in a in December 1879, he still found the specimens of ganoid and dipnoid fishes. corner of Empire where ties of kinship venture promising. Even so, two years He found one specimen of the dipnoi, were being weakened by American elapsed before money and opportunity the Ceratodus , a species internationally enterprise. Towards costs, the Canadian combined. In 1881, Liversidge again famous since its discovery and Government voted $25,000, the city of put the question, this time through description by Krefft in 1869. It was likely Montreal gave $5000, and local citizens, the Trustees of the Australian Museum. that anyone seeking further evidence of a further $10,000, producing $40,000 Funds were granted, and at his request, this ‘living fossil’ would follow Morton (or £8000) which covered the travel of the Museum constituted a Committee to the Burnett River, and the following British participants. It was to the Biology to Manage the Exploration of Caves year, Morton was followed by William Section of this meeting that Liversidge and Rivers, its first scientific expedition Caldwell, a student of Michael Foster’s relayed a telegram he had just received since Alexander Thomson’s near-fatal protégé (and Liversidge’s contemporary), from William Hay Caldwell, a ‘Balfour experience of 1867. With James Cox and the brilliant embryologist, F.M. (Frank) Student’ of Caius College, Cambridge, C.S. Wilkinson, Liversidge was authorised Balfour. then working on the Burnett River in ‘to take all necessary steps for the Queensland. ‘Monotremes oviparous, expenditure of the money voted for the For a long moment in 1882, British ovum meroblastic’, read the famous purpose’, and between June 1881 and biology mourned the death of its lines in which Caldwell announced his March 1882, supervised four surveyors twin suns, Charles Darwin and Frank discovery of the oviparous nature of the and taxidermists at a cost of £1200 to Balfour – the one of age, the other by platypus. For H.N. Moseley of Oxford, search the Wellington Caves, the caves accident. In tribute to Balfour, Foster President of the Section, who knew near Yass, the rivers to the west and and George Humphry established a Sydney from the visit of HMS Challenger north, and other deserving sites. scholarship for research in experimental in 1874, ‘no more important telegram biology. Scientists at home and overseas, in a scientific sense had ever passed Acting as the expedition’s manager, including Liversidge, contributed to this through the submarine cables’. Liversidge logged thousands of ‘Balfour Memorial’, and in 1883, Caldwell specimens that Ramsay’s team sent back became the first ‘Balfour Student’, with a Behind that terse message, lay a story of to the Museum – including ‘an almost stipend of £200 a year for three years. Liversidgean influence at its most typical perfect ramus of Thylacoleo , with the Caldwell was a dedicated biologist and – understated, private, persevering, articulating condile so anxiously looked skilled instrument maker who, with definitive – focusing an international for by Professor Owen’, together with the Threlfall and Dew-Smith, had invented light upon a uniquely Australian object. teeth of a Diprotodon , the toe-bones of a precision microtome for preparing Liversidge’s contact with Caldwell a large Echidna, and the pelvis of a giant tissue sections. For three years, sharing dated from Cambridge days, but drew kangaroo. From the Wellington Caves Balfour’s interest in unusual and upon his interest in Australian caves came 10,000 specimens, with fragments possibly transitional species, Caldwell and rivers. During his visit to England in of thirty species of mammals, birds and had worked on the embryology of 1878, Liversidge met Professor W. Boyd reptiles; while Alexander Morton came Australian fauna, a subject long the Dawkins, of Owens College Manchester, back from the Burdekin and Mary Rivers preserve of Richard Owen. Like Owen, who was accumulating evidence from of Queensland with 2000 specimens, he was interested in two questions – Europe and Asia to argue that early man some of which William Macleay the reproductive mechanism of the lived at the same time as the extinct pronounced ‘undescribed’ and certainly marsupial, and the proper taxonomic marsupials that Richard Owen had ‘new to the Sydney Museum’. classification, by reproductive evidence, described. Liversidge’s reading of the Not surprisingly, the Caves and Rivers of the monotremes. Diprotodon and other fossil discoveries expedition was voted the ‘most – quickened by visits to collections in important work carried out by the For decades, studies of the monotremes

New Zealand and Paris – induced him Trustees in 1882’. Two consequences (that is, the platypus and the echidna) to help Dawkins, and he proposed followed. First, Harrie Wood, Minister of had made them metaphorical to study a number of caves in NSW. metronomes, oscillating between rival Mines and Liversidge’s friend, announced William Forster, Agent-General for NSW that the government would conserve the theories. Some naturalists believed they in London, had sent a similar request Wellington Caves by setting aside 129 were oviparous, laying eggs outside their in 1876 at the behest of Richard Owen bodies, like birds and reptiles. Owen acres and appointing a keeper to collect and Sir George Macleay. When, however, fossils for the Geological and Australian and Bennett, however, believed they the governments of South Australia, Museums. This was not the first step were ovoviviparous, hatching their eggs Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, and towards environmental conservation in within their bodies. Since 1833, Owen’s New Zealand were invited to join, all NSW; credit for this went to John Lucas work on ‘On the Structure, Generation

RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 7 and Development of Living Australian Predictably, Caldwell’s reading of the discovering Australian ‘natives’. Few Montremes and Marsupials’ dominated platypus was queried by Bennett, papers gave a passing thought to the the field. Thanks to Liversidge, George who was close to Owen, and also by Aboriginal trackers who had presumably Bennett and Gerard Krefft, many Ramsay, who described himself as a known this for ever. Any suggestion that specimens were sent to England and ‘doubting Thomas’. But by the time Australia had been merely a suitable several to Owen – ‘some few even alive’, Caldwell’s account appeared in the piece of real estate, plundered by a British as the Herald charitably put it. But Owen’s Philosophical Transactions of the researcher, was dispelled. James Service, interpretation remained untested. No Royal Society , the scientific world had Premier of Victoria, saw an opportunity one had seen proof in nature. ‘To form accepted his conclusions, together to put Australia on the map. Within days, a sound basis of taxonomy’, in Huxley’s with their insight into the possible he telegraphed an invitation to the BAAS, phrase, it was necessary to study in situ evolutionary relationships between suggesting that it hold one of its future these bizarre creatures that fascinated egg-laying monotremes, birds, reptiles congresses in Melbourne. Service’s science. and amphibians. His discovery, which invitation was timely. The BAAS, warmed confirmed the prediction of Geoffroy- by its experience of ‘social imperialism’ Caldwell arrived in Australia in Saint-Hilaire, made necessary a in Canada, was interested in a voyage September 1883, and made Sydney fundamental correction to the vertebrate to the antipodes. So was Liversidge. On his forward base. William Macleay lent taxonomies that were codified by 16 September 1884, in a letter to the him a temporary laboratory until the Georges Cuvier in the 1820s, and taught Herald, subsequently reproduced in government, at Liversidge’s request, by Owen ever since. England, Liversidge seized the initiative found him premises in Macquarie Street from Victoria, and gave it a twist. Whilst to store his goods and specimens. Then and later, Liversidge properly agreeing that Australia always merited He then spent several months riding disclaimed any credit for Caldwell’s a visit, he calculated that, given the through the colony, collecting and success, but it was widely known distance, fewer than fifty of the BA’s observing marsupials, and in April, rode that his encouragement had made 2000 subscribers would make the trip, north to the Burnett District to look for it possible. Both the Australian and as against the 400 to 500 who normally Ceratodus and monotremes during their the British press, beginning with The attended a congress in Britain. Instead, breeding season. Assisted by as many Times , fumbled in reporting the news. therefore, of having a British Association as thirty Aboriginal trackers, he spent Coincidentally, the same day, Wilhelm meeting in Australia, he proposed that months collecting echidna eggs, until Haacke, Director of the South Australian Australasia establish its own Association finally, in August 1884, he had the luck to Museum, announced a similar discovery – a ‘federation or union of the members encounter – and the misfortune to shoot to his colleagues in Adelaide. But all ears of the various scientific societies in – a platypus that had just laid an egg in were turned overseas, and British Empire Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand’ – the river bank. Caldwell’s observation scientists meeting at Montreal became with its first meeting in 1888, timed to formed the basis of the memorable the first to hear the news. ‘The honours coincide with the centennial of British message, relayed by a neighbouring of the occasion,’ exclaimed the Australian settlement in Sydney. cattle station, to Liversidge in Sydney, Town and Country Journal , ‘have been thence to the BA in Montreal. He brought carried off by the duck-billed platypus back to Sydney a large collection of – an ornament to the zoological world Continued in next issue echidna and platypus eggs – ‘quite easy which has covered all the curiosities to get’, he wrote Liversidge confidently, of Canada with the shadow of a great

‘I cannot understand how they have eclipse.’ The colonial press rejoiced at This excellent book is available not been got before’ – and a number of the international reception given to from the Society to members at Ceratodus , which he studied for the next Australian fauna; while Melbourne Punch $54 collected or $65 posted (within six months. satirised the naïveté of British scientists Australia)

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The Bulletin and Proceedings is issued monthly by the Royal Society of New South Wales Address: 121 Darlington Rd, Building H47, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, NSW 2006, AUSTRALIA 1IPOFt'BY Brittany Cooper, O"ce Manager &NBJMSPZBMTPD!VTZEFEVBVt8FCQBHFIUUQOTXSPZBMTPDPSHBV

8 RSNSW Bulletin and Proceedings 342 Royal Society of NSW

Proposed Rule change

At a meeting of the Society’s Executive on 9 February 2011 it was agreed that a change to Rule 10 was required. This change will be presented to Members for consideration at the Society’s Ordinary General meeting on 22 March.

Rule 10: Election of Members of Council

Current wording of Section (d):

(d) Any financial member of the Society shall be eligible for nomination for any position on the Council of the Society except that no member shall be eligible for election as:

(i) President if the member has served as President for the whole of the preceding four years.

(ii) a member of the Executive Council if they have been elected as a member of the Executive Council for the preceding 5 years, except by a special resolution of the Society at the Annual General Meeting.

(iii) an ordinary Member of the Council if the member has been elected to the Council for the five preceding years.

Proposed new wording of Section (d) with changes underlined:

(d) Any financial member of the Society shall be eligible for nomination for any position on the Council of the Society except that no member shall be eligible for election as:

(i) President if the member has served as President for the whole of the preceding five years, except by a special resolution of the Society at the Annual General Meeting .

(ii) a member of the Executive Council if they have been elected as a member of the Executive Council for the preceding 5 years, except by a special resolution of the Society at the Annual General Meeting.

(iii) an ordinary Member of the Council if the member has been elected to the Council for the five preceding years, except by a special resolution of the Society at the Annual General Meeting.