166##1973

For circulation among members olCSIRO staff

January 1973 BRITANNICA AWARDS Late last year the 1972 Encyclopaedia Britannica Australia awm'ds were made and in part shared by two members of the Division of Textile Industry. Messrs Dnvid Henshnw 'md the .Myer Emporium, Mr Ken­ Gm'don Walls of Ihe Division ncth Myer. shored Ihe $10,000 prize for Mr Walls said that they are science with a member of the l1~)W working on the next stage slaff of Relleo Lld for theh' 01 development: "By combining work in developing selfMfwist Wtlol with synthelics you can s[)inning machincl'y. get lightweight yarns, usable directly from the machine." The self-twist spinner, now To do this a technique of in full-scale production bolh using a lightweight continuous in Australia and the UK, was a synthetic filament is used to major advance in the techno­ reduce the strand wei~ht by logy of spinning fibres. Basi­ nearly half although the fibre cally the machinery means Ihat is still 90% wool. there is now a new method of Repco have made nearly 350 imparling high speed twisting of the machines, whilst the of multi-strand yarns. Pre­ British company, Platt Inter­ viously this was responsible for nalional, have made nearly 100. Mr G. W. Walls Mr D. E. Henshaw nearly half of the cost of yarn Both Mr Walls and Mr Hen­ production. shaw said they had no special Each man received $3,333.34, plans for their prizemoney, plus a gold medallion and a apart from using it to payoff citation from the Chairman of some bills. Desert Ba·lloon Found Bob Millington, of the Rangelands Research Unit in Alice Springs, recently featured in the successful recovery of a valuable research balloon lostin the difficult Sinlpsoll'S Desert country south-east of Alice Springs. Parkes and Apollo The search began on n Salul''' cuhic feet helium gas balloons, wards Boulia in far western tiny morning late in November carrying instruments to high Queensland. The Parkes radio telescope was used in the when Professor Victol' HOPIJCr, altitudes to look at stars emit­ He said: "We decided to cut of MetlJolll'nc University and ling gamma rays and, in con­ it dO\J"n, but the command sy­ Apollo 17 moon mission in December. As in junction with CSIRO. pulsars stem failed. We knew it would the RAAF Academy, I'a'ng Ul) in the southern sky. come down on the automatic previous Apollo missions, the large 210 feet dia­ the Omcer~in.. Clmq~c of the The project is being carried cut-down set for that day. meter dish played an important part, particulal'!y RRU Ht Alicc Springs, Or MHX out by Melbourne University "We chased lhe balloon in during the critical stages of the moon walk Ross. in collaboration \~... ith a team a plane and it cut down as After a quick (hscussion Bob from Case \Vcstern Reserve planned, the parachute drop­ The 11I'ime role played hy the Australia, we are able to see Millington, Professor Hopper University ill Cleveland, Ohio, ping the payload of instruments telescope was on 12'h. and 13th the pictures as they are trans­ and his technical assistant set led by Profcssor G, Fry. well inside the Simpson Desert." December. During each of mitted, But there is really not oil in a light aircraft to try Professor llopper said after After the reconnoitre flight those days the llarkes tenm very much difference between and locate the balloon and an the balloon was launched it had been carried uut on the colDur and black and white as access track into lhe desert to reached 154.000 ft ancl drifted Saturday, lhe following day monHored and relayed signals recover it. towards the Gulf of Carpcn­ \vas spent on a thorough study from the moon's sul'face for the moo" is mostly a dull grey­ green and tbe only outstanding The balloon was launched taria as planned. ot maps and aerial photos of nhout eight hours. colour is the shoulder flashes from Longrcach, Queensland, r-Iowever, it changed direc­ the area. The signals included the on the astronauts' space suits." the 11rst of thrce 30 milhon tion and lost height, drifting to- 0" the f()l1owin~ Tuesday & TV and audio communications party cOllsislJng oC Bob MiI­ plus the vital telemetry and Iington, Professor Hopper and biomedical data. his assistant, plus Tim Mc­ After being received at Knight and Selwin McIntyre Parkes, the signals were re­ from the Lands Branch of the layed to Honeysuckle Creek Northern Territory Administra­ Tracking Station (in the ACT), tion, lcft Alice Springs for the then to the Overseas Telecom­ desert. munications Centre in Padding­ That night, aftcr discussions ton (Sydney), from there to the with the owner of Nl1mery Moree ground station facility Station, the party camped of OTC (in north-western New south-east of Alice Springs at South Wales), up to a satellite Junction Bore. and finally to the Apollo con­ On Wednesday they started trol headquarters in Houston, off into the desert but ex­ Texas. perienced ~real difficulty in As well as transmitting the picking which line of sand incoming data it was all re­ dunes to follow as. the aerial corded on magnetic tape in case photographs they were working anything should go wrong in off were over ten years old and the transmission network. a number of the features, parti­ Mr. John Bolton, who led cularly the vegetation, had the previous teams involved in changed in the years. the moon landing missions, On the Thursday just be­ again took charge of the fore sundown, after positively CSIRO group. identifying where they were at midday, they sighted thc bal- Besides the staff of the Divi­ loon payload. '- sion of Radiophysics, there Tim McKnight takes up the were personnel from the PMG, story: "Friday morning, after AWA and NASA taking parl dismantling and loading the in­ at Parkes. strument package. parachute Coresearch spoke to Mr Reg The Commonwealth Deparhnent of Foreign Affairs is p..oviding $840,000 for a phytotron and other equipment the return Stevens of the Division of {controlh:d envlrqnment plant laboratory} now und.er construction for the International Rice Research trip was started. ' Radiophysics during the first Institute at LQsBJlnos in the Philippines. The 'phytotron will- be used by scientists working on moon-walk, he said: "The most second generation problerils: of the" 'green rev.(Ji'ution'. "Due to the following wind interesting difference on· this The, prelimin~ry .dl1s~gn "f~r the," phytotron, which inc~rporates 26 growth cabinets, 5 controUed and the partly blocked radiator. mission is that a' colour TV set tempf)'rature dark roomsi'snd6 al .... con~itioned gla~5houses,: was prepared by ,the Head Office the Lands Branch Toyot" has been installed at the tele­ Buildl~g Section following ,",visit t~ the Philippines by pr LI!,yd Evans, Chief of the Division of Plant started boiling, necessitating ,ctlpe and, unlike the rest of Industry/and Mr Bruce Gibbs of the Building Section. • COllt'd P:4 Too Many Ph.D's? Dr Clive West, Senior Research Fellow in Experimental Pathology at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, has recently carried out a study of the supply and demand for Ph.D. graduates in Australia. In this interview he talks to Max Bourl,e. Max Bourke: You paint a several years' time there may M.Il.: But you also imply pretty gloomy picture of crra­ be quite a large surplus of something that approaches a tic supply and crratic dcmand. people. plot, if you like. between uni­ versity people and their stu­ CH vc West: Yes, I think that There was a report last year dents to encourage the best in some way we should try and published by the University of students to stay on and do iron out these fiuctuutions in Svdney Appointments Board. Ph.D.'s with the ultimate role supply and demand and by this They conducted an opinion-type of a life in academia rather I don't mean that we should survey of the major employers than mixing out there in the have rigid controls such as you for graduates throughout Aus­ factories or workshops, get in a planned economy such tralia with the emphasis on the as Russia. but some method of employers in New South Wales. C.W.: Yes, that's true and I regulating this supply and de­ think this situation has come mand with some self-regulatory The employers were asked to about because of the expansion indicate, from their experience period of the universities. The mechanism so as' to bring the ~et sllpply and demand morc into in recruiting graduates, the university people try to the best students to stay on and balance. supply/demand situation for gradualcs in the Ph.D. degree to do Cl higher degree and then M.B.: For those people who and one year's work experience. these people found it easy to haven't read YOllr articles in get jobs in the universities be­ 'Search', could yOLl brieny rew The results or the survey in­ cause there arc many universi­ capitulate the position with dicated that supply exceeded ties being eslablished and the chemistry Ph.D.'s which is onc demand in chemistry, physics. older universities arc exoancling of the most erratic recent onc'ii? biology and biochemistry. and the whole philosoplw of the approach was designed to "As you leave these cloistered walls and ivied halls with C.W.: Ycs, Dr Middleton, increase the academic emplov~ who was the Chairman of the your Iwrd-earlled Ph.D., we, your teachers and menlors, ment of people in the academic charge you: Be good waiters, courteous cabbies, and Chemisls' Employment Sub­ world. Committee of the Victorian honest cops." Branch of the Royal Australian 1\-1.8.: Havc academics now COllrteSJ' 'Satllrday Review'. Chemical Institute wrote-well, realized that the situation has he and his commiltee wrote­ cbanged. do you think'! an article Oh the proceedings of C.W.: Some have. having a manpower policy in nology Committee can't work the Royal Australian Chemical M.ll.: You suggest planning isolation. in a complete vacuum but must Institute in 1971 and they and ways of getting them into be working as part o[ a frame­ showed that the I?rojected gra­ industry. How do you actually l\'I.B.: But a government work, an overall economic plan. ~ualions of chemists would go see these plans being imple­ science policy seems to be on I don't mean rigid but just a the verge of being formulated 111 1970 from 107 to 1971 203, mented'! statement. of goals and aspira~ anyway with the appointment 151 (1972) 144 (1973) and 86 C.W.: Several wavs. Firstly, tions of the country and of (1974). The expected vacancies of the Advisory Committee on where the government sees that the government needs to have Science and Technology, over the same period would some overall economic plan­ Australia will be in ten years' gradually increase from 86 to ning, including a policy for C.W.: Yes, that is true but time, or various periods of time 103 then with a fluctuation 97 science. There is no point in even so this Science and Tech- from now. (1972), J28 (1973) and 116 Or Clive West (1974) and what this would re­ sult in, although in 1971 there may be quite a large surplus, So, it would seem that in by the time yon get to 1974 physics, biology and bioche­ there is probably going to be CroB""a at Work mistry the situation may be al­ a deficit. most as bad as chemistry, but I When Coresearch visited the Division of Fisheries and Oceanography M.B.: Didn't you feel also have a [eellng that in biology yourself that the publication of and biochemistry the surplus last month the problem became one of 'where to start', for the place these figures produced a drastic will come about several years seemed a hive of frenetic activity. Not only is the advent of ocean-going decline in the number of people after that of chemistry. actually enrolling la do Ph.D.'s: M.II.: In vour two articles in vessels proving a focus of planning activity, but several research develop­ C.W.: Yes, that's right, the 'Search', you argue that indus­ ments were of intel·est. projected graduations in 1974 try should be somehow or other encouraged to take up Ph,D.'s The Division, 3S rClJOr(cd where our system under study vessel it has not been possible have fallcn to 86 - this is com­ to carry out the former tech­ pared with their prediction in in partiCUlarly, say, chemistry last month, is planning on firsl will be from day to dav." and physical scicnces. How chnrtcring and later building Mr Tranter went on to say nique although this should 1971 of 203 - so there has change in the not~too-distant been a marked fall-olY in ... would this work in the bio­ a large ocean-going vessel. that there arc only really two logical sciences? There aren't ways of studying the ecology of future with the acquisition of M.Il.: So, you think that many in~uslries in Australia While this is going on the plankton ill anything like their sucb a ship. This will make it people actually read these geared to handle people with commissioning and first experi­ normal state. These involve possible to locate a mass of figures and that just simply Ph.D. expertise in biology. mental work with a unique new tagging a known mass of plank­ plankton, known as a bloom, deterred them from doing facility, is under way. It is ton and following it around, or and to follow it for days at a chemistry Ph.D.'1 C.W.: Well, two things to called a 'planktosta!' and in building some means of grow­ time as it drifts with the cur­ remember here. Firstly, people appearance resembles a 'Heath­ ing plankton which approxi­ rent. C.W.: Yes, for example in the can be involved, or Ph.D.'s can mates the field situation. Research School of Chemistry Robinson' fantasy based on a In the meantime the develop­ be involved, in industry in collection of gold-fish tanks. Without a large ocean~going at the Australian National Uni­ several ways and I think that ment of the planktostat means versity they found it more dim­ what you're referring to is re­ As Mr David Tranter, the that laboratory studies can be cult to get good I'h.D. students. search and development oppor­ ecologist working on the plank­ undertaken. It is essentially a ton project, puts it: "The prob­ Ms Lyn

166-1973 tettel'J te tAt (4itel'

"Dear Sir, been most valuable to applic­ ants who have been unable to "In Issue No. 164 o[ Core­ raise more than $8,000 from search you published an article other sources. This is illus­ on housing finance. The article trated by the fact that 124 opens, 'The AMP Society has a officers o[ CSIRO have received special housing finance scheme housing loans from the AMP for CS1RO omcers', then pro­ Society since the inception of ceeds to outline what loan the scheme in 1956. It is true arrangements can be made. that the Societv does have a However. the article fails to quarterly or hal[-yearly allo­ note some important limita­ cation for housing finance, and tions to AMP financing and its there have been occasions when link to insurance policy sales. a CSIRO employee has had to These limitations arc illus­ wait a month or two until the trated by experiences of myself new allocation became avail­ and another CSIRO colleague. able. However, I have never "Shortly after joining CS1RO had an application by a CSIRO in 1963 I was approached by ollicer rejected solely on the an AMP representative, who grounds that the Society's hous­ persuaded me to buy li[e in­ ing allocation for a given surance from the AMP. The period had been exhausted. represcnta.1lvc's main argument "Had you written to me was th~ preferential treatment about your particular case in given; after two years of policy­ 1971, J may have been able to holding, lo CSIRO ollicers help you as my dealings with needing hOlls'lng finance. This oITi.cers of the Society are usu­ argument got me in. Subse­ allv at a higher level than the quently, ·the representative en­ insurance salesmen. On a num­ couraged me on several occa­ ber 01' occasions concessions sions to approach AMP for have been obtained for CSIRO housillgfinance when I should offICers by presenting all the need it. Further, a second facts and reminding the Society AMP representative phoned me that the original intention was at regular intervals, over some to place our ofllcers in a n10re seven years, asking if I needed advantageous position than nor­ finance and pressing me to ap~ mal clients. proach AMP. "The need arose in mid 1971. "You will realize that CSIRO I asked [or finance at the AMP is not in a position to inlluence Farewell to Chris Sydney omce, and straight away the Society's internal policy on was told that funds had run housing finance. At the present After serving for thirteen years on the Executive, and working for the out., loan money being generally time, their policy is to give pre­ hard to Hmi at that time. I ex­ ference to married people, and Organization since 1933, Mr C. S. Christian has retired. pressed regret that the optimism whilst there are heavy demands of AJ\fP representatives was not from the general public for the Mr Christian graduated from Following his work there he Christian has been approached fulfilled, and said that my main available housing funds, this the University of Queensland has become known affection­ by several companies, govern­ means that single people usu­ reason [or buying AMP insur­ in 1929 and received an M.S. ately as the 'father of arid ments and overseas organiza­ ance was its strong 1ink to the ally miss out. I have no doubt zone research', tions as an adviser on environ­ that i[ housing funds became from dIe University of MinncM availability of housing finance. sota in 1933. He then joined Mr, Christian has been on mental management. Then came the 'official' line more readily available from banks and other lending autho­ the CSIR Division of Plant In­ numerous important commit~ As a councillor o[ the Aus­ that AMP representatives are in tees and received many awards tralian Conservation Founda­ no \vay empowered to use ex~ rities, then the AMP Society dustry us a plant breeder and would be pleased to provide geneticist. including the Parrer Memorial tion) Mr Christian has been plicit, or implied, promises of Medal, the Australian Medal actively involved in the 'official' housing finance to encourage funds for single people. His early work with the Divi­ of Agricultural Science and is conservation movement. purchase of life insurance "As mentioned previously, a Fellow o[ both the Australian policies. tbe limitations of the AMP sion was concerned with the Of the fulure Mr Christian study o[ the genetics and yield Institute of Agricultural Science said that the changing role o[ "The experience of my col­ scheme are recognized. The and the World Academy of Art purpose of the Coresearch in wheat. When wheat markets CS1RO was one thing to be league was different. In mid fell and CS1RO was discour­ and Science. watched, ln the past the Or­ 1972 he was not eligible for an article was to bring to the notice o[ CS1RO people this aged from doing further wheat ganization had largely deve­ AMP loan as he was (and is) research, Mr Christian turned loped because the universities single. Does AMP propose to source of housing finance, in case it waS of any benefit to to the development of pasture and the State and other Federal continue this 'married only' plants suitable for use in bodies had neglected research' policy. and what would be their applicants who could not ob­ tain finance on satisfactory Queensland. This work stimu­ this is no longer true. CS1RO attitude to single, female, otll­ lated his interest in utilization, will have to come to terms with cers who wanted housing terms from other lending authorities. for agricultural purposes, of the its place in the more complex finance? tropical and sub-tropical areas group of competing research "A final point, AMP levy in­ "Yours sincerely, of Australia. organizations. He said: "The terest at 80/0 on loans in the major question is, 'Just what $8,000 to $16,000 range. This "R. W. Viney, In 1946, when the problem CSIRO's future in this com­ interest is the practical rate of the development of northern plex should be'." charged by building societies Finance Manager." Australia was being examined on their loans, including sums by the government, the Divi­ M r Christian went on: greater than $16,000. sion was called upon to under­ "CSIRO has managerial exper­ tise for large proiects and the "Yours faith[ully. take land-use surveys of parti­ cular regions of this area. Mr conduct of a broad range of "1. W. Smith, Minerals Re- Christian was appointed as research. It also has the poten­ search Laboratories. North "Dear Sir, leader of a special unit to carry tial for much broader interdis­ Ryde. out this work. The unit sub­ ciplinary research than these "My colleagues and I were other groups. It would seem to "cc Mr R. W. Viney wel1~known sequently became a CS1RO discussing a Mel­ section and in 1957 became the me to be a mistake if, because Dr. A. McKenzie, bourne Club at afternoon tea Division of Land Research with of the developing interests of CSlRO aA," recently, and the question o[ Mr. Christian as its first Chief. these other organizations in the 'old school ties' cropped up, Mr Christian use of science, CSIRO's re­ and the suggestion was made Since the first survev in 1946, search responsibilities were that should not CSIRO like some 845,000 square miles of eroded." other superior organizations northern Australia and Papua Mr Ray Viney re"lied: have a staff tie? When delivering the Farrer Mr. Christian will be missed New Guinea have been sur­ Memorial oration at Svdney "Our colleagues at the Pro... veyed. Early in this work it in the Organization not only "Dear Mr Smith, University some years ago, Mr for his major contributions to tein Chemistry and Wool Tex­ became apparent to Mr Chris­ Christian said: "Conservation tile Industries Laboratories tian that it was necessary to its scientific and managerial "Thank you for sending me means more than mere preser­ expertise. but also for some of could perhaps help, and a com­ study the areas involved as a vation. Rational utilization of a copy o[ your letter to the petition could be mounted for complex of geology, topo­ the -stories about him which Editor of Coresearch regarding resources is the keynote to have grown up. a suitable style or motiL Dif­ graphy, soils, vegetation and modern conservation concepts the AMP housing finance [erent colours perhaps [or 10, climate. For instance, he has an ex­ scheme. . .. The ultimate objective in 15 and 20 years' service and the rational use of land ... is tensive reputation of being a "You arc quite correct in so on with some several thous­ His development o[ the con­ tinker and builder of all saying that the AMP scheme cept o[·land units and land sy­ to have different land types and members, a good half at used for the purposes to which manner of gadgetry from re­ has limitation~. I am conscious least wearing ties, would prob­ stems has enabled surveys of frigerators to trucks to five­ of this fact, and regard it as large complex regions to be they are best adapted and most ably make the number required properly allocaled ... to pre­ storey holiday homes. just another source of housing sufficient for economic manU­ carried out relatively quickly, finance availahle to the staff o[ yet in a fundamental and serve adequate samples of the facture. Sale and distribution inherited natural biological CSIRO. The rates of interest could be effected through Social searching manner. This ap­ proach has been adopted by capital of the nation." In August 1946 the above are usually higher than those Clubs. photo was taken on the first charged by hanks and some FAO and UNESCO and by the It is significant that this "I am sure I, and my col­ Department o[ Technical Co­ Regional Survey Expedition into other financial institutions, and leagues, though only minor philosophy, which in the last the Northarn Territory. It the compulsory life insurance cogs in a large wheel are only operation in the United King­ few years has come to be , dom. shows Chrls Christian (in the cover is, of course, an extra too proud to be identified with widely accepted bv ecologists pith helmet), Alan Stewart (In financial burden. The rates of and conservationists, has been CSIRO. Mr Christian has been per­ the army hat) who is now Chief interest and the applicant's the basis of Mr Christian's of the Division of Land Re­ obligation concerning life insur­ sonally involved in a number of "Yours faithfullv, overseas aid projects, but prob­ work for more than a quarter search, and the expedition's ~nce were both clearly stated 'Tied Up', ably the one he has been of a century. mechanic/driver, Roy Green­ to the Coresearch article. Printing Unit closest to was the establishment For a man who has led such wood, taken near the Daly "Notwithstanding these dis­ of the Arid Zone Research In­ an active life retirement does River, 100 miles south of advdntages, the facility has (Name and address supplied.) stitute at Jodhpur in India. not mean stopping work. Mr Darwin.

166-1973 Mr Deacon joined the ori­ COUNSELLOR ginal Meleorological Physics Secti on as one of its foundation Dc E. G. Bowcn, former memhers in December 1947. Chief of the Division of Radio­ His main professional in­ physics, has been appointed prob~ Counsellor (ScienliHc) to the terest has always been in Australian Embassy in Wash­ tems of the atmospheric boun­ ington, D.e. dary layer; he was une of the leading fIgores in establishing Dr. Bowen, who is expected and implemenling the Divi­ to take up his post in March sion's programme to measure 1973, will replace I'rof. H. C. the frictional stress of the wind Webster who retires next month. againsl the earth's surface and For the intervening period, lhe interchange of heat and the Officc of the Counsellor water vapour between earth and (Scientific) will be headed by atmosphere, and in extending Mr W. Harfley, who has oc­ t.his to shipboard measurements cupied the post on two previous over the sea. occasions.

VISITORS Cont'd f1'om P.] Messrs Sllt01110 and Soekarno of the Indonesian Meteoro­ logical and Geo-Physical Insti­ Desert Balloon tute will arrive in Melbourne stops at approximately every on Monday 11th Dccember, half hOllr, for half an hour. bringing with them lhc Indo­ HAs arrangements had been nesian National Pyrheliometer made on the morning radio Standard for comparison with schedlllc for thc equipmHadley has a 10/ more to learn about ecology," Professor Hopper said on Courtesy 'Saturday Review'. his return to Alice Springs that RETIREMENTS he had alerted the RAAF be­ fore going into the desert, to COiled from P.2 Mr 8ert GilIiard has retired prepare for a rescue operation. from -the Division of Irrigation boats operating out of the ports The technique being used He said: "I probably would from UlIadulla to Eden near today is not a sure-fire guaran~ Research after 34 years of ser­ have needed it if it had not been vice with CSIRO. the Victorian border. tee, but it does gnide the fIsher­ for the skill of these three men CRONULLA Partly as a result of the map men and cuts down on the Mr Gilliard, previously a who know the country so well. highly skilled musician, became issued on 2/11/72 fishermen had amount of wasted time spent HThe Simpson Desert has landed nearly 1,000 tons of searching for fish. a member of the staff of the always been the great fear of As Mr Tranter says: "The CSIRO Irrigation Research Sec­ planktostat has a future beyond tnna. At $240.00 per ton it halloonists, bnt this has proved is no wonder that they have tion as Griffith in October 1938. that recoveries arc possible at ilIst a model of an estualy or Initially, he was employed as upwelling, as it provides light, promised Clarrie enough cham­ short notice from any part of pagne to keep him in tronble a labourer on general farm Australia." enrichment of nutrients a,nd duties. However, his organiza­ plankton, it represents a ITlodel for months. So the successful recovery During the research that led tional and technical ahilities of th'e valuable instruments and of any ecosystem with all its were soon apparent, and con­ varied components like energy to the development of this work their data was accomolished, there was a tragic aircrash in sequently were in great demand but the story did not end there. turnover, predation and graz­ Master resulting in his eventllally being ing." South Australia that caused the classified as a Technical Oincer. As Bob MiIlinAlon takes lip loss of one of the researchers Mr J. G. Zadow, of the lhe story two weeks later: "At Evenlually a very large pool Mr. (Jilliard has worked on a alongside the laboratory will be working on the programme. Dairy Research Laboratory at number of research problems 10.00 p.m. Vic Hopper again elanie Brown at the time had Highetl, bas recently been rang mc. He is in Alice Springs used to take these studies on to which have included irrigation an advanced stage or scale. to swiITl for over three hours awarded an tvl.Sc. by the Uni­ and percolation studies, soit and has another payload to re­ before rescue. versity of Melbourne. temperature measurement, and cover. cut~down frost prevention. However. the "This '0 time the Tuna Temperature major part of his time has mechanism worked effectively One or the happiest men at been spcnL in research related and the recovery was from a the Division of Fisheries and to nutrition and soil manage· point half a mile nortb of lhe Oceanography was Mr Clarrie mcnt or citrus, Ayer's Rock Road, eight milcs Brown. west of the Erldunda turn-oH. M .. E. L Deacon of the Divi­ The day before your Core­ SAFETY NOTIS sion of Atmospheric Physics "This flight had used a gon­ dola helonging to the American search correspondent had ar­ rctired on 1st Deccmber 1972. rived the south coast (NSW) To mark the occasion a dinner group and had been launched In The Swim twelve hours before. fish canneries had declared a was held at the Beaumaris Hotel moratorium on fishing because and was attended by approxi­ "Ian Tapley (also frcm the so much tuna had been canght The Slimmer, and for some of ns daylight saving. A time mately 120 past and present RRU) and myself were pro­ for a relaxing evening dip in the backyard swimming pool. in the preceeding few days they A luxury more possess now that large portable pools are members of the Division, to­ posing a Hugh Valley instrn­ could not process it. gether wilh wives and friends. ment service trip so Rangelands available. provided another vehicle for A big part of the credit for the fantastic haul of tuna was Chemical water treatment for these pools is essential. Hopper's group and we accom­ Unless the correct balance is maintained, you run the risk Mr Gilli.rd (left) reeeiv"s a panied them for this recovery credited to the information S\lP­ plied by the sea temperature of the water becoming an ideal brecding ground for presentation at his farewell relurning to the Hugh siles in disease, or causing severe eye and skin irritation. from Dr P. R. Cary (right). the afternoon.U maps developed by the Divi­ sion. Regularly measuring the condition of the water with the Investigations of the sou­ type of test kit usually provided by the pool manufacturer thern blueHn tuna schools have is the safest way to decide what treatment is necessary, plus, led to the discovery that the of course, regular draining and cleaning. rippling schools, those which Daylight is not an essential ingredient for an evening are caught most readily by the swim. Floodlight the pool and it can be used at any time. pole and bait method, congre­ Last season one enterprising person wired up his own gate in areas where there is a temporary floodlight. It looked very neat. An extension temperature front, where cold cord with a plug at each end connecting a switched power water meets warmer water. point in the garage to a socket mouoted in a box adjacent The Division pioneered the to the po011 technique of nsing an infra-red The very last time be used this hook-up he fIrst switched radiation thermometer from an off the power at the garage, which extinguished the light, aircraft to chart the position and leaving the extension cord plugged into the power of temperature fronts. The point, walkcd to the pooIside and pulled out the ping at charts look like those on wea~ ther maps, that end. After a recording flight is He was fatally electrocuted when he grasped the plug to made off the south. coast CIar­ coil up the cord. Another example of the switch being in rie Brown sets off on a trip lhe neutral line. His body connected the unswitched active along the coast handing out to earth by way of the ping prong and the wet pool the charts of possi ble locations surround. to the skippers of the Hshing Please don't follow his example. And, by the way, enjoy your swim. GiI Barnes, Safety Officer. Printed by CSIRO, Melbourne 166-1973 167##1973

For circulation among members olCSIRO stall

February 1973 TWO NEW CHIEFS THE NEWS IN BHIEIi~ NAMED Visitors Seconded Mr J. Warner and Dr G. B. Tucl

The answer lies in the nose It's a fine naive domestic sludge without any breeding, but I And in the mouth too of course. think you'll be amused by its presumption." Research on mechanical harvesting of grapes, led by Or Peter May, in the Divi M sion of Horticultural Research, does not end when the grapes are harvested. -Apologies to James Thurber. At the Experimental Grape Quality Laboratory at M.erbein expert winemakers Luis Kolorik of the Division of Applied Chemistry appears somewhat dubious of assess the results of research on grape production in the area that it counts the quality of the treated sewage .effluent he is examining. Even Or Don Weiss on most, the mouth and nose. Mr B. Tyson of McWilliams Wines (foreground) and Mr M. Tummel of Gramps, the right, also of the Division, seems less than enthusiasti.c about the product. test wjnes made from the research programme's grapes. With them are two Senior Engineers from the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of In this particular experiment the quality of grapes from mechanical and hand Work•• harvesting, as affected by various postMharvesting techniquest was assessed. The occasion was an inspection recently of the Division's new mobile laboratory. Provided sulphur dioxide Is added in the field, wInes made from mechanically­ harvested grapes are of a quality at least equal to that made from those harvested The caravan is outfitted to undertake water quality analysis. At present it is by hand. located near the pilot sewage treatment plant at Lower Plenty in Victoria. CLOllD CHASEHS WOMEN'S LAB. A strong stomach is one of the main requirements for the researchers in Much ado is made about the 'liberation' of the Division of Cloud Physics, or particularly that group interested in tur­ various places of worl. or activities for women. bulence. But it is probably not recognised that science had Recently 'Coresearcb' went along on one of their eXllcdi~ some women's Iibbers, in rhetoric at least equal Hons in senl'ch of atmospheric to S1. Germaine Greer, some 300 years ago. turbulenco near Deniliquin, nlld uHhougb your correspondent survived, only just, (he num~ Lcwis s. FCUDf in the 'SciCIlM lion of women. Her argument (Hie Intellectual', wro4c about was mueh the same as the one bel' of green faces on landing the cofIcchouscs of Englund ill John Stuart Mill used two cen­ seemed to indicate Hmt there the seventeenth century ns the turies later. Englishmen, she where sevcrol hnppy· people places of free thought and the wro te, were in danger of becom­ when the door was opened back new ideas circulating in the i ng 'Irrational as Idiots ... on (he ground. countr'y, where the huddiug through the Careless Neglects Led by the new Chief of the scicnlists held their meetings; and Dcspiscments to the Division, Mr Jack Warner, the' he went on: Female'; women, she added, group spen! several days based "Excluded from the coflee­ were confined 10 idleness 'like at Deniliquin airport looking at houses, women, however, Birds in Cages, to Hop up and high frequency temperature achieved in other places a new down in Houses'. She had called fluctuations as an indicator of air mixing. The Division uses a 28 year old DC 3 aircraft which was formerly used in a transport squadron by the RAAF. In fact Mr Ces Maher of the Division new as navigator in this partic­ ular aircraft when it was sta­ tioned in Japan during the Korean War. Romeo Romeo Alpha (or VH-RRA as it is more formally known) is in first-class condition for such an old plane as it has done very few hours and at Ron Collis. Mr Warner de­ they are an indication of the present only /lies about 200 scribed the pnrpose of the importance of the mixing pro­ hours per year. Deniliquin expedition: cess at the top as opposed to Besides Mr Warner on this "In Anstralia cumulus clouds the sides. We arc inlerested in expedition were Ms Lorraine are responsible for a significant making measuremenls of fluc­ Pearce, Dr Chris Coulman and fraction of our rainfall and the tuations on a scale of the order Messrs Trevor Newnham and amount of rain that falls from of 5 cm which at our aircraft flight speed of about 60 m.p.s. corresponds to a time scale of "You nwles are all alike!" the order of I millisecound. COllrle.~y 'l'wlCh' Since we cannot make measure­ ments of humidity fluctuations on this Ume scale we intend to unwonted eminence. The he­ on women the year previously make measurements of the tem­ donistic ethics that presjded to organize themselves 'that we perature fiuctuations and to over the origins of modern may unite ... to make our make the observation in a hot, science also promoted the entry Selves as Free, Happy, and dry area where thermals should of women into scientific life. Famous as Men'. Her contem­ be frequent. "Women's participation in poraries called this femme ~IOur_procedllre_,will be to fly scientiftc readings and pursuits savante Mad Madge. Neverthe­ at all levels from about 100 became part of their sodal role less, her scienlific writings for metres above the surface up lo in the salon. The Ductless of the female audience, the Obser­ the top of the developing fher­ Newcastle early managed lo get vations Upon Experimental mals measuring and recording herself invited to a meeting of Philosophy and h.er scientific the high frequency temperature the I-{joyal Sociely, at which she utopian romance, The Descrip­ fluctuations. We will also be was shown sund ry inslruments tion of the New Blazing World, using rather more slowly re­ and experiments. were infused with the emanci­ sponding equipment which re­ In 1663, the Duchess indeed pative spirit of the new move- sponds to scales of the order of came out in ravour 01' the educa- ment. COl/Id. l' 3 5~IO metres and greater to record temperature, humidity -~~'-"-~'-"-~-~~---~--~~-~~--~':--_~--~----~-~"1an individual cloud in general and vertical and horizontal ail' increases as the cloud depth motion. The flights will be increases. made in mid-morning since this "One of the main factors is the period when the thermals limiting cloud growth is the are developing and when we fact that clouds mix with their are most likely to obtain ob­ pur~ clear air surroundings. TIle dry, servations relevant to our pose. "Dear Sir, dress requirements of the female relatively cooler, environmental "Surely lhe Printing Unit can "Instruments are mounted "The Commiltce of the Divi­ members of stalY. lay no claims to being a air reduces the cloud water con­ III did indeed once wear a tent and decreases buoyancY ahead of the nose of the DC 3 sion of Textile Industry's Social 'superior organization'? This is aircraft and under the wings ­ Club was most interested in the school tic, in hideous black, what the writer must suggest if and updraft velocity as it purple and gold stripes, aggres­ mixes. the informalion obtained from lelter from 'Tied Up' (January he wishes to wear (with pride) (he instruments is recorded in Corescarch) suggesting a staIT sively embroidered with some the distinctive tie he proposes is "The nature of the mixing noble sentiment about my al­ process is not well understood the cabin hoth on chart re­ tie for CSlRO. We would be designedl corders and on magnetic tape." able to arrange [or the manU­ leged virginity (in Latin, of "The days of the 'Old School and this lack of knowledge pre­ facture and supply withollt any course); but I rarely wear my Tie' are, thankfully, behind us, vents us from constructing To carry out these measure­ dill1culty and would envisage gymslip now, nor other gear but for those who wish to carry theoretical models of cloud ments the plane is loaded heav­ that the selling price [or an all­ requiring a tie. on the tradition, by all means behaviour and so predicting ily with instruments which in­ wool tic with suitable motif "Mr 'Tied Up' would have let them do so, but for their what would happen to natural clude, besides a variety of re­ 1V0uld be signiticanLly less than won more support, I [eel, had sakes (the traditionalists), re­ clouds quite apart from those cording apparatus, a PDP com­ $2. he suggested as an alternative member that the pride of wear­ which are seeded. The way in puter. llWe are prepared to oiTer, as a neat heraldic device to be ing such emblems is something which a clear air thermal (the The plane is maintained and Cl pril_e for the best design, a stitched on to mv knickers. that has to be earned and not precursor of a cumulus cloud) operated by East-West Airlines under a contract to CSIRO. sheepskin and suggest that Co­ "Yours faithfully, something that is lowered in mixes with its environment is resea rch may be prepared to value la et degree where it could likely to resemble in many The DC3 is nearing the end organize a competition and (Ms) Doris M. E. Leadbetter." bear a 'Coles' labell ways the mixing between a of its useful lifetime for this jud~ing. cloud and its surroundings research. In fact plans are under arrange Presumably " 'Untied', Printing Unit. the chosen lie should be sub­ though it wilL be a simpler pro­ way to procure a new aircraft mitted to the Executive [or ap­ "Sir, (Name and address supplied.) cess since evaporation and con­ for this work. Although the proval. if it is to he identified "The letter in Coresearch 166, "P.s.-I may be doing the densation are no! involved. The DC3 can fulfil one of the prin­ with the Organization. allributed to 'Tied Up', Printing writer an injustice - the letter expedition to Deniliquin is cipal requirements for cloud Unit, is surely a classic example aimed at obtaining measure­ physics research, namely fly re­ "Yours faithrully, may have been in a humorous of the Public Servants' long in­ vein -I searched for the ments relevant to the mixing latively slowly, it is too slow in .I. H. G. Watsoll, herited reputation of being a humour but it escaped me and of thermals with their sur­ its rate of climb to make quick Hon. Secrctary." class above everyone else in therefore I concluded he was roundings. contact with clouds that interest I he work-force. serious!" "Very sensitive high powered the scientists and it is rather "I have no doubt that sec­ radar sets obtain echoes from overlooded when operating wilh "Dear Sir, tions of the Organization may I'Dear Sir, clear air thermals which in plan its full load of instruments so "Coresearch J66 provided yet well claim to be likened to (Re 'Definition' view appear as ring-shaped pat­ that the range is reduced. another example of the male 'other superior organizations', Coresearch 165.) terns of a kilometre or so in dia­ The Division is interested in chauvinism prevailing in the but for any member of the meter. The radar 'sees' turbulent acquiring a Fokker Friendship CSIRO when il published the Printing Unit to suggest that a "Mixing your units as well as your drinks? 1 oz/7800 gal gin fluctuations in the refractive in­ which it may hire or buy in the leller from Mr 'Tied Up' of the distinctive tic be worn to high­ dex of the air of scale half the next few years. It will be a pity Printing Unit, advocating the light one's association with the perhaps, but I n oz/6250 gal. "And while you're at it, speed wavelength of the radio fre­ to see Romeo Romeo Alpha go production or Inld school tics' CSIRO, is clearly a case of the quency employed which is com­ as it has sentimental attach­ ror CSlR0 stall'. writer wi,shing to bask in the of light = 1.7515 x 1012f.P (rurlongs per fortnight). monly 10 cm. The ring-shaped men!s for all those who have "Apart from the ostenlatious rcl1cclcd glory of the more dis­ pallerns are observed at the top used it and all those who appre­ vulgarity of the whole idea, Mr tingLdshcd members of the Or· "John Corbett, Animal of the thermals and not usually ciate what a magnificent aero­ 'Tied Up' quite overlooks the ganization. Physiology, Armidale." lower down and we think that plane the DC3 is.

167-1973 MUCKING-IN RRU AT DENI Far from the ivory tower, these members of the Division of Chemical Engineering are taking the results of years of research on Recently 'Coresearch' visited the Rangelands Research Unit Laboratory mathematical modelling, to examine the performance of a mill in at Deniliquil1, Work ranging from botanical and genetic studies of both practice. These shots were taken of Dr D. F. Kelsall's team of Diagnostic native and introduced plants to the grazing management of sheep, cattle Metallurgists in action in the field at a tin processing plant. This work entails an extremely thorough evaluation of mill per­ and goats is under way there. [onnance la point up arcas wilh potential for improvement. N.one of the operations pictured here are unusual in mineral pro­ Jim Noble is intercsCcc1, amongst other things, in a plant with between bird and plant. At this cesslllg plants, but ca.rcrul accurate sampling of stream flows over time of the year the emus seem a number of unusual charncferisfics. It is a native 1.lant called an ,exten.ded pcr~od o[ up to eight hours is the first step in the long 10 spend a good deal of time Nitre IJush Of Dillon nush (Nil1Ylria bU1Cl1'lliet'i) and occurs over SCI Les oj operatIOns to evaluate plant performance. Few mineral eating DiJlon Bnsh or rather a wide arc:! of arid nnd semiRurid country in southern Australia. pl'oc.cssing plal,Hs have suIncient sta.IT availa.hle for such a long and its succulent fruit. Although in lightly gl'1lzcd pastures, it is a rathel· insignHicant tletulled smnplIng programme so thiS work IS performed at Jeast in species wiCh grcyMgrccll (cuves and a tough sl'cm, when heavy part, by the Diagnostic team, ' grazing removes the competition or plenty of Wafel" is llllplied it Goat Study Brows in'o a magnificent plonf up to 15 feet high and twenty to Allan Wilson. also of the thirty feet in dimnctcr. Rangelands Laboratory at Deni­ liquin, was attending a confer­ DiHon Bush also occurs in Dillon Bush, which has both Russia, North Africa and male and female plants, pro­ ence when people started impli­ China, From studies of fossil duces an attractive crop of cating goats in the formation of the desert regions of the world, pollen records, Russian scien­ either yellow or dark red ber­ tists believe Lhat this bush is ries. These have a salty/sweet apparently based on hearsay. part of an ancient biological taste when they are ri pe and are AlIan has spent a number of link with the 'super-continent' very high in sodium chloride as years looking at the grazing of Gond\vunaland. are many plants of this area. habits of sheep and latterly of One of the features of the When Jim tried to germinate cattle in the semi-arid areas of bush that seem to indicate its the hard seeds from the plant he Lhe Riverina and thought thaL survival from a long-gone cli- met Iittle success, After hearing it would be profit,\ble to look a[ the legendary eating prowess of goats, particularly the feral goals, or the arid zone. In western New South Wales and northern South Australia there are very large populations of wild goats. These are occa­ sionally harvested and used in either pet food or exported canned. In certain areas of western New South Wales there bas been large-scale regrowth of low scrub probably due to the re~ moval of rabbits and tbe good veal'S of the middle fifties. In faeL this scrub growth has been so vigorous in some areas that it is blamed by graziers for reduc­ ing the carrying capacity of domestic stock to such a point that it is uneconomical to graze the area and they have walked olT the properties. Allan Wilsoll is interested in seeing if the wild goat popula­ tion might be an en'eclive way of coping with the regrowLh problem and at the same time providing income from the goat meat. ABOVE: A bank of pressure filters is used. From I.ft, Mr B. As part of his research he is Povey (Renison Ltd), Mr Stan Hudson and Or Phil Stewart of the studying what pasture grasses Chemacal Engineering team. and shrubs are eaten and pre­ mate is its peculiar winter de­ from local graziers that emus ferred by goats. One of the ciduous habit. Dillon Bush were fond of the berries he then stranger preferences that they loses its leaves for about six: tried germinating seeds col­ seem to have is a marked pre­ weeks in mid~winter around lected from emu droppings. dilection for mistletoe which Deniliquin which is unusual in This resulted in an amazing 70 they get by standing on their a winter rainfall area such as per cent germination and points hind legs and browsing from that part of the world now is. to an interesting relationship the low trees.

using fabrics instead of single fibres and we find that as the single fibre properties change, A WRINKLY the fabric properties change al­ most identically." Speaking about the 'ageing' PROBLEM process, and the resistance to wrinkling this imparts, Dr Den­ by said: l

167-1973 For SIHOVILLA a SIHOFAIH The Division of Textile Industry Social Club was formed in 1962 and has always been active in raising money for charitable and benevolent purposes. Up to 1970 some $4700 had been raised nnd disbursed in various ways and about that time some members of the Club suggested that the scale of funds was sucb as to make possible a specific project of some signi­ ficance. It was finally decided to spon­ sor an Elderly People's Homes Society, and at a public meeting on 21st February 1972 a So­ ciety, subsequently named SI­ ROVILLA, was formed. The Division's Social Club is the mainspring of the Society and most members of the Division are enthusiastic supporters. In fact, there are already more than 20 'Life Governors'-a title indicating a donation of at Award Winner least $40. The highlight of the staff Christmas luncheon at the Division There has been great interest of Textile Physics is by tradition the annual merit award ceremony, and good support throughout which starts each year about the middle of the sweet course. A the Geelong district thereby spokesman gives a brief description of the award and at the end enhancing the already good of each announces the winner, who then comes forward amid name of CSIRO in the area. acclamation to receive it. There is a putative donor of each award, In less than 12 months, more some of which are quite elaborate. One of the major awards is a than $2600 has been raised by silver nymph holding up a tray on which lies a dark coloured dry the Society while the Social mass resembling an unsuccessful attempt at cake-making. This Club has over $5000 in hand. It particular award is made to the year's best bull artist, and was is hoped that land can be pur­ given this year to a new member of the experimental workshops chased soon, preferably near the staff, Bill Downey (pictured above). Division in order to encourage The most important presentation is one given on the recom~ involvement of staff members. Ms Helen Barry (above) of mendation of the Chief. This is a handsome silver cup and is the Division of Building Re .. therefore not lightly awarded. It is for the man or woman in any Subject to certain conditions, BENEVOLENT avail~ search, launches her plane in part of the Division who demonstrates during the year a high a government subsidy is FUND the paper plane competition standard of devotion to duty. As is so often the case, no suitable able and it is hoped to held by the Division. Over BO candidate could be found this Christmas. commence building withiu 12 planes were entered in the two -John Plait months. The first meeting of the Gen­ classes, distance travelled, and eral Committee of the New The Social Club is busy ar­ time in the air. South Wales Fund was held in Sarry Schafer, appropriately ranging a large fair (SIRO­ the Hicks Room, Division of FAIR) to be held in the grounds of the Structures Lab won the Food Research, North Ryde, distance travelled event. The SAFETY NOTES of the Division on Saturday, on 30th November 1972. The 3rd March, from 11.00 a.m. to Committee comprises rep.resen~ time in the air event was won 4.00 p.m. by Eric Brown of the Electri­ Trolley for Gas Bottles tafives from the eleven groups cian's Shop, with an ingeniously With daylight saving it is an already formed-the twelfth A trolley for the safe storage and transport of cylinders of com­ designed helicopter-type of pressed gas has been developed by one of our Divisions (Pictured idcal opportunity for people and final group should be plane that caught a thermal from the Melbourne Divisions formed shortly. below) It enables research sta[f to change over bottles from a and rose instead of descending. small storage area with the minimum of time and maximum of to have a day at the seaside and Former President of the So­ call in at the fair on the way The General Committee elect­ safety. ed the Executive for the ensuing cial Club at DBR, Bob Cooper, The problem of having a number of bottles in a laboratory is for lunch and a bit of fun and said that if there was enough to support SIROVILLA. year with M. J. Puttock (NSL) overcome because of the ease of transport from one project to as President and Mr A. Fogerty interest they would be prepared another and there is no necessity to have set positions where per­ There will be food galore, all (Food Research) as Secretary. to organise an inter-Divisional manent attachment is made to bench or wall. sorts of stalls, entertainment contest of this highly skilful The design of the trolley enables gas bottles of all sizes to be (pop bands, Wool Board fash­ The first Annual General sport. tilted only before being pushed on to the platfarm; a car safety ion parade, judo display, vin­ Meeting of the Fund then fol­ Photo by Peter Lee belt then holds the bottles back into veed plates so that at.4 m.p.h. tage cars), games for young and lowed and, although full mem­ a sudden stop caused by an obstruction at the castol's will not tip old (golf, archery, children's bership details were not avail­ the bottle and trolley over. train, giant baIloons, etc.) and able, it was obvious that there Ms Rosslyn Bott, (below) of Positive positioning in a laboratory is by means of built-in two monster ralIles. Would any­ had been a good response in the Division of Mathematical brakes on two af the castors o[ the trolley. one willing to buy or sell lickets all groups. Thanks to the good­ Statistics, receiving the Ladies Detailed drawings of the trolley are available from Mr T. F. Wig­ in the hlUer )t}case contact will of the members of the Trophy for the 1972 BP 1000 nan, Divisional Engineer, Division of Chemical Physics. Geoff Watsol1 at CSIRO, Gee­ original four funds in New Hills Rally. The rally is held long. South Wales, the new Fund is around Adelaide. Ms Bott is J. W. Hallam, Safety Omccr. beginning its career with a pictured receiving her prize credit in excess of $IO,OOO-a from the State Manager of BP, Printed by CSIRO, Melbourne very sound start indeed! Mr J. A. Roberts.

167-1973 168##1973

For circulation among members aIGS/RO staff

May 1973 Land Research Reorganized A major reorganization of research for Australia's land resource utilization has taken place. Following a detailed review initiated last year, the Execntive decided to establish a gronp of three rescarch Divisions as the Land Resources Laboratorics. These laboratories will co-ordinate and intensify research programmes for the definition, evalua­ tion and cfficient management of Australia's land resonrees. The new groUI) will comprise the New South Wales south a Division of I..und Use Rc~ coast being carricd out by scnrch, Division of Land ne­ CSIRO in collaboration with sOUl'ces Mallugemcnt mul H the New South Wales Depart­ Division of Soils. ment of Environment for in· stance, would receive increasing The Division of Land Use attention and CSIRO would also Research, comprising major continue its involvement in re· segments of the former Divi­ search on the managcment of sion of Land Research includ­ land where ecological balance ing the Rangelands Research had been unduly disturbed by and Woodland Ecology Units, man. will be based in Canberra. Its roles will be to survey land Effects resources, assess their poten­ The ramifications of this tial and develop new research reorganization of CSIRO re­ techniques. search will affect other Divi­ The Division of Land Re­ sions. sources Management, an en­ The Land Resources Labora­ tirely new Division formed tories will relinquish the crop from those seclions of the Divi­ F.R.S. FOR ASTRONOMER research work of the former sion of Soils and the Divis,ion Division of Land Research. Mr John Bolton of the Division of Radiophysics has had~~~~le of Plant Industry in Western This work, carried out at Australia, will be based in several regional stations, w.ill be­ honours conferredupon him. He has been elected a Fellow of the'j~p'yal Perth. It will have the respon­ transferred progressively to sibility of developing manage­ other Divisions currently en­ Society, London, and has also been elected to the Honorary Fellow f ment techniques for achieving gaged in crop research. the Indian Academy of Science, optimum productivity consistent An immediate change has with conservation of the re­ been the transfer of the Kathe- Mr Bolton's election to Similarly, his election to the veys of radio sources and source. It will also study en­ rine Research Station, Northern thc Royal Society comcs as Indi,," Ilrganiz"tioll is in re- general Milky Way radiation vironmental implications of Territory, and the Tobacco Re- -f f h- t - cognition of his ~dis(inguishcd were proceeding with this in- changes in land use. search Institute at Mareeba, recogl1llOn 0 IS conl'l- CHlltrihlltioll to science'. strument, he led his men jn a The third in the new group North Queensland, to the Divi- bution to radio and optical lunch-hour occupation' pr dig- will be the Division of Soils. It sion of Tropical Pastures. This astronomy, particularly the John Bolton joined the CSIR ging a large hole in the.'~and- will continue to be based in Division, with its headquarters development of instl'llmcnts Division of Radiophysics in hill cliffs. An SO-foot diameter Adelaide as at present and will in Brisbane, has been renamed 1946 and worked at the Dover radio telescope was builtJtl ;this continue its studies of soils, in­ the Division of Tropical Agro- and the olltieal idcntifiea- Heights Field Station with the and in 1953 he and hi~,.'col- cluding their management for nomy. sea interferometer. While sur- leagues identified the .gaJl~9tic , tion of radio sonrces. j nucleus with the source of crop, pasture and forest pro­ duction as well as other efTccts Sagittarius A. of man's activities on soils. That same year he; iC'ttans­ Co-ordination of the work fen·ed to the Cloud 'P/!ysics of these three Divisions as the Better Communication Vital Section to extensively redrg'anize Land Resources Laboratories will be achieved through a com­ Communication is becoming one of the major problems facing the human race-and methods of research. ,In '1955 miltee of their Chiefs, the this is in spite of better edncation, vastly improved techniques of communications, he was appointed Professor of chairmanship being held ini­ Astronomy and Physics· at the tially by Or E. G. Hallsworth, television and othcr media. Californian Institute oEc,Tech­ Chief of the Division of Soils. nology and established the what impact jt has on the well­ The instances when The Chief of the former Divi­ This opinion wns expressed ployces. being of the country. the Organization failed 10 Owens Valley Observatory of sion of Land Research, Mr G. by the Chairman, Dr J. R. 'Only by knowing what effective communica­ which he was the first Director. A. Stewart, has been appointcd Price, at " recent CSIHO Com­ achieve CSIRO has achieved can the tion with an individnal' on mat­ While there John Bolton gave a Officer-in-Charge of a new unit, munication Symposium held in nation have confidence let·s of importance to the person great impetus ta American the Agro-industrial Research in aliI' Conberru. ability to tackle the ever-arising concerned occurred all too Unit, which will work on cer­ fre­ radio astronomy at a time when quently. tain aspects of the industrial use He was speaking to more and more difficult problems etIorts there seemed to be of plant materinIs. than 70 staff officers represent­ that have to be met and over­ Dr Price spoke of the import­ flagging. ing 32 Divisions, in residence come. ance of the communication link Reasons for changes at the Australian National Uni­ 'Put in a less altruistic way,' belween him and the Minister He returned to the Radio­ versity. Dr Price said, 'it must be re­ for Science. It was essential, physics Division in 1961 to be­ Commenting on the changes, membered that politicians reM he said, that the Minister should come Director of the Australian the Minister for Science, Mr CSIRO had to recognize the responsibility it had to keep act to public pressure and that understand what CSIRO was National Radio Astronomical W. L. MOITison, said that the public pressure concerning doing and why, and that he Observatory at Parkes. He has reorganization had been brought the community as a whole in­ formed about its activities, Dr CSIRO may be stronAly in­ supported these activities. EQU­ achieved considerable success in about by increasing competi­ fluenced by the elTectiveness of ally, it was essential that the tion for land and growing con­ Price said. It had to know how the research field there, extend­ the Organization used the re­ our public relations.' Organization should know the cern over environmental prob­ If CSIRO were to operate views of both the Minister and ing his work to the discovery lems. The Government had ex­ sources which were made avail­ and identification of radio able to it. effectively, in terms of the the Government on CSIRO pressed its concern for scicnWlc Science and Industry Research activities and on the national sources, particularly quasars. research to be relevant to man's This might be described as a Act, there also had la be good needs which they considered He uses both the radio facili­ total needs and there was equal public relalions exercise which inlernal communication be­ CSIRO should try to mcet. ties at Park.es and the optical concern for the eITecls of man's would influence and, hopefully, tween its numerous operating There was the responsibility telescopes at Lick, Palomar, activities on his environment improve the Organization's re­ Mt units, between individual Divi­ with which CSIRO was charAed Mt Stromlo and Siding Spring It was expected that the tech­ lations with people outside. sions and Head om cc, he said. to ensure its research results Mountain in this work. niques of land resources assess­ 'The day has passed when it This should not be limited to were made use of and that its ment and management deve­ could be claimed that every ad­ mean between geogranhically discoveries were put into prac­ From July 1969 John Bolton loped as a resuft of the new ditional dollar we received had separated groups. It called for tice. This called for communi M also led the Apollo Mission's research programmes would to go towards supporting more a two-way flow of information cation between the Organiza­ support at Parkes. help to guide government and research', Dr. Price said. 'We within each group. lion and primary and secondary private agencies concerned with must recopnizc that to be viable The problem of internal COlll­ industry. And again, it was es­ the impact of man-made changes and effective we have to ensure munication also called for sential that this was a two-way Above: John Bolton (Jeft) with on the environment. that as many Australians as understanding between the ab­ exchange since it was vHal for the Chief of tha Division, Dr Projects such as the study of possible know what CSIRO is stract entity - the Organiza­ CSIRO to know the needs of Paul Wild, at Parka. during the land resources of an area of doing, why we are doing it and tion - and the individual em- industry, Dr Price said. Apollo 15 mission. Staff Offered OBITUARIES Special Rates SAFETY NOTES Dt' E. A. Cornish On arrival in Australia he joined the Snowy Mountains For Book Dr E. A. Cornish, Chief of Hydro-electric Authority where To those who cannibalize the Division of Mathematical he worked for seven years as a Stall' members of CSIRO Stiitislics, died on 31 January. pctroiogist and Ollicer-in­ may order copies of the book Some laboratory apparatus from overseas is designed for Charge of the Geological Labo­ The World a/l(i South East Asia use 011 110 volts aud adal,ted for 240 volts hy buildiug in a Or Cornish graduated in agri­ ratory within the Authority's (Oswald Ziegler Enterprises sfep~down transformer. Often useful C(luil)lnen~, such as cultural science from the Uniw Scientific Services Division. Ply Lld) at the spccial conces­ motor~drivcn pumps and fans, can be salvaged from surplus vel'sity of Melbourne in 1931 sion rates of $7.95 (prestige npparatus of tbis tYlle and used elsewltere. and. was appointed us an agro­ He joined the Division of A~ri­ edition) and $4.95 (popular But-a word of warning to those contemplating doing this. stologist at the Waite Applied Geomechanics in 1960. ediliou). ~llllUral Research Institute 'in Understandably 110 volt equipment would not react kindly Adelaide. His work in CSIRO covered The oiler has been made by to being plugged in directly to a 240 volt supply. Motors the developing discipline of the publishers who say that could dangerously overspeed and other components faiL Irt 1937 he went to England quantitative description of the although CSIRO is not speci­ Staff in one Division had a shattering experience when a to study and work under Sir fabric of soils (and laler rocks). fically mentioned in the book, motor failed from this cause. RunRld Fisher at the University Arising from his studies in many of the features in it have To avoid this happening, a double wound, step-down College, London. He returned these lields, he published 16 a direct or indirect association transformer should be permanently wired to the equipment, to Australia the following year papers and became a widely ac­ with the interests of CSIRO or, where a 110 volt supply is available, a plug and socket and Was appointed statistician ceptcd authority on this subject. stall. connection designed for this voltage should be used. The at the Waite. The book, which was pro­ plug has two round pins and one nat one and cannot be He joined CSIR in 1941 as His task - of providing a duced with the co-operation of eccidentally inscrted into a standard 240 volt outlet. Sehim' Research Ollicer of the quantitative description of soil government departments and nlOnietries Section in Mel­ and rock fabric for engineering both government and private Your Agony - Our Solution bOtll'tie. In 1944 the Section use - was still incomplete at organizations throughout the becahle the Section of Mathe­ his death. However, his meti­ region, is profusely illustrated, New topics are wanted for Safety Notes. How about trillticai Statistics and trans­ culous records of observations mostly in colour. It also con­ letting us know of your safety problems, at work or at home, ftiJ'i'ed to Adelaide. remain as does the inspiration tains a good selection of maps. or ways you have overcome them. A selection of those of which his attitude to research general interest will be published, with our advice and inspircd' in his coUea~ues. The conlents of the two edi­ comments, tions is identical but the cover of the popular edition is a semi­ No prizes for the best and neatest entry, "but we would stiff one with a transparent like to heur from you. plastic over-cover. -GiI Barnes, Safety Officer. It is suggested that secre­ taries of social clubs might ...... •..•.... DOCTORATES organize bulk orders. Postage varies from State to State. In Two more members of New South Wales it is 55c; Letters to the Editor CSIRO have had the de~rec of Vietoria, Queensland 65c; South Sir, Ph.D. conferred upon them. Australia, Northern Territory, As Coresearch has now dis­ Libber and feel the need for a TI,ey are Mr J. T. Bulliv..i! of Tasmania, Paplla New Guinea continued the use of the titles plural substitute for Misses the Head om cc stall section 75e and' Western Australia 'Miss and Mrs' in favour of (pronounced Missies) or Mes­ and Mr G. A. Roclgraduate of the Geology School years at the laboratories. sailing boat. A few months later, Dorothy of the University of Amstcr­ plies and instruments to a headed fo,' a dillerent climate meteorological tower soon to Lconard Deacon inter­ dam. His activities in Europe is Above: A dry run for the and spent a year working for ranged from geological map­ be erected in Port Phillip Bay. nationally known fol' his re­ the Administration in Pa1Jua ping in Northern Sweden to The boat was drawn up on search work in evaporation, Leonard Deacon • •, from left: New Guinea. She came to Aus­ petrological studies in granites the grass of the instrument solar radiation (sunshine) and Dr Priestl-eYI Mrs Priestley, Mr India in 1970 and has been and basalis in Western Ger­ area. at the rear of the labora­ atmospheric turbulence (the Jim Stevenson, the boat's skip­ working as a journalist for the many. tories in Station Street where means by which heat and water per, and Leonard Deacon, Commonwealth Public Service.

168-1973 NOVEL MENU FOR DUKE'S LUNCHEON The fine food and wine served to the Duke of Edinburgh at a CSIRO luncheon during his visit to Canberra was not just ordinary Australian­ gl'Own produce. It came from closer to home - most of it was produced as part of recent research programmes carried out in the' Divisions of Animal Physiology and Food and HOl'ticultural Research. The lunch was hosted by while Muscat Hamburg is a tables was also made from milk black grape with an attractive high in polyunsaturated fats. the Executive and guests spicy muscat flavour. llalia included seuior officers of was produced in Rome about Two varieties of apples were the Organization concerned 60 yea rs ago and is now grown offered to lhe Duke. One was successfully in many countries, the Cox, the premier eating with conservation and en­ including several in the tropics. variety of Europe which grows vironmental research. Prince MH 12-81 was produced at exceptionaUy well in Tasmania Philip was present in his Merbein only a few years ago and Is widely exportcd. The and is still under test. Both luncheon ones came from the capacity as President of the have inherited the fresh texture Tasmanian Department of Agri­ Australian Conservation of one parent and some degree culture's Huon Research Sta­ o( lllllscat flavour from the tion. Fouudatiou. olher. The second variety was the The fillet stellk WllS cut fmm Among the dried vine fruits Granny Smith which has be­ an 18~months~old Friesian steer on lhe tables was Shirana 19, come Australia's premier export raised at the l'rOSIJCct Labora­ a new raisin grape varieLy bred variety. This apple has a tory of the Division of Anillllll at Merbein as a replacement 'chancey' history. It seems that for the currant. It is an carly its story started in 1868 when Physiology, Sydney. For the maturing seedless variety with Mrs Smith found. a few ~reen IJrcviolls six to eight weeks, tbe a small black berry and a lough Tasmanian apples in fhe bottom beust was given a feed SU))llIe­ skin. Unlike the currant, the of a gin case she brou~ht home ment based on sunflower seeds. ripe fruit is not split by rain. from the Sydney market. She The meat contained about 10 tipped the fruit into the creek From Merbein, too. came times lhc normal amount of Macadamia nuts and· pistachios. next to her orchard at Ryde, but subsequenlly an apple tree IJolyunsafuratcd fats. Most of the commercial Maca­ damia nuts are produced in grew and fruited on the bank. The Division of Hortieultural Hawaii, but they are now being The apple was appreciated and Research provided the wines frorn then on has been grown grown successfully by CSIRO for the occasion. It is making under irrigation at Merbein and developed to the crisp, small experimental botlles of rather tangy fruit that it is where the dry inland climate today. wine at its research station at appears to reduce the problem Merbein, Victoria, to lest the of disease. wine-making properties of in­ troduced varieties of grapes and The pistachio, which ori­ of the many hybrids they pro­ ginated in Asia. could find a duce in their vine-breeding l'ro~ new ecological niche in Aus­ RETIREMENTS gramme. The Division is also tralia. Unlike other crops. it investigating whether there is likes windy situations, extreme When three members of the any diHerence in quality between slimmer heals. and poor soil. Central Library and Informa­ wine produced from mechani­ It also tolerates quite high tion Service in Melbourne ­ cally-harvested grapes and that levels of salt. At present the Jeanette Dunstone, Eva Lucas produced from hand-harvested only pistachio orchard in the and Marjorie Simpson - left fruit. country is on the Merbein the Organization earlier this New Vessel Launched station. year they bad totalled up Table grapes offered to among them more than 61 years Prince Philip included Italia and The cheese came from the of service. Merbein seedling MH 12-81, Dairy Research Laboratory of Ms DUllstone joined CSIRO For Prawn Research two varieties which have the the Division of Food Research same parent, Bicane and Mus­ in Melbourne which supplied in 194 t and for the greater cat Hamburg. Bicane is a white some of its Cheedam va riety, a part of her lime on the staff CSIRO's new l'esearch vessel, Kalinda, which was table grape with a neutral taste l)l:-lme given to it because, of its played an important role in the launched at Brisbane in March, is to take pad in a prawn and exceHent fresh texture, distinclive taste which is some­ development of information research pl'ogramme, operating from the Fisheries Re­ where between that of cheddar services. Her particular con­ tributions included the compila­ search Station at Deception Bay, Queensland. Below: The Chairman of the and edam. The cheese is pre­ pared from the milk of cows tion and maintenance of the Executive, Dr R. Price, with J. .fed on a polyunsaturated feed index to all the Or~anization's This will involve llll Investi­ Dr Peter Young is the projeet the Duke of Edinburgh at the supplement at the Dairy Cattle published works, to~ether with galion of the scienlific l>rob­ leader. luncheon in Canberra. Holding Research Station of the Vic­ its associated collection of pub­ (ems associated with the ]uuwn The K"find" is a 70-foot the door is Mr S. Smith from torian Department of Agricul­ lications, and the comDilation fishery in the off-shore llrellS double-rigged prawn trawler Head Office. ture. The cheese dip on the and editing of the monthly pab­ outside MOI'eton Bay. A sludy built by B. J. and B. P. Thomp­ lication, CSIRO Abstracts. of the oceanogralJhic environ­ son Pty Ud with funds pro­ menl of the l>rllwn stocks will vided from the Fisheries De­ She was also responsible for velopment Trust Account. Of the development and oneration be madc, their distribution and wooden construction and built of a referral service which now their migrations will be inves.i~ to a design by Mill Kraft Boat handles some 6500 phone and gafcd am] information will be Yard Pty Ltd under the super­ written enquiries from public gathered on their spawning and vision of the then Department and private sources each year. 011 the movements of young nf Shipping and Transport, the vessel is powered by a 260 h.p. Associated with this activity, prawns back into the nursery areas of Morcton Buy. Rolls Royce C6TFLM marine Ms Dunslone built up a The­ diesel. It has a top speed of saurus of more than 30,000 The project is a joint onc lOt knots. subject terms covering all as­ between the Queensland De­ It is equipped with modern pects o( the OrAunization's re­ partment of Primary Industries radar. sonar, automatic pilot search programme. and the Division of Fisheries and radio, both a trawl winch and Oceanography. CSIRO's Ms Lnclls who joined CSIRO and a try net winch and has a as Cl stenographer in 1956 was freezer capacity of 25 cubic not as widely known as Ms feet. Dunstonc, but her initials are Sirofair At the launchin~ ceremony, familiar to those receiving let­ the vessel was given its Abori­ ters from Mr Lewis Lewis, a About $3000 was raised by ginal name ~ a word meaning member of the Executive, to the SOCial club of the Division the sea - by Mrs K. Radway whom she was secretary for of Textile Industry when it Alien, wife of the Chief of the many years. held its 'Sirofair' at Geelong in Fisheries Division. March. After the transfer of Head The money will go towards Omce to Canberra, she re­ the club's community service Above: The new rasearcl, mained in Melbourne to pro­ project, the buildinR of 'Siro­ vessel, Kalinda, leaves for the vide secretarial assistance both villa" a proposed complex of prawn fishery outside Moreton mem~ Bay. . to Mr Lewis and to other houses for elderly people. With bel'S of the Executive. $11,000 now in hand, the ven­ (Courtesy 'Drisbane Courier Mail') Ms Simpsol1, who also ture is eligible for Rovernment joined the Organization in 1956, subsidy. Negotiations are al­ was for many years personal ready in progress for land near ' Apprentice Award secretary to Mr Waiter Ives, a the Division s headquarters and member of the Executive, and it is hoped that construction [{ell Fisher, apprentice pain­ will start this year. The club ler of the Division of Textile in latter years was secretary to waitin~ the Chief Librarian, Ms Betty already has a list of Industry, has been awarded the Doubleday. potential tenants. Certilieate of Merit of the ~Sirofair' was well supported Master Painters, Decorators Presentations were made to by staff and outsiders. About und Sign Writers Association the women by Mr L. G. Wilson, 5000 people attended and nearly of Victoria. The award came Secretary (Administration). on 400 helpers were involved, (or Ken in recognition of his behalf of the staff of Head many of whom were volunteers gaining highest marks in all Omce, both in Canberra and from local service groups and trade subjects for first year ap­ Melbourne. other organizations. prentices in the State last year.

168-1973 Medal The 1973 Mcdal of the Aus­ New Aircraft Landing tralian Institute of Agricultural Science has been awarded to Dr C. H. Williml1s, senior principal research scientist with System Devised the Division of Plant Induslry in Canberra. The deyelopment by Aus­ wave landing system under Dr Williams has been cre­ tralia of a highly advanced operational conditions. dited with the first chemical aircraft landing system will Interscan is based on an an­ study in Australia of the soil tenna of novcl design invented factors involved in the fertility be bronght a step closer by lhe Division of Radio­ changes that take place in the with the start of Stage 2 of physics. DCA is providing es­ soil through the combination of a major research project by sential technical information superphosphate and subter­ CSIRO working in colla­ and is evaluating all aspects of ranean clover. boration with the Depart­ the projecl. The stage has now The citation for his awa rd been reached where it could be says that by demonstrating the ment of Civil Aviation. made and inslalled for tcsting importance of studying the The new systcm provides under operational conditions. chemical and bioloAical factors curved flight paths und n The present system in use is involved in the interaction be­ varicly of 31)1>fOach angles the very high frequency (VHF) tween soils and fertilizers, Dr which will greuUy incrcasc air~ instrument landing aid. In Williams had lstimuJated a new, port utilization and improve operation since the 1940 s, it is important and widely accepted noise abatement Jlrocedurcs. It limiled to providing landing approach to soil ferlility re­ will he submitted to Ihe Inler­ guidance along a single straight search in Australia'. nalional Civil Aviation Organi­ approach palh aligned with the zation (ICAO) for consideration centre of a runway and at a Professor for world usc. fixed approach angle. Because The latest part of the pro­ of technological advances with Or H. R. C. I'ratt, formerly ject, called Intcrscan, involyes aircraft and increasing traffic Chief of lhe Division of Chemi­ designing, fabricating, installIng densities, it is believed that cal Engineering, has been ap­ and testing a complete mtcro- VHF will not be able to cope pointed Visiting Professor in with the needs of the 1980 s the Department of Chemical and beyond. Engineering at the University of Royal Society lCAO therefore eslablished Melbourne. The Royal Society of Tas­ requirements for a new, more mania has elected a woman to versatile approach and guid­ the olTIce of senior vice-presi­ ance system to meet the de­ Associate dent for lhe first time. mands of civil aviation for lip Dc J. V. I'ossillglunn, Chief She is Dr June Olley who to the next 30 years. This of the Division of Horticultoral is Officer-in-CharAe at CSIRO's wOlll d be phased in gradually Research, has been appointed Tasmanian Food Research Unit in the late 1970 s. an Honorary Associate in the in the Tasmanian Regional Both CSIRO and DCA are Department of Agronomy at Laboratory. confident their project will meet the University of Sydney. One of the projects of the Division of Building Research at She joins two other CSIRO the requirements and provide Highett,. Victoria, has been the production of a gypsum glass members on the Society's high performance at reasonable board. Basically this is a modern version of the old fibrous Council - Mr M, H. Bennelt, cost. It will also have charac­ plaster board with two layers: of glass .fibre being used in its Visitor Administrative Officer of the teristics important to Australian laboratory who was elected at aviation such as modular con­ production, one near each face. 'These act as a restraint to One of France's leading viti­ the same time, and Mr K. D. struction for easy expansion, cracking and, among other things, offer better fire protection. cultural research workers, Dr Nicholls who was already a simplicity, and ease of siting The new material has already been patented by CSIRO and Huglin, has been a guest of P. member of the executive. and maintenance. negotiations are under way with an application for its com~ the Division of Horticultural mercial manufacture. Elizabeth Watson demonstrates the Research in South Australia. strength of doubly reinforced gypsum glass board. Director of Vilicultural Re­ search at Colmar, Alsace, France, Dr Huglin has made WaU{ Against Want major research contributions in Credit Society Eligible LIBRARY TALK the field of vine physiology, Satisfied customers! We hope Ms .lean Conochie of the clonal selection, vine breeding and virus indexing. . there will be many more, when Central Library and Informa­ For Home Grants tion Service wants to thank the While he was in Australia, the Ccn'rnl Library and In­ many hundreds of CSIRO col­ Dr Huglin spent most of his formalion Services (CLlS) 'cur­ An application by the This means that depositors leagues who supported her in time discussing common viti­ who have entered into a con­ rent awareness' service bascd the Walk Against Wanl. Jcan cultural research interests with CSIRO Co-operatiye Credit tract to buy or build a home on CA CONDENSATES is of­ completed the marathon dis­ senior CSIRO scientists, parti­ Society to be registered as on or after this date may claim fered 10 all CSIRO ollieers and tance of 42 km and the tolal cularly Mr Allan AntclifI with an approved body whereby their deposits with lhe Society to outside organizations. of her contribution was $610. whom he had tal ks on the as lacceptable savings' if they latest trends in vine breeding persons saving with the Thirty-four Divisional moni­ The Director of Community have met the conditions of the and clonal selection, and Dr Society would be eligible for Home Savings Grant Scheme tors (research scicntists and Aid Abroad has asked Jean to Peter May who is concerned librarians) from all Slales and puss on sincere thanks to the Home Savings Grant, and arc applying for a grant. with bud fruitfulness and trellis The conditions are set out in the ACT were primed to help CSIRO supporlers. The in­ design. has been approved by the prospective users to understand come froll' the Walk will be an explanatory pamphlet en­ During his seven-week stay Commonwealth Department titled 'A Grant For Your and enter the system (Selective applied to carefullv selected de­ l Dissemination of Information-­ velopment projects where in Australia, Dr HUAlin visited of Housing. Home • Divisional Administra­ SDI) (Coresearch No 165, human needs remain as urgent the major viticultural areas. tive Officers will have copies His travels allowed him time of this for those who wish to December 1972) at the first as ever. According to a Socicty's re­ SDI Monilors Workshop held lo meet Department of AAri­ see it, but further copies and (Jean's thanks are not late. We culture research and extension port, 'his is decmcd to hove any other information may be in Melbourne recently. Co~ just missed u couple of issues of taken effect on and from 1 During the workshop a very research so couldn't puss the message workers and to discuss local obtained from the ReAional Officer of the Department of lively discussion was stimulated on curlier-Ed.) practices with them. Selllember 1971. by lhe enthusiastic, but oftcn Housing in the various States. very dissimilar, views of cur­ Interest rates for deposits rent users of lhe CA CON­ DENSATES service including The rates of interest cur­ Dr A. J. W. Moore (Division rently applicable to the four of Tribophysics), Mr W, Raper classes of investment with the Society are as follows: (Division of Chcmical En­ gineering), Dr J. Ward (Divi­ Class I- Amounts deposited sion of Mineral Chemistry) and by fortnightly deduction from Dr L. 't Mannetje (Division of salary ~ 6% p.a. Tropical Pastures). Class 2 - Fixed amounts de­ Judging from the encourag­ posited for 12 months or less ing Divisional monitor response, -6% p.a. the success of the workshop Class 3 - Fixed amounts de­ and the number of scientists posited for more than 12 who have now indicated that months ~ 6t% p.a. they would like lo becomc Class 4 - Fixed amounts de­ users, interest in current aware­ posited for more than 5 years ness services in CSIRO is -7%p.a. rapidly increasing. The Board is pleased to an­ INSPEC (lnslitulc of Elec­ nounce that Classes 3 and 4 trical Engi neers) and CA CON­ are now available for invest­ DENSATES (CHEMICAL ment. However, after a close ABSTRACTS SERVICE) be­ appraisal of trends in outside came available to CSIRO users investment rates, the Board has as from I January 1973. At decided to reduce the current present, outside organizations rates paid by the Sociely for can only subscribe to CA CON.. Classes 3 and 4 bv i%, the new DENSATES. Additional mag­ rates la be efIective from I netic tape services arc being June 1973. The new rates for investigated and further work­ these classes will then be 6j% shops will be arranged as new (Class 3) and G~% (Class 4) monitors come into the system. 'Zero population growth!' respectively. The rates for lun A. Crull1p, Cen'ral Classes 1 and 2 will remain un­ Courtesy -~ "The New Yorker" changed at 6% p.a. Library 1111(1 In[ormnHon Services. Printed by CSIRO, Melbourne

168-1973 169##1973

For circulation among members ofeSIRO staff

June 1973 TWO THOUSAND SEE DENILIQUIN LAB A balloon used as part of the equipment in low level aerial photography and flown at 370 feet above the Rangelands Research Unit at Denili· quin, New South Wales, proved an effective way of arousing interest in the Unit's first 'open days' at their laboratories. The event, staged during such as the anemometers set at varying heights to show the 4-5 May, was a successful speed and direction of the wind public relations exercise, above the vegetation. Staff giving the people of Denili­ were on hand to demonstrate the working of the automatic quin and the surrounding analysis of plant and soil area a chance to observe samples and to show how the atomic absorption flame spec~ some of the research pro­ trophotometer worked. grammes undertal.en by Considerable interest was CSIRO in their region. shown in the equipment with which the rates of photosyn­ About 900 adulls took the thesis and transpiration of o!,!,ortuuity to visit the labo...• leaves are measured, thus allow­ tory on the Saturday and 011 ing researchers to discover how the Friday 1160 school children the majority of the ran~elands were shown around. plants are able to survive in the harsh conditions under Visitors on the Saturday in­ which they have to exist. cluded the Federal Minister for One of the ways bv which Immigration and Member of management of the land can be Parliament for the Riverina, assessed is by the use of 'in­ Minister Briefs Press Mr A. J. Grassby, and Dr M. F. dicator' plants such as the Dil­ C. Day of the Executive. Two lon bush which may increase in chartered aircraft flew in from saltbush territorv once the land Canberra with staff members has been denuded bv over­ Skylab Mission from the Unit which was re­ On grazing. Staff explained the cently integrated with the new work being done on these Division of Land Use Research plants which Clts into the re­ Before the United States space laboratory, Skylab, was launched from as part of the Land Resources search being carried out on the Cape Kennedy on 15 May, the Minister for Science, Mr W. L. Morrison, Laboratories. prevention of severe degrada­ Following their tour, official tion of vegetation in the arid held a press conference in Sydney to brief journalists on Australia's visitors were entertained at an zone. informal luncheon at the home particular interests in the project. of the Officer·in-Charge, Dr One method of observing this Allan Wilson and his wife, vegetation and the changes in The conference was held used in analysing pictures • assessing land and water re· Christine. its growth rates is by low level at the Division of Miueral of the earth resources which sources Most of the people outside aerial photography, a method which in certain instances is Physics where journalists were obtained through o providing information for re­ the Organization had little idea search in oceanography and ERTS-A, the Earth Re­ of the extent of the Australian Cont'd 0/1 page 4 were able to see equipment geology. rangelands which, they were sources Technology Satel­ told. cover 2.2 million square • providing information which miles or nearly three-Quarters lite which orbited the earth could assist in the more rapid of the country. An apprecia­ last July, and to see what location of mineral deposits and potential oil-bearing tion of this fact and a com­ would be involved with the prehensive photographic dis­ struclures. play in the entrance hall gavc Skylab programme. Australia's participation in them an insight into the com­ At the time of going (0 press the programme was arranged plex issues which concern the with this issue of Corcscarch, under the United States/ Aus­ rangclands and the problems there we,'e still doubts as to the tralia agreement for Scienlific associated with both the ani­ and Technical Co-operation mals which graze on them and success 01 Skylab, but if the through ACERTS, the Aus­ their environment. project is continued it is hoped tralian Committee for Earth The need for research was that it will he able to provide Resources Technology and pinpointed by a static display a series of photographs of Aus­ Science. showing, for instance, that in tralia from a height of 270 The commitlee, which has 1880 these areas had carried miles above the gr{}ulld in COlU­ representatives from CSIRO 16 million sheep. By 1969 the porison with the heigbt of 517 and the Departments of number had dropped to nine miles at which }:RTS-A orbited Minerals and EnergYl Science, million. the earth. Supply, Army, Primary Indus­ The display showed how the try and the Northern Territory, Unit was investigating ways Four areas of the country were to be under the labora­ is under the chairmanship of • plants and animals survive Or N. H. Fisher of the Bureau tory's scrutiny - Mt ISfl l Alice and grow in arid climates Springs, Kalgoortie and Can~ of Mineral Resources. Dr • grazing and other land uses berra. Skylab was to make Fisher is also the principal in­ damage the soils and plants seven passes a day over Aus­ vestigator for Australia in the • meat and wool production tralia but data would be ob­ earth resources experiments which were seheduled to be can be improved while the tained only when mcteoro w condition of the rangelands is logical conditions were favour~ conducted by Skylab. maintained able. The laboratory was tn • and the problems of soil ero­ repeat its path over a given sion and the means of pre­ point about every five days. venting it. Above: Dr Mike Duggin, The pictmes which the labo­ Mineral Physics, d.emonstrates The Division of Wildlife Research had a Royal visitor last ratory was scheduled to take month - the Crown Prince of Japan, P"rince Akihito. to the Minister for Science, Equipment will be valuable in such area;;; Mr W. L. Morrison, an instru~ Dr H. J. Frith, Chief of the Division, outlined the programme as The Deniliquin laboratories ment for nlleasuring solar flux. of research to the Prince and discussed with him the problems • detecting air and water pol­ are well equipped with modern of wildlife conservation in Australia and Japan. Picture shows This is used in making ground scientific aids and much interest lution and environmental ef­ measurements to correlate with the Crown Prince looking at a young grey eastern kangaroo fects of urban development. was shown in displays. People held by Peter Flegg. In the centre is Dr H. J. Frith, Chief aerial and satellite data. were shown various methods of the Division. • detecting diseases of trees, (Photograph: Gordon Shrubb, of measuring climatic influences crops and pastures. Minerals Research Laboratories.) BLankets, bras and bedsores . .. Delegates For Solar Research Five officers from the Divi­ project for' CAA, the provision sions of Mechanical Engineer­ of a Persian wheel for the vil­ ing and Building Research will lage of Joramoh in lhe Indian attend the international con­ province of Bihar. The cost of gress on solar energy entitled the wheel will be $210. 'The Sun in the Service of Man­ Each check-point along the kind' in Paris next month. The route was manned by a CAA conference will bring tog,cthel' group which had on display an for the Hrst time the annual exhibit which showed what congresses of the two interna­ their particular project involved. tional associations specializing For the Division's display, the in research for the application Chief, John Downes, con­ of solar energy, the Interna­ struetcd a model of the wheel tional Solar EnerAV Society and which was then fowered the Mediterranean Co-operation through the efforts 0' Roger for Solar Energy. Foulds. It was seen in action The conference will link these providing water to Lt 'field' of two groups la the study work wheat which had been grown days regularly organized by for the occasion by Bob Haly. the French Association for the Research and DeveloDmcnt of Solar Energy. It will also be under the patronage of UNESCO which is concerned with the sun as a source of unpolluted energy MISS AUSTRALIA largely available in many under­ Naomi Green, a clerical as­ developed countries. sistant in the Sydney Regional The main topics of the con­ Administrative Office, is a can­ ference will include: didate in this year's Miss Aus­ • the sun and life tralia Quest.~ Naomi, who is • the sun and energy widely known throughout • the sun and housing, Participants will include scientists, engineers, architects, planners and other researchers who come from a wide range of disciplines such as doctors, agronomists and physicists who - THEy'RE ALL IN A DAY'S have a related interest in the subject. Thc congress hopes the !neet­ ing will result in an exchange WORK FOR TOM PRESSLEY of ideas and debates whicll will The phone rings in Dr Bacteria Linen Service and Group Laul1 M indicate where points of agree­ dry. 'Their next major issue ment may be reached. where Tom Pressley's office at the 'Many people believed the was of particular interest to me,' there will be opposing views Division of Protein Che­ bacteria would be found in the he said. 'One of the surgeons and where areas of uncertainty and lack of knowledge will in­ mistry at Parkville. 'Come fluff 011 the floor. I thought it had read in an American medi­ was more logical to at least cal journal that a hosoital in dicate the need for more re~ quickly. We have a prob­ start looking at bed level, but I Alabama had found the use of search. lem'. had to be sure. I think people sheepskin lUgs solved the bed CSIRO delegates will be: thought I was mad then. I sore problem. The trouble lay Division of Mechanical Engi­ lI's Thl' Roy,,1 MI'IbOUfllI' spent the next few days crawl­ in the difficulty in laundering neering - R. N. Morse, Chief, CSIRO through her association HospH"rs emltr,,1 Linen Ser­ ing round the floors in the them. W. Reed, P. 1. Cooper and B. with Laboratories Credit Union vice and aU the nurses' aprons wards gathering samples of the 'I was a sitting duck for that T. Davey; Division of Build­ Limited, is sponsored by the have turned blue illstCl1d of flulL I analysed the fibres and assignment because I was a ing Research-E. R. Ballantyne. expcriments showed that the Imperial Club, Blacktown, and whHI'. sheepskin tanner before I joined Mr F. Colman, photographer. fibres and the bacteria were CSIRO.' 'Wait till I've had my lunch,' moving in difIerent ways. This She recently took part in a says Tom, noling the time, and meant we could exonerate both Tom devised a laundry tech­ fashion parade held at the nique and latcr recommended hangs up. The phone rings wool and cotton from being the Wentworth Hotel and has again. pastel colours to overcome CAA TREK carrier.' staining problems. The first many fund - raising activities 'We can't wait until you've The hospital was still unsure medical sheepskins in Australia The Community Aid Abroad planned, had lunch. The matter's ur­ about its use of woollen blan­ were made under direction from Group from the Division of gent.' kets, however, unless they could CSIRO, but since then they Textile Physics recently took So Tom Prc,ssley rolls down be washed at a high tempera­ havc been made on a world­ part in a walk against want in his sleeve~, puts on his jacket tUfe. The shrinkMresistant ones wide basis. Sydney. Sponsored by CAA, and hcads for thc hospital laun­ they had when washcd came lhe trek started in Australia Honour dry. !t's a place he's familiar out brown after absorbing iron By a coincidence, however, Square, followed a 13-mile cir­ Dr D. F. Waterhollse, Chief with ... over the years he has and were as rough as emery the best product for medical cuitous route around Rose Bay of the Division of Entomology, spent a lot of time thcre and puper. purposes comes from a firm in and Vaucluse and finished at has been awarded lhe 1973 has conducted many experi­ Christchurch, New Zealand, the University of Sydney. Farrer Medal for his contribu­ To Tom this was just another from where Tom originally ments for them and solved a challenge. He worked out a The Division's team netted tions to a~ricultural research. lot of their troubles. comes. 'The rugs used in Vic­ $134.71 towards their particular The honour is in recognition of formula for a new detergent toria arc currently imported These have ranged from de­ and came up with the concept Dr Waterhouse's efforts which vising a way to wash woollen from Christchurch; they arc not Below: Roger Foulds explains have contributed greatly to the of a product spccifically de­ made in Australia,' he added. blankets at high tempcratures signed for the washing of wool the mechanism of the Persian rationalization or elimination and still have thcm come out in spread. This was taken up by One of the most unusual wheel to Mary Ferguson, Divi­ of the use of persistent pesti­ their original size, white and commercial manufacturers, par­ tasks Tom was sct was to help sion of Textile Physics, cides. soft. He has found wavs to ticularly Unilever, and today devise a mammary prosthesis or launder sheep skin rugs so that similar products sell as 'Softly' false breast which women could they can be used [or the com­ in Australia, Ncw Zealand and use - and launder - follow­ fort of patients and he has South Africa and under a dif­ ing an 01)e1'atioo for breast found Ollt what causes a load ferent namc in Belgium. It be­ cancer. A patient had come of nurses' aprons to come out camc one of the select few of up with an experimental bra of the laundry a different the company's products to go but it had presented laundering colour. from Australia to overseas problcms. Tom was called in Tom Pressley gcts a lot of countries - most of their pro­ to see if he could suggest an satisfaction from his work. ducts come the reverse way. improvement. Talking to him, you get the im­ With more blankets being pression that every time some­ washed, bigger machinery was one presents him with a prob­ lIsed and new problems asso­ Winner lem, he sees it as a personal ciated with shrinkage devcloped. The original onc was made challenge. This led to the dcvelopment by from medical sheepskin to go One of the 'hest' was the time engineers of Tomls Beam Dry against the scar, with wool he was asked to find a solution Chlorination process. 'Since fabric on the outside, and was to the problems relating to then we haven't been able to stuffed with wool and bird seed woollen blankets and the so­ shrink a blanket,' he said. for weighting. It was a winner called 'Aolden slaph'. Tho manufac~ for comfort but was unwash­ Royal Melbourne was greatly For somo reason able. bc~ tUfers were not much interested concerned because it was in the idea of marketing shrink­ 'I lried various ideas, includ­ lieved, both overseas and in resistant blankets. However, ing sand for weighting. That Australia, that woollen blankets worked for comfort and weight bac~ within the last few months in­ were the carriers of the terest has been arouscd once but soiled the bra when it was teria. Most hospitals were in more and Tom is doing further washed. I asked for the help the process of changing to cot­ research into the subject. One of the Division of Building ton blankets but the Royal Mel­ woollen mill, North Western, Research and they devised a bourne wanted to be sure be­ hopes to manufacture them chemical way to clean the sand. fore they followed suit. soon. We had our bra that could be They asked for the help of laundered and, in association CSIRO and the problem was Consultant with the Peter McCallum handed over to Tom. In his Clinic, we developed it to the meticulous way. he set about By this time, Tom had be­ stage where it was a good pro- proving - or disprovinA - the come chemical consultant to theory. . The Royal Melbourne Central COliI'd all Page 4

169-1973 FRED SCIENTIST­ GOLF MATCH The annual Forest Producls Golf Day was held at the Pat­ terson River Counlry Club, -A Sober Sort Carrum, with the team from Cemac-Mallinson capturing Ihe Munccy Cup ror 1973. The average CSIRO scientist is in no danger of beconl­ This was the sevcnth veal' the ing an alcoholic. Nor is he likely to be picked up for malch has been slaged for driving over .08 per cent - or .05 if he lives in Victoria which the Muneey Cup is the main trophy. It is named after - because he apparently spends comparatively little time its ~Iollorl Dr R: Y'/: R. MUIlcey, in pubs. ChIef of the DIVISIOn of Build­ week on food, an amount which ing Research, Highett. Nor, if figures can be be­ The cup is competed for by lieved, does he spend too will almost certainly have risen in the last few months. In the teams of four players from much of his budget 011 E03 and SRS grades the values CSIRO Divisions and private drinking in his leisure hours in this catcAory were lower but cDmpanies related to the timber and paper industries, This at home. this may be because of ecO­ nomic experiences or family year's winning team comprised P. Webster, M. Thomas Jel At least these are the con­ siage of development, Ihe re­ I~ port says. A top~l.evel delegation of Russians interested in cotton Williams and C. Terrv.! clusions onc can draw from n second place was the team from look at the results of a survey research has been visiting Australia. The group's itinerary Fuel costs for families arc included the cotton growing regions of Queensland, New Victorian Forests Commission. just released from CSIUOOA significantly higher in Canberra South Wales and Western Australia. Members expressed In the individual events the (the Association of Ollicers of and Melbourne and signi­ particular interest in the high density and agronomy pro~ morning trophy was W01~ by CSIUO). According to the re­ ficantly lower in Sydney, Bris­ gramme and the conservation of Australia's wild species of K. Fricke, Building Rcsearch. port, Feed Scientist claims his bane and Townsville. cotton. At Grlffith in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, and. the afternoon pairs went weekly budget for alcoholic The chances are Fred is not the visitors were the guests of the Division of Irrigation 10 H. Williams and C. Terry drinks is just IInder $3. 11 addicted to smoking, or he has Research where this picture was taken. From left: of Cemac-Mallinson. wOllld seem that staIT ill I'erth kicked Ihe habit. But it was Mr A. Low, Irrigation Research; Or A: A. Avtonomoy, A lotal of 96 plavers took parl! accompanied by 18 cad­ and Townsville would bave interesting to note that there Deputy Director, Cotton Research Institute, Tashkent; were more non-smokers among Or N. K. Lemeshev, Senior Scientific Officer, All Union dies [ram the various Divisions. fewer nOl1 R dl'illkcrs among their Institute of Plant Industry, Leningrad; Mr N. V. Ermolaev, At a dinner partv which fol­ numbers thun in other ]mrts of the Geelong group of the sur­ vey - 82 per cent - and over Deputy Chief, Cotton Division of the USSR Ministry of lowed the match, the tronhics the oolllltry, a fael possibly at­ the whole area 65 per cent were Agriculture, who headed the delegation, and Dr K. D. were presented bv WaIter Kall­ tributable to the warmer cli­ listed as non-smokers. Dzhamankulov, Director of the Tadjik Research Institute of man. Assistant Chief of the males of those cities. It cOllld Soil, Tadjikstan. They were accompanied by Mr F. Stack, Division .of .Building Research, also be said that scielltists ill Department of Primary Industry, Canberra. to the wmlllIlg plavers. Credit Callherra still like their droll for the organization of the No 'bombs' event this veal' went to Geome of red or can of the cold and Davies, Division of ApPliecl frolhy. Our scientists do nol feel strongly about having luxury Chemistry, Forest Products Adelaide, on the other hand, model cars nor do thev feel a Laboratory. showed that 21 per cent of their new car is necessary every year AROUND THE SHELVES to provide Ihe joys of life. He scientists are non-drinkers. Staff of the Central Library of CSIRO staIT who feel Ihat From the report, which was probably owns 1.3 motor and Information Services, East they are having dilJiculiy in vehicles, most of them will be compiled from 307 processed Melbourne, are busy doing iso­ keeping Hp with the literatul'e, Ridder of the 6.4 years old and he is just as replies to questionnaires sent metric exercises to strengthen are invited to participate in a to staff all over the country, it likely to have bought them their arm muscles so they can free trial of the CLlS service. lots as Golden Ark seems that the average scientist, from the used car handle the latest production of In 1972 'Chemical Abstracts' who may be an experimental bought a new one. the unit's computerized pro­ cited 379,048 papers, patcnts Dr D. L. Serventy who, until officer grade 3, a senior re­ his retirement in 1969 was But the cost of the average gramme - a printed catalogue and reporls and the abstracts 1 prin~ search scientist or even a family car was about $2500 of the Central Librarv's text­ filled 27,355 pages. Omcer-in-Charge of the Wes­ cipal research scientist, is at the tern Australian activities of the while his second car, if he has books, The document wei,!.hs Clyde Garrow, CLlS 'interesting' age of 40. He likes one, would be valued around 20lbs and measures 2 ft x 1 ft Division of Wildlife Research, to have his wife stay at home $1200 when he bought it. That The group has also been has been appointed a Ridder and he doesn't believe in large means, he is not exactly buying pleased to handle another ob­ (Knight) in the Most Excellent families - he heads a house­ an old 'bomb' for his wife. It ject recently - it has been the Title Please Order of the Golden Ark in hold of 1.9 adulls and 1.7 was noted that EOls may spend recipient of a Commemora­ With the regular appearance Holland. The honour was con­ children. slightly less on cars. tion Medal, struck by the of library notes in Coreseal'ch [erred upon him by Prince from now on, the column needs Bernhard of the Netherlands His gross income in 1970-71 Smithsonian Science Informa­ Geelong again stood out in tion Exchao,ge, to mark the the right title. Something brief, for oUlstnndin~ service in the was about $10,000 so he is on this aspect. They prefer to imaginative - and apt. Sugges­ cause of nature conservation. a better-than-average wage and publishing of Ihe firsl edilion of keep their cars for three years tions will bc welcomed by the Dr Serventy was able to re­ chances are that it will have in­ 'Science and Technology: Re­ longer than scientists elsewhere editor who so far hasntt SllC­ ceive the honour personally at creased since then anyway. His search in Progress'. although Sydney staffers tend ceeded in thinking up some­ an investiture held at Soestdijk additional income is generally The Smithsonian Science In­ to buy a new one after 5.5 formation Exchange, Washing­ thing brief, imaginative and apt. Palace last month during the less than $400. The survey years. Of the 410 vehicles listed course of an overseas tour. shows his income increas~d by tall, acts as a clearing house Editor on the survey, GMH scored for the reporting of research in While he is away, Dr Se1'­ about 27 per cent from the 32 per cenl, Leyland t 7 per venty hopes to visit England time of the pilot economic surR progress predominantly in the cent, Chrysler 12 per cent, VW Uniled Slates and Canada, but and he has been invited to visit vey made in 1970 but his bud­ (including vans) 11 per cent, Thought for the week Israel to give a series of lec­ get went up only by 15 per also increasingly covering re­ Ford 9 per cent, Toyota 5 per search activities throughollt the Keep our city clean ... eat tures at the UniversHy of cent. However, inflation being cent Datsun 3 per cent, Mazda pigeons. Jerusalem. what it is, that situation may t world. 2 per cent, Renault, Peugeot P.H.Oawe have deteriorated from the time and Fiat 1 per cent each, and the association compiled its re­ motor cycles 2 per cent. port at the cnd of last year. The table below shows the SDI Services The group pluns to intro­ Swiss Student Enjoyed average scientist's annual bud­ Food bill duce additional machine read­ CSIRO families enjoy a good get as it stood in 1971 wilh the able data bases early in the standard of living and spend changes shown from the 1970 1973-74 financial year to pro­ about $8 to $10 per head a pilot suryey. vide current awareness services Highett for scientists and engineers. They will include BA PRE­ VIEWS, the magnetic lape ser­ A little bit of Ihe sparkle $ Changes from 1970 vice which corresponds to 'Bio­ went oul of the Division of logical Abstracts' and 'Biore­ Building Research the day Ms 1000 Rent, loan repayments (housing) search Index', CAIN, the US Ursula Rocthenmund departed Rates 160 + 10 National Agriculiural Library's from the HiAhelt scene and Fuel 160 service associated with the headed for Tasmania. Ursula. a Swiss architectural Fire and general Insurance 50 monthly 'Bibliography of Agri­ culture' published by CCM In­ student, enjoyed six months 940 230 Superannuation and Ufe assurance + formation Cornomtion, and with Ihe Division and allhough Motor vehicle registration and COMPENDEX the magnetic she spent part of the time as­ Insurance 125 + 15 tape services of 'Engineering sisting in the study of living t Motor vehicle running costs and fares 450 120 Index • conditions in remote communi­ + ties in tropical Australia, when Telephone, TV, radiO 120 25 All of these services are com­ + prehensive. BA PREVIEWS she was at I-lighett she became U.sula Roethenmllnd 310 Educational expenses annually includes 240,000 source something of a personality for the Exchange of Students Clothing 310 + 40 items from a total of 8000 a round the place. for Technical Experience, an Medical expenses 240 journals. Corresponding sla­ While work with the Remote association which concerns it­ Holiday expenses 270 40 tistics for CAIN are 120,000 Communities Environment Unil self with assisting recent gra­ + source items from 6600 journals might scem a far cry from Ihe duates and students to gain Food 1580 + 40 and for COMI'ENDEX 85,000 kind of problems she could practical experience in countries Sundries 160 10 items from 1600 journals. expect to encounter on her re­ other than their own. To date Beer, Wine, spirits 130 + 30 Current awareness services turn to Switzerland, Ursula said 40 Australians have been as­ Subscriptions to professional societies 45 10 based on CA CONDENSATES that there was much concern in sisted under the scheme, but + (Chemical Abstracts) and IN­ her country over the drift of U rsula was the first overseas 315 Sports, hobbies, entertainment SPEC ('Physics Abstracts', 'Elec­ rural populations to the cities. sludent 10 be placed in Home maintenance 170 trical and Electronics Engi neer­ She felt Ihat she would wcll be Australia. Income tax 2065 + 555 ing Abstracts' and 'Computer able to apply techniques she After leaving Highelt Drsula and Control Abstracts') are now had learned here to local situa­ went to Tasmania for a brief 8600 + 1105 (15%) available in CSIRO. The IN­ tions. holiday and is now working SPEC Service includes the texl Ursula's placement with thc with a firm of architects in *Not sampled previously. of abstracts in addition to biblio­ Division was organized through Sydney for the remainder of her graphic information. Members the Internatioual Association six months stay in Australia.

169-1973 Obituaries Deniliquin Lab Cont'd from flage 1 SAFETY NOTES more satisfactory than either by FORMER CHIEF OF ANIMAL normal aerial photography or even satellite pictures. It was wool field in State Departments this display tbat was using the of Agriculture. 370 fl high balloon to suspend HEALTH DIES In 1954 Mr Gill was ap­ a camera at 70 ft above the The death Ims occurred of pointed Chief of the Division ground. Mr D. A. Gill, a former Chief of Animal Health and Produc­ tion which he represented on of the Division of Animal Goat study the Australian Committee of ranpe~ Health nnd Production. Born in Animal Production. In addi­ The animals of the England in 1900, Mr Gill gave n tion he was Chairman and Con~ lands came in for scrutiny with lifetime of service (0 the nnhmJl venor of the technical Sub­ visitors being interested in the industry. committee set up by the Stand­ possibility of grazing goats in ing Committee on Agriculture dense scrub country. one of the A graduate of the Roval Col­ for the control and eradication aspects under consideration by lege of Veterinary Surgeons, of contagious bovine pleuro­ the Unit. The team concerned London, he joined CSIRO in pneumonia. It was largely as a is also carrying out a study in­ 1937, succeeding Sir Ian Clunies result of his efforts that a plan to the carrying capacity of the Ross as Offieer-in-Charge of the for bringing this serious disease land in regard to goats and 10 MeMasler Laboratory of Ani­ under control was accepted by see if, as an alternative, goats mal Health. the States and Northcrn Terri­ could be used temporarilv to Before then, however, he tory. clear unwanted scrub so that a had gained the Diploma of relurn to sheep grazing would Veterinary State Medicine at be possible< the University of Edinburgh. A lot of interest was dis­ In 1923 he went to New Zca­ played in CSIRO's development land to work as a veterinary of rugs for sheep, a project now oHicer and in 1928 was ap­ taken up bv a commercial en­ pointed Assistant Director of terprise. Two penned sheep the Department of Agriculturc's were lIsed to show lhe difrer­ Veterinary Research Laboratory cnces between the fleece of an at Wallaceville. animal which had been wear~ During this period of his ing a rug and one which had Insufficient Means of Support career Mr Gill made many not­ not. Many people had heard As call be seen from the photograph. the bookcase in able contributions to research, question could no longer take the strain of the publication especially in thc field of bac­ about the dung beelles imported some years ago to help with explosion. It was fixed (7) to a brick wall by six screws and teriology. lead plugs. The weight of lhe shelves and books was 3501bs. Mr Gill came to Austrnlia in the problem of bush flies. At DeniIiquin they saw the in­ Fortunately, no one was hurt, but do you sit in front of, or 1933 as a relieving lecturer in near, a s.imilar bookcase? veterinary pathology and bac­ seds in action during the vary~ ing slages of the 48 hours it Check up on the security of the fixing - it could save a teriology at the University of lot of headaches. Sydney, but returned to New takes for them to hreak a dung Zealand for a short time in Mr D. A. Gill pad down< Most were slightly Eenie, Meenie, Mynie, Mo! 1935. Back again in Australia, staggered to learn the task the two years later, he was ap­ At the time of his retirement beetles have been given - ac­ Which is about as good a way as any other in determining pointed to the McMaster Labo­ in 1960 Mr Gill had established cording 10 the statistics given, which end of the hose carries the nozzle in some of the latest ratory which was subsequently himself as an outstanding scien­ 33 million tons of dung (dry water-type fire extinguishers. The manufacturers have made expanded considerably through tific administrator. During weight) are dropped on Aus­ such a neat job of providing a recess for the nozzle thal it his work and encouragement. 1962-63 he made a detailed sur­ tralia every year. takes an expert to determine which end is which. vey of sheep and wool research The beetles are also being Complaints have been received fr01TI various laboratories Always known in CSIRO as in Australia for the Wool observed as part of the research on this matter but representation to one of the larger manu­ 'JiOl ', and not formally as Board's Research Committee into nutrient cycling-it is pos~ facturers received a negative response. Dudley, his correct name, Mr and in 1967 became Executive sible they may have an im­ It is recommended that the nozzle end is distinguished in Gill was actively engaged in Omcer of the National Bovine portant role ill providing pre­ some way, eH her by painting it red or wrapping a piece of developing parasitological re­ Brucellosis and Tuberculosis viously unavailable nutrients red PVC tape around the hose near the nozzle. There is no scarch both at McMaster and Committee. for rangelands soil by the way time in an emergency to play guessing games with an at the laboratories later estab­ In 1962 he was awarded the they break up and bury the extinguisher. lished at Armidale and at Gilruth Prize by the Australian pads. -J. W. Hull.m, Sufely omcel'. Yeerongpilly in Queensland. Veterinary Association in re­ He took a leading part in the cognition of his services to the practical development of mct­ profession. hods for control of blowfly His funeral was attended by strike in sheep. Another of his a number of ~McMaster Ori­ Letters to the Editor achievements was his work to­ ginals', pcoplc who had worked wards the establishment of close there in the 1930s, and many Sir- Sir- links between research and ex­ olhers who were on the labo­ In answer to your plea, ac­ Once upon a time all adult tension statY in the sheep and ratory staff in later years. cording to the Concise Oxford Englishwomcn who did not rate Dictionary 'Mrs' is spelt in full the title of 'Lady' were ad­ 'Mistress'. Oddly enough, so is dressed as 'Mistress' regardless 'Miss'. This suggests a happy of marital status. In the 17th solution to our problem. Let us Century, the written contrac­ reverse the divergent evolution tion 'Mrs' came into use at a Highett Scientist Killed that led to 'Mrs' and 'Miss' and time when the ltr' in the middle revert to calling our ladies of a word was still sounded in 'Mistress' (spelled of course, speech. But 'Mistress' was less The death of Dr Peter Scanes Peter was a keen rower and 'Ms'). H has a fine Falstafl'ian important than the name which in a motor cycle accident in also took an active interest in ring. I reject, by the way, the followed it so English people Melbourne took from the Divi­ the CSlR Ski Club. opinion of a writer in the 'Can­ bcgan saying it quickly with sion of Building Research, berra Times' that 'Ms' is pro­ what stress there was fuH on Highctt, onc of lhe most pro­ perly pronounced 'manuscript', the first syllable. The 'tr' fell mising young members of their out giving 'Mis'ess' as we still stalT. - Donald H. Colless, Division of say it. Peter had joined the Divi­ Entomologv< 'M'aster' (which. began as a sion only 18 months previously title for a man who knew his after receiving his Ph.D. in Yes, but onc of the meanings job) developed a written con~ London. of the word 'Mistress' -- and I, traction of lMr' and the spoken 'I'm afraid it=will mean de- too, quote the Concise Oxford form of 'Mister'. In his brief time with l3uild­ stroying their natural habitat.' Dictionary - is la woman ille­ jng Research he brought his -(Ms) S. E. Ingham, Courtesy: 'Punch'. gally occupying the place of a work on thermal investigation wife'. Which does tend to raise Editorial and to an interesting stage and had a few doubts, although, as onc Publications reported some of it in a paper Tom Pressley of my colleagues says: 'H's the Section, Melb. that was to be presented at lhe uncertainty that's the fascina­ Sir- international congress, 'SUIl in Com'd from Page 2 tion.' A recent correspondent (Co­ the Service of Mankind\ in position for a commercial firm. -Ed. research 168, p.2) has pointed Paris next month. It is now widely uscd by cancer out that the correct yalue of C patients.' Sir- You may be intercsted to is, in fact, 1.802618 x 10" fur­ Peter Scanes Currently, Tom is working on read this extract from the longs per fortnight. Evidently important research into the Shorter Oxford English Dic­ he is unaware that the SFA problems associated witb the tionary: system (Standard Fmlongs per Academy fellow flammabilitv of materials. The 'M rs 1582 (Orig. an abbrev. Annum, where 26 fortnights is results of this could have far­ of Mistress). I annum) should be employed. Dr R. H. Wharton, Offieer-in­ Precisely ... reaching safcty appliciltions for I. In the 17lh c. often written For his information we obtain Charge of the Division of Ento­ The noble art of commu­ the people of Australia and for Mistress - 1679. the value 4.686807 x 1013 SFA. Elec~ mology's Long Pocket Labora­ nication ... the State possibly further afield. 2. As a prefixed title of cour­ K. G. Weir, tory, Brisbane, has been elected tdcity Commission in Vic­ Ovcr the years Tom has seen tesy. Now pronounced National Standards to the Fellowship of the Aus­ toria has received a letter people make a lot of money (mi'sis, mi"siz); cf. Missis. Laboratory. tralian Academy of Science. from an engineering fIrm: out of the results of his re­ a. Prefixed to the surname The honour came in recognition lFurther to vour lelter of search. This, he says, is their of a married woman who The Editor invites corres­ of Dr Wharton's extensive and March 26, wc know you be­ good luck. His own rewards has no superior title 1582. pondence for this column. lieve vou understand what valuable contributions in the come in a different way - the b. In the 17th and 18th c. Names will not be used if you think we said, but wc satisfaction of seeing a practical prefixed to the name of an people prefer anonymity but fields of malaria. filariasis and arc not sure you realize that application of research or of unmarried lady or girl­ names and addresses must be cattle tick. what vou heard is not< what being able to contribute in a 1791.' supplied. All correspondence we meant.' modest way to a problem that -1'. M. Fleming, should be addressed to the - 'TIle Herald', Melbourne. has caused other people a lot Division of Editor. Coresearch, Box 225, Prinlcu by C,liIRO, Melbourne of concern. Land Research. Dickson, ACT 2602.

169-1973 170##1973

For circulation among members ofCS/RO staff

July 1973 Powerful computer installed in ACT The Division of COI1\IlIlting Research in Canberra is at present installing Australia's largest and most powerfnl computer. The computer, a Cyber 76 costing $4 million, will be able to operate many of its functions 20 to 30 times faster than the present Control Data 3600 unit. A Hoeing 707 was chartered peet any computing time would to bring the 30 tons of COlU­ be lost while the computer was )JUter and ancillary C!quipmcnt being installed. from the Ullited Slates, Call­ The 3600 was only "olT the hc1'tll airlJUrt did 110t have the air" for one week last May, facilitie.~ to unload the equilJ­ while preparations were made ment and so it wus off~londcd for the new computer. "There will be at least two weeks of nt Mascot and trnnsportcd (0 unit scmi~(Tailcrs. acceptance trials after the Canberra Oil four is installed." Dr. Claringbold The cost of the lIir chllrter said. Then the installation team alone was more than $50)000. I'rom the suppliers, Control The Cyber 76, which will be Data Corporation, would return housed at IlIack Mountain, home. Canberra, is the only one of its The power consumption of kind in the Southern Hemi­ the giant computer and the The experimental soiar energy kiln at Griffith with Its bank of absorbers, Making a check on sphere. Very few units have building in which it is housed the limber being dried in the kiln is Mechanical Engineering's Grlfflth representative, Graeme been installed outside the United will approach one megawatt. Flood. States. It will be plugged into "CSIRONET", the netwOlk of CSIRO's smaller computers loc­ ated in other States. SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS UNIT A further $1,000,000 will be Current Affairs spent to increase the number of The Division of Fisheries and batch terminals which will feed Oceanography at Cronulla last MAY BE SET UP IN (SIRO into the Cyber 76. month played hust to 60 scien­ The 3600 presently in use is tists whose interests lie in being operated for 22 haUl'S a oceanography and related sub~ A solar energy applications research nnit may be set np within CSIRO. The day and the Division has had jects. to buy time on a Sydney com­ desirability of having such a unit established was expressed at the end of a two-day The scientists came from puter to cope with the addi­ all over Australia and represented coufereuce held iu Canberra last month when 50 scientists from 23 Divisions met to tional work. However, by I nul only CSIRO but also uni­ review CSIRO's research in the field of solar energy aud its commitment to meet the August the new computer versities, instilules, colleges and needs of Australia in the futme. should be linked to the present Government departments. system. Solar Energy Society, Mr. organic maHer to usable energy arran~ed Speaking at the meeting, Preparations for the com­ The seminar was to Morse, interview, and central solar energy sy~ in an said puter's arrival were so well allow people la spend two days the chairman of the confer­ that Australia was well to the stems where high grade heat made that the acting Chief of finding out what work was be­ ence and Executive mem­ fore with its research. "Our was used. the Division, Dr. P. ClarinJ!­ ing done in what is regarded as position was best described in a J. ber, Mr. V. D. Burgman~, After the conference a num­ bold, said that he did not ex- a fractionated field. It was said he envisaged the unit report by the National Science ber of delegates expressed sur­ hoped that after two days of Foundation and NASA when it prise that so much work was some formal addresses and beiug composed of a small was commenting on solar en­ already being done among the The giant computer is many informal talks and discus­ group of scientists who ergy as a national energy re­ various Divisions on solar sions a clearer picture would source in the United States. In freighted into Sydney by a emerge of what data are being energy. The meeting, they said, chartered aircraft from the would have the responsibi­ this it said that America was had given them an opportunity collected in the various insti­ lity of making a continuous lagging behind Australia, United States and taken to Can­ tutions and what programmes study of solar euergy aud its France and Israel.H Cont'd on page 4 berra on four seml-traliers. are being carried out. Mr. Marse said that the en­ applications amI, in parti­ ergy crisis occurring in some cular, would co-ordinate the countries had drawn attention to the depletion of the world's work currently .being under­ fossil fuels on which everyone taken by a uumber of dif­ was critically dependent for ferent Divisions. most of their primary energy. lilt isn't a question of whether "The purpose of such n unit these fuels will run out but would be to cull information when. and there is now wide from each Division worldllg in agreement that within 30 years this field, (0 mnkc in~dcl'th stu­ we could see acute shorta~es dies, write ]mpers and disse­ and price rises. Within 15 years minale knowledge," be said. some countries could suffer In welcoming the delegates, serioLls economic and trade dis­ Mr. Burgmann carlier said that location.1! the Organization had been car~ Solar energy on the other rying Ollt research all, and de­ hand was renewable, had mini­ velopment of, practical applica­ mal environmental problems tions of the use of solar energy and was available on a world­ since Ihe mid-I 950s. The use 01' wide basis. As far as Australia solar energy, however, had to was concerned, he felt that by be seen in context with the the year 2000 the countrv could total energy resources, not just be using solar energy for be­ of Australia, but also of the tween 10 and 20 per cent of its rest of the world. CSIRO had total energy requirements. It a responsibility to exercise fore­ was already in use for water sight and he felt that the con­ heating in homes and hostels, in ference would give participants desaHnation units and in timber a chance to clarify their kiln experiments at Griflith and thoughts. Townsville. One of the leading personali­ The conference programme ties behind CSIRO's work on covered a wide range of as­ solar energy has been Mr. pects of the subject and in­ Roger Morse, Chief of the cluded topics such as solar Division of Mechanical Engi­ energy as a source of low grade neering. The immediate Past­ heat, plants as collectors of President of the International solar energy, the conversion of Mountains and sheep- They go together in the life of Or Helen Newton Turner The shelves which line the room of Dr. Helen Newton Tnrner in the Division of Animal Genetics in Sydney are stacked tight witb books, catalognes, pamphlets and papers. Her table is piled high In a remarkably short time, high country of Kashmir after with more bool,s, papers she had built an international being forced out of the central reputation for herself .wh.ich Himalaya area when illness and files. There is just room has since led to her InVitatiOn overcame the party. for one more file, one more to be a consultant in sheep Somehow along with her sheet of paper on which she genetics on an FAO project in work, lecturing, broadcasting can write current notes. the Argentine and she annually and speaking at many confer­ carries out work for the Ford ences both here and overseas, The wom"an behind the desk, Foundation in the Middle East. Dr. Turner has found time to onc of the world's leading She has been asked to dis­ be a prolific writer. She has authorities on shee)} genetics, cuss sheep breeding research in written more than 100 scientific makes no lll)ologics for this Israel, South Africa and Kenya. papers, has compiled chapters state of affairs. "Someone once She has lectured in Peru, the for two technical books, is co­ told me that an nntidy desk United States and Scotland and author of a text book entitled was 'he sign of a cl'cntivc mind last year was inviled to New "Quantitative Genetics in Sheep and I haven't worried about it Zealand by the NZ Wool Breeding" with S. S. Y. Young, since," she said. Board. " and has been asked to write this Two months ago, Dr. Turner She has looked at sheep in a popular version. One day, officially "retired" from CSIRO. breeding projects in Indonesia she says, she'd like La write a But retirement for a woman and when she was invited to travel book. who is as dynamic as she is, is China in 1965 by the Chinese After more than 41 years a seeming impossibility. Instead Society of Zootechnic and with CSIRO - there are only of going quielly home to read Veterinary Sciences to discuss three men on the staIT who have books, potter in a garden or sheep breeding research and to served with the Organization MORE DEGREES AND AWARDS travel the world, Dr. Turner gi vc a series of lectures there, for longer - Dr. Turner is in has accepted an honorary re­ she left a little bit of her heart a position to look back over the search fellowship for 12 months, in that country's high moun­ growth of CSIRO and note FOR DIVISIONS' STAfF the position to be renewed on tainous regions of the north. the changes. Applied Chemistry cept private hobbies. IJut not an annual basis. "It's very beautiful there," she so Henry Lunney, an engineer The only change her Hretire­ said. "I'd love to go back there "When I first joined as secre­ Higher degrees have recently will] the Division of Textile some time." tary to Sir Ian Clunies Ross at been awarded to a number of Physics. ment" has made to her life is staff members· at the Division that she no longer directs ex­ Outside her work, Helen Tnr­ the MeMaster Laboratory, I had to be vetted by the Chair­ of Applied Chemistry in Mel­ In 1970, Henry spent his long periments and has dropped ad­ ner loves mountains and as she bourne. service leave tackling a course ministrative duties. says) "I'm lucky - mountains man. When I made nlY first in experimental phonetics in overseas visit I had to "be in~ Dr. W. W. Mansfield received "The phone still rings as and sheep generally go to­ the Degree of Doctor of Science the Speech and Language Re­ gether." spected by the Minister, no less. search Centre of Macquarie much as ever and there's no from the University of Adelaide University. shortage of work," she said in "During the war years women on the basis of published papers an interview with Coresearch. received equal pay, but this collected under the general He has now been awarded a Himalayas right was taken from us after title, UStudies in pure and ap­ Master of Arts degree foJ' his The name of Helen Newton It's unfortunate, she says, the men came back. It was only plied snrface physics and thesis "Rhythm in Spoken En~-. Turner is a byword, not just there aren't any sheep in the fully restored a year ago. chemistry", lish", highlights of which were in CSIRO, but anywhere in the the construction of an electro­ Antarctic because she'd like to "But I'll tell you this ... I The Degree of Ph.D. was circles of sheep production. granted to Mr. B. J. Poppleton mechanical poetry appreciation go there. But as a compromise have visited many scientific in­ macllineand a mind-bending she has been in among the (Monash University), Mr. R. S. stitutions during the course of P. Coutts (University of Mel­ bodgie-beat (i"e. irregular) met­ snow and ice of the Himalayas. my travels the world over, and bourne), Mr. R. J. Eldridge ronome. Sheep research In 1961 she and Lady White, I'm convinced the conditions (University of Melbourne) and In 1956 she was asked to lead wife of Sir Frederick White, we enjoy in CSIRO are the Mr. C. D. McLean (Monash Chemical Physics the newly-formed animal breed­ former Chairman of CSIRO, equal of any of them." University). ing section in the Division, in accompanied by a party of Mr. A. F. Moodie of the The Degree of Master of Ap­ Division of Chemical Physics, charge o[ the Organization's Sherpas, spent two months of plied Science was awarded to Melbourne, has been elected to sheep breeding research. She llsheer pleasure" walking on Equal chance Mr. L. F. Evans and to Mr. the Fellowship of the Aus­ has been closely associated with the classical approach to Everest Dr. Turner says two lucky D. R. Packham (Victorian In­ tralian Academy of Science. all their major programmes (they reached 12,000 ft.) and breaks greatly influenced her stitute of Colleges). The citation said Mr. Moodie since then. then did a pony trek into the life. had played an important part l'The first was bcin,g born Textile Physics in the theoretical and experi­ into a family where it was taken mental developments which had Most people if they possessed revolutionised the fields of elec­ for granted that a girl had a degree in science and engi­ tron diffraction and microscopy equal rights for education with neering might well be satisfied of crystals in recent years. It her brothers. I went to univer­ with their results for long hours added that he had initiated the Astronomers for Sydney sity and took a degree in archi­ of hard work and study and be development of a number of tecture. But that was the time pleased to have time dnring new experimental techniques of the depression and when the long service leave for thinking and methods in these fields and Over two thousand astrono­ flrm I joined· started to slow about nothing in particular cx- pioneered their application. mers are expected to attend the down I was kept on as a typist. Fifteenth General Assembly of When it finally closed I went the International Astronomical Union in Sydney next month. off and took a course in short­ SAF'EIY NOIES hand and typing and worked The Australian Academy of [or the State Government for Science will act as host to the eight months. Then came my Swimming pool chemicals Union which, founded in 1919, appointment to the position A recent report in a Sydney newspaper disclosed that is one of the oldest of the chlorine powder used [or home swimming pools is being international scientific unions. with Sir Ian. That was my second lucky break, because blamed for a dramatic increase in household poisoning and For the duration of the as­ he was the sort of person who also [or the initiation of explosions and fires because of sembly, 21-30 August, Sydney incorrect use and storage. The usual powder contains about encouraged his staff to make 70 per cent of calcium hypochlorite, which, if not stored in University will be the selling initia~ for meetings of the more than use of their talents and a cool, dry place, will generate chlorine, a poisonous gas, 40 commissions which make up tive." and oxygen which vigorously supports combustion. the Union. For Helcn Turner, steno­ Care should be taken with the powder, particularly by those who live in the south where partly used containers There will be th ree "invited grapher, that meant taking up arc left and forgotten during the winter months. discourses": J. P. Wild on an interest in mathematics and "Solar Bursts", C. H, Townes then taking a year studying her Hot foot on "Interstellar Molecules" and Dr. J. P. Wild, Chief of the new subject in England, from D. W. Sciama on the nEarly An unusual and serious accident occurred to a workman Division of Radiophysics, who 1939 until 1956 she was a con­ Stages of the Universe". will give one of three "invited at an industrial site. He had been poisoning weeds with a discourses" al the General sulling statistician to various sodium chlorate-base weed killer and his boots had become There will also be joint dis­ Assembly of Ihe International Divisions, and from then on her impregnated with the chlorate. Some days later a piece of cussions covering: a wide range Astronomical Union. work has been with the sheep hot welding slag ignited his boots which burned fiercely of astronomical subjects. breeding section, where she because of the chlorate, and caused severe burns to bath feet. Before the Assembly, there says, subsequent Chiefs have will be symposia in Canberra Among the visitors will be also allowed her to have a free With both the above chemicals. which are oxidising and Perth, and after the Assem­ Professor Fred Hoyle of Cam­ agents, fierceness of burning is accentuated. Keep them well hand, a fact which she both away from combustibles. bly two more symnosia at Sur­ bridge and Professor Dr. Raimar responded to and appreciated. fers' Paradise and Maroochy~ Lust, President of the Max J. Hallara, Safety Officer. dare. }>lanck Institutes, Germany. Cont'd on page 4

170-1973 AROUND THE LIBRARY SHELVES Bug eyes and baton(s) keep New recruit tory design and it was felt that The Central Library has a this should be assembled in new recruit to its staff. She is such a wav that it was readilv Cypriot happy attractive Ms Sonia Castro, who available to people both with­ crossed the Pacific a year ago in CSIRO and outside. The Executive -asked Mr. Fer,guso.11 By training and inclination, to take a look at Australia. Cypriot-born Avis Ioannides is to undertake the preparation a neurophysiologist with a speM Sonia studied for her Di p­ of this work, incorporating lama of Librarianship at the cialist knowledge in the physio­ CSIRO's experience in the field logy of the eyes of insects. As University of Chile and sinee of design of laboratory build­ the new information on1cer of then her career has included ings. the Division of Entomology he three yea rs in the Central Lib­ The publication of the book is happy to spend his profes­ rary of the University of Chile, sional time surrounded by represents the completion of the followed by nine years in the scientists and the world of assignment.-D.n. specialised library of the insects. Forestry Institute. After work, however, he likes Staff authors to completely tune out on the She has travelled throuRh a Ms Sonia Castro subject of science and turn to number of the countries within Two members of the Divi­ his music. the American continent and in Half of the non-patent litera­ sion of Animal Physiology, Ayis is deeply interested .in 1962 went to the United States ture was produced by the George Alexander and Owen science, but, as he says, for hml Ayls loannldes taking part in liThe Experiment scientific research requires total United States (27.5 per cent) Williams, have recently edited in International Living", an dedication of time and mental and USSR (23.5 per cent) bnt a book entitled "The Pastoral American organisation which effort. more than half (58 per cent) Industries of AustraHa - Prac­ arranges visits from leaders He loves music but it is not ning awards lately. He took was published in English. Rus­ tice and Technology of Sheep and specialists in various fields his professional occupation. As first place in the ACT for over­ sian accounted for 27.4 per and Cattle Production". from all over the world, with a research scientist he could not all performance throughout cent. The book was prepared for find enough time to do what he emphasis on friendshifJ and 1972 for Stage 2 of his fitting -C. Garrow, publication at the time of the wanted in this field so the thing understanding through home and machining course, the Central Library Third World Congress on Ani­ to do was to compromise and hospitality. and Information mal Production, held in May, lind an occupation that would NSW Department of Educa­ allow him to enjoy both. When tion placed him second in his Later Sonia undertook a Services. to introduce visitors from over­ the position of information of­ course, and he took second post-graduate course at the Bra­ seas to the Australian pastoral ficer at Entomology became zilian Institute of Bibliography industries. place in NSW for the Purcell Architecture vacant he felt he had the ans­ Engineering Company's award. and Documentation in Rio de Prepared by 29. specialists, swer. In a world which has seen a Janeiro and in 1970 attended a 14 of whom werc from the Now when working hours are tremendous growth in science summer school at the North Division of Animal Physiology, over he can don his formal at M Carolina State University. and technology in the last 50 and two from the Divisions of tire ~f evening suit, white shirt years,_ the needs of scientists Animal Health and Food Re­ and bow tie and conduct the There was no or,ganisation have become increasingly more Canberra Choral Society at one Building Research similar to CSIRO in Chile, but searchJ it is the first compre­ complex and exacting. The hensive book to appear on the of its performances in the scientific research was carried national capital without qualms Flies Kites planning of laboratory facilities production of sheep and cattle out in the eight universities ang in which they can carry out of conscience that he should be institutes, she said. Libraries under grazing conditions in home studying. The Division of Building Re­ their research programmes has Australia, search at Highett has been do­ played an important role in become an equally specialised He can also give more hours The chapters are organised than he has done in the last iug some kite flying lately­ their work and the National field. Library had 1.2 million volumes. into four sections. The first year or so to directin,g the literally, that is. deals wilh the Australian en­ The university libraries ex­ When Rex Ferguson gradu­ music of the Canberra OfJera The Social Club organised a vironment and rural history, Society and to indulging in his changed publications with most ated in architectural engineer­ kite flying competition and all ing from the University of the second describes the graz­ interest of playing the piano, countries, including Australia. ing industries ,of t~e present reports confirm a sllccessful Adelaide in 1931, he had some harpsichord and organ. "Many Australians seem to day and the third dISsects pro­ Ayis has lived for three years venture. There was a stiff (and concept of what was involved ductivity into variolls com­ cold) breeze blowing but more think that South America is in the building of research in Australia but before that ponents and examines the re­ spent _10 years in Britain where than a dozen kites took to the full of Indians," she said. "And laboratories but it was only sults of research in pasture revolutions as well. Chile has he was research assistant to air. during the years to come that improvement, nutrition, repro­ Dr. G. A. Horridge at the Gatty a European background, but he was to appreciate how tre­ duction, genetics, behaviour, Marine Laboratory, part of the Triangles, birds, including its culture and language are mendously complicated was the climatic elIects, disease. and University of St. Andrew's in one that flapped its wmgs, a Spanish. As for the Indians ... subject if mistakes and defecls management economics. The Scotland. When Dr. Horridge double fish and a 5-ft. box kite, final section deals with recent they are in about the same were not to occur. was invited to establish the new all in attractive colours, soared numbers as your Aborigines." develofJments that will shape Department of Neurobiology as and swooped during the lunch­ After his graduation, Rex the industries in the future. part of the Research Group of hour competition to decide the Sonia has quickly felt at Ferguson spent two years over­ Although designed for a par­ Biological Sciences at the Aus­ most emcient (steepest string home in Melbourne but says it ticular audience at the confer­ seas and then in 1935 joined tralian National University, angle) kite. has taken her time to get used CSIRO as an assistant research ence, the book will be of Ayis came with him on an to the Australian accent. officer to work on timber utili­ interest to students, research ANU research scholarship. To the delight of the club, sation problems in the Division and extension workers, .journa­ For the last three years he scores of children from a near­ Meanwhile, she has not been lists and animal producers. of Forest Products. A few has been working on his PhD. bv school were taken by their slow to take on outside in­ -A.J. taking for the subject of his terests. She is already serving years later he moved to Head teachers to the edge of the "fly­ thesis the compound eye of an ing field" to enjoy the sight. as a volunteer with the Aus­ Office to become CSIRO archi­ insect. tralian Red Cross Society in tect. He continued in this capa~ Their laughter at the gyrations the Blood Bank and Meals on city until his retirement in 1970. of one of the bird kites was an Wheels. After almost a lifetime spent unexpected bonus for the or­ en~ in designing and buildin~ re­ Farewell 'from Rewards ganisers. The prize-winning search laboratories - he is now try was made and fiown by Information explosion a consultant in this field - he Ms Helen Kenna. Chemical Abstracts Service has produced a book HPractical Dairy Research reports that in 1972 the chemi­ Laboratory Planning" (Applied After 33 years service with calliterature cited-in "Chemical Science Publishers Ltd., Lon­ CSIRO, Mr. Ted Pont has re­ Abstracts" increased by 8.2 per don). In this he has made his signed. A member of the staff cent over 1971. and CSIRO's experience avail­ of the Dairy Research Labora­ Chess Title able to all architects, scientists tory of the Division of Food The Biochemistry Sections and laboratory managers in the Research Ted was given a fare­ The Division of Protein which contained almost a third belief that all concerned with well fun~tion at Highett when Chemistry in Melbourne re­ of CA Abstracts increased by the planning of academic and many friends and colleagues ta ined the chess title it won gathered to wish him a happy only 6 per cent while the Mac­ industrial laboratories should earlier this year when it played romolecular Sections which ac­ retirement and to make him a a match against representatives be more conversant with the presentation. count for about 12 per cent of diverse aspects of the subject. from the Forest Products Labo­ the citations increased by 35.9 After he graduated from the ratory. Thirteen games were per cent. Organic Chemistry The author has looked at the University of Sydney, Ted spent played with a final score of 8-4 responsibility not just of the his early years as a dairv bac­ grew by 10.4 per cent, Applied teriologist with the New South and 1 game drawn. Chemistry and Chemical En­ architect and builder, but of the client. He has discussed Wales Department of Agricul­ The highlight of the night gineering by 8.8 per cent and lure. In 1940 he joined the laboratory planning in depth, was the battle between two old Physical and Analytical Che­ Dairy Research Section of lan Thomas, an apprentice rivals, Wal Savige and Huntley mistry by 1.4 per cent. the design of the building, its CSIRO and worked on bac­ with tha Division of Applied fittings, services and fire and terial problems of dairy pro­ Higgins. When the night watch­ Surprisingly patents made up Chemistry, Fishermen's Bend, man turned out the lights, long safety protections. Every chap­ ducts. Subsequently he under­ has won first prize for Pro­ almost a quarter of Chemical ter is well illustrated. took research into chemical duction Engineering Grade 2 after everyone else had gone Abstracts in 1972, an increase aspects of butter storage and conducted at the Preslon In­ home. Wal and Huntley agreed of 13.3 per cent over 1971. The book also includes de­ quality and his work in this on a draw. scriptions and technical details stitute of Technology. lan col­ Almost half the patent litera­ field over many years resulted lected a prize of $30 Which ture came from West Germany, of a number of CSIRO labora­ in major contributions to the was donated by a local Pres· France and Japan, mainly be­ tories and those of scientific understanding of the problems ton firm for his efforts. cause of publication of back­ organisations overseas. of butter quality. logs of unexamined or rart.ially In his foreword, the Chair­ In 1949 he was awarded the Cannibal - a gastronome of Gold Medal of the Australian the old school who preserves examined patent apphcatlOns. man, Dr. J. R. Price, writes Society of Dairy Technology. Nineteen-year-old Pat Tra­ However, the United States, that by the mid-1960s the Or­ lhe simple tastes and adheres In recent years Ted has been vers l who has been an appren­ with 25.3 per cent of citations, ganization had accumulated mainly engaged in investi~ation lice scientific instrument maker to the natural diet of the pre­ produced most of the patent considerable information and and development of concen­ with the Division of Plant In­ pork period. literature. experience in relation to labora- tt"ated cheese starter cultures. dustry since 1971, has been win- -Ambrose Blerce.

170-1973 Under "Better Communica~ "We trained hard - but it tion VltaJ1' you present a re­ seemed that every time we were Letters to the Editor view of the Chairman's re­ beginning to [01'01 up into Busman's marks to more than 70 officers teamS l we would be re-organised. representing 32 Divisions in Can we expect any better I was to learn later in life that residence at the Australian we tend to meet any new situa­ Animal Production from the next conference in Conference Argentina in 1978? Perhaps we National University. The Chair­ tion by re-organising. and a Holiday should not be too optimistic man's remarks are highly com­ wonderful method it can be for mendable and directly related creating the illusion of pro­ Two of CSIRO's experts in Sir-- seeing that a recent article in to problems now worrying most gress while producing confu­ "Science'l describes agricultural Lho visual field are combining of our staff. The need to create sion inefficiency and demorali­ The Third World Conference scientists as the most conserva­ l overseas tours planned [or their a public image is clearly ap­ sation." on Animal Production held in tive of all academics. long service leave with ussiHn­ Melbourne was a disappoint~ parent and the need for better - T. B. Pallridge, ments in Europe. They are ment to me. . - Peter Springell, internal communication has be­ Division of Soils, Stan Evans, Ollicer-in-Charge of come an increasing problem the Film Unit, Melbourne, and The urgent need to feed the Animal Genetics, since CSIR became CSIRO. Adelaide. worldls millions was evident Rockhampton. Ed Slater, photogmpher for the Regrettably there is no sugges­ Division of Wildlife Research, enough. Few speakers saw the tion as to how these entirely human population problem as desirable links can be improved Canberra. anything other than inevitable, or established. Presentation Slan's itinerary will take him but the Conference completely to both the United States and That label Under "Land Research Re­ A retired Chief of the former failed to come to grips with it. Division of Food Preservation} Europe and has been arranged again organised>! you report on the so that he will be in Bulgaria It was depressing to hear recent 'establishment of three Dr. J. R. Viekery, was pre­ delegates from the developed Sir- sented with the James Harrison for the 27th Congress of the new Divisions whose functions, International Scientific Film As­ countries talk enthusiastically of I quote, are- Memorial Medal at a refrigera­ I agree strongly with your tion conference in Sydney last sociaUon in October where he future increases in their meal other correspondents that consumption. Supplies of meat (I To survey land resources, month. will repre5cnt the Organization. llMistress'l would be the most This will be the third time Stan and/or feed concentrates are to desirable pronunciation for Ms. assess their potential and come from Austral.ia or worse has had this honour - he was For the past year I've been dis­ develop new research tech­ present in 1956 and 1966. still, from underdeveloped coun­ cussing the idea of Mistress as niques. tries where under-nutrition will Dr. Helen Newton He will also investigate new a title for all women. married developments in film making be on the increase. Increasing and single, with women I know. Q) To develop management Turner numbers of people in alIluent techniques for achieving and will look at the latest tech­ Almost -all, including those who Cont'd from page 2 niques in the audio visual field countries arc already eating have actively adontcd M,s as a optimum productivity con­ ll being used as means of com­ themselves into an early grave. tWe, prefer Mistress to HMzz sistent with conservation of With no thought of slowing Hopefully tile Uniled States munication between scientists, and none like it less. Several the resource. her pace, last month Helen between scientisls and industry will not be able to aITord this of us fcel strongly enou~h Newton Turner was strup;gling in view of her balance of pay­ .. To study soils, including and between scientists and the about it to have begun using it with a new problem ... how public. ments problems and prospec­ in correspondence. A few have their management for crOPl to get to Beirut in November tive large fuel bills. been worried about the conno­ pasture and forest produc~ in time to do her work for the One of Ed Slater's main in­ A paper by Professor MeCly­ tation of l

proposals. front page. follow Instructions. Printed by CSIRO l Melbourne

170-1973 171##1973

For circulation among members ofCS/RO staff

Augus/1973 Scientists BIRD BANDERS HELP SCIENTISTS Converge IN THEIR WILDLIFE RESEARCH "If it lIies, we'll band it." on Perth That's the way David Purchase describes the Australian Bird Banding Scheme which during ]971-72 banded nearly 79,500 birds covering 405 species. As well, more than 13,000 recoveries of 250 species were made. for ANZAAS David, who is lhe official has tn be a professional. Mcm- curate flighl schedule of mutton­ More than 3500 scientists, secretary of lhe scheme, bcrs can be housewives or bio- birds. This proved that birds ~~g~~t~, ~f1'~iSt~ ~(~a~~J~gf~~ il~':i'{. from the Bass Strait islands and acodcmics and other visitors will might well have added that Victoria make a giant figure-of­ he in Ilcrih this month for the members will band birds work. 451b Congress of the Auslrnlian eight cycle from their Australian Professor Eric J. Underwood. that don't fly - emus and "Sometimes it is just an cn- breeding grounds northwards to nnd New Zealand Association . d f h I thusiast who would like to know the waters near Japan, Korea, for ihe Advancement of Science. pengums-an urt er, t ley how many silver eyes he is get- Alaska and Canada and then re­ They will come from 19 dif­ the public aware of what science will band things that fly that ting in his back garden now that turn southwards. ferent countries. is, what scientists do, and of the aren't birds - bats, for in- he has established trees and The flights of another inter­ A number of CSIRO staff will applications and implications of stance. shrubs there. Fair enough. It national wanderer, the giant either be convenors of sessions scientific discoveries to their Thel'c are n numhel' of bird could be llseful information in petrel, have also been monitored or will be giving papers, while own everyday affairs and those hunding nssocialiolls in Aus~ a population or migration study, by banders, fHling in blanks in this year's presidential address of the nation," Iralia bnl hy far the 11Irgest is "And by the same token, the the work that is being done on will be given by Emerilus Pro­ A number of specialist and Ihe CSIRO onc opernted by person applying I'or equipment seabirds. fessor Eric J. Underwood, a affiliated societies- will meet in David from lite Division of might be a biologist going to the member of the Executive. Similarly, banding has re­ Perth either before or after the Wildlife Research in Canhcfm. Antarctic or Macquarie Island vealed that the young straw­ Professor Underwood,. who congress and then, for the first Working in collaboration wHh wilh an ANARE tcam who necked ibis and white ibis will retired in 1970 from his position time, after the main conference State fuuna-associaHons, it has wants to carry out a study on disperse widely from their as Dean of the Facnlty of Agri­ 55 delegates will go on to Singa­ abouf 350 members, 40 of whom penguins. Al Macquarie Island breeding colonies and move­ culture at the University of Wes­ pore for three days' discussions nrc professional' ornifhologis~s. for instance, there are about half mcnts of 1500 miies have been tern Australia, will speak on on science and development. Since its inception in 1953 the a million royal penguins making recorded. Without prool' by the science, development and t,he This part of the programme has scheme has been responsible for a rock-to~rock carpet across the banding scheme, few would environment. He is a man with been arranged with the Singa­ the banding of more than world's largest single rookcry. have believed that [he birds a strong background in a&ricu~­ pore National Academy of I,OOO,OOO birds and more than Their habits are of great interest could have travelled [hose dis­ tural research and early 1I1 hIS Science, 90,000 have so far been re- to many scientists," tances, career gained world-wide re­ A student ANZAAS will also covered. Then there are CSIRO's own cognition in scien~ific circIe~ ~or For David, one of the most be held in Perth along with the hThe scheme was launched to programmes which involve 8tll- exciting aspt:cls of his work is his work on animal nutnhol1 main congress workings. stimulate a wider interest in bird dies on birds such as the cor- and animal husbandry. He was wedge~lailed never quilc knowing what each banding," David said, " and at rnoranls, eagles, nolilication will mean. In one also a pioneer of work on trace the same time provide a national pigeons, l11ultonbirds and quails, elements, day he could receive word of centre which would co-ordinate as well as waterfowl. birds being sighted in Korea, Recently Professor Under­ the work. "Often scientific groups are New Zealand or Papua New wood completed an extensive re­ "We will supply bands and supporled by amateurs. Take Guinea. He could have a re­ view of the agricultural research And as it was in other equipment to members but the Albatross Study Group that (IUest f!'Om a scientist in Sabah activities of CSIRO, a project he we don't regard the operation has been working along the asking for permission to use undertook at the Executive's re­ as being a malter of someone quest the good old days catching a bird, banding it and Speaking about ANZAAS, thinking he has done his bit for Professor Underwood said it The Australasian Association science. It's much more than had two main aims: "One is la for the Advancement of Science, that. bring logether scientists of all the foreremner of ANZAAS, was "We think of banding as be­ types and occupations so that first held in Sydney in August ing a tool that's used to carry they can exchange ideas and in­ 1888. For a review of that meet­ out a specific bird study, but by formation, The other is to make ing please turn to page 4, that wc don't mean everyone N'ine-day fortnight for trial

A nine-day fortnight will be Staff in these laboratories will travel problems, safety statistics l introduced soon at the Divisions take part in a pilot scheme for absentcei~m, sick leave, produc­ of Bnilding Research at their six months during which time tivity and overtime. laboratories at Highett and the experiment will be assessed The scheme was announced from the point of view of the last month by the Chairman, Dr South Melbourne and at Ap­ J. R. Price, who said that its plied Chemistry, also in South practicability of a flexible work­ introduction would give CSIRO Melbourne. ing week, and its effect on staff a chance to gauge the merits of a system of workinJ!: hours which would give more recognition to David Purchase, official secretary of CSIRO's bird banding the needs of the individual scheme. worker. In the nine-day fortnight coast of New South Wales," CSIRO bands for a project he More money for homes working time will be adjusted David said. "Their work has is .involved in in Malaysia or it to allow rostered groups to be been most useful and they have could be that a housewife in The maximum amount which can now he borrowed through off duty one Monday or Friday recorded recoveries of wander­ Canberra has found a banded the CSIRO Co-operative Credit Society has been increased each fortnight. Under this sy­ ing albatrosses banded on South bird from Adelaide. from $8000 to $12,500. stem workers will have a three~ Georgia by the British Antarctic What he also finds eqnally Survey, from Macquarie, Auck­ The decision to increase the lImount of the loan wns tnken day weekend every fortnight. pleasing is the enthusiasm that re~ The actual number of hours land and Kcrguelen Islands. is so often shown by amateurs. at a recent spccial meeting of (he society whcn members This has helped considerably to solved to amend the Rules of Ihe sociely to that e([eel, worked over the fortnight, how­ "Many will give up a lot of their ever, will continue to be 731­ establish accurate Jlight pictures spare time and don't mind great Approval has noW been given by the Registrar of Co­ hours as at present. of the ways these huge birds tra­ inconvenience to achieve their operative Societies to this llroposed amendment to the ltulcs. Surveys will be carried out verse enormous distances," (One objectst he said. It is envisaged thal loaliS of this amonllt will be solely for before, during and after trials to early Australian record shows "One group in Canberra the purpose of house purchase or house building and will ascertain staff atlitudes to the an albatross new 3027 miles in thinks nothing of getting up at re(luire securify satisfllclory to 'he Directors before such a total working situation. When 46 days, from the Crozet Islands 3,00 a.l11. on a Snnday to drive loan 81)lllicatioJl is appr.oved. the scheme was first announced to Triggs Island in Western Aus­ 40 miles up into the Brindabellas tralia.) This will probably have to be in the form of a first or a large majority of the slaHs to get their mist nets U[1 before second mortgage. concerned voted in favour of the An example of how bird dawn. They've been doing this The lenn of the lo"n will pI'Ob"bly not exeeed 15 years. experiment. banding can be of use in col­ for years and as a result have This is the first time that the lecting scienfific data on bird The interest rate will be Ihe same liS before - 7.8 I,er cent built up a good knowledge of reducing quarterly. nine-day fortnight idea has been migrations Was the study made the birds in those ranges. It introduced in the government in the 1950s by Dr D. L. Scr­ could be very useful 10 have this sector of Australia. venly when he blIilt up an ac- data at some time;" Griffith lab has rose "museum" Ever since history has been recorded there have been references to roses and the surprising thing about it all is that the roses named ill the legends have slllvived in their original species over not just hundreds of years, but over thonsands. T,,:,o people in .C~lRO who l:av~ taken a special interest in these original species are the ChIef of the DIVISIOn of IrngatIOn Research at Griflith Mr E. R. Hoare and lhe Divjsion's gardener, Mr Bob Dalgleish. A partnership which began between these two men 11 years ago when Bob first joined the slaff, has resulted nol just in the laboratories having an award-winning garden - it has won many competitions - but in their having a rose "museum" which has aroused much interest among both slalI and visitors.

From eurly summer (luough as it was known J with him and it Christianity," Bob said. "They to almost the middle of winter, became the inspiration for (he were frowned on then because the rose gardens llre filled wilh emblem of the House of Lan­ of their association with Romnn delicate blooms of pink and caster. paganism. Gradually. however, white, crimson and bluish­ "On the other hand, the House the flower was accepted again of York was inspired by an cqu~ and even became used in re­ purples. Petllts which grow ligious c~r~monial. The rosary strnight or crimped are set ally lovely white rose, R.. alba, which grew around the roadside beads, OflR1l1ullv made from rose against moss green foliagc and hedges of old England. Later hips, became of particular signi­ TIDES EXPERT LEAVES whether single Ol' double, the ficance to Catholics." the white rose of York and the flowers possess the helldy )Ier­ red rose of Lancaster were com­ The stories Bob and Eric In lite four years Dr David thought that the tidal currents fume which hns always been bined to form the Tudor rose, could be the means of transport­ Hoare between them can tell Webb (above) s)lent witlt lite old~fashioncd the emblem of the Royal House ing larvae and adult prawns in associated with about the roses are a legend. Division of Fisheries nnd roses. of England." They are happy to share their Oceanography at Crollulln, he their migrations." interest in the roses with other covered thousands of miles of A computer simulated model Rose "museum" Lcgcnd Divisions though, and as Bob Australia's coastline - most of of the workings of the tides in said, "If any other Division Walking around the gardens There is also a striped Damask litem from Itis desk al Cronull". the Gulf was made and from would like to establish a similar with Bob is like taking a step hybrid which has red splashed museum, I'd be happy to pro­ this the currents generated by pa~es on to white petals. botanically A tbeoretical physicist, David back into the of history, n them were calculated. "Out of called R. damascelw vel'sicolo-r, pagate cuttings for them. came to CSIRO from England this work I became interested for as he will tell you, in the While roses are a major in­ on a conlract to work for the oldcn days it was nothing for a around which many legends in tidal theory. I wanted to have have grown up. ''It's said that terest for Bob, the rest of the Division on the Northern Prawn a better understanding of the sultan to load 500 camels with gardens are not neglected for Project. His brief was to study rose water and make a trek the Lancastrians and Yorkis(s way tidal energy flows through had their brawl which precipi­ them. Each yea!", in consultation the tides of the survey area the ocean and how this energy is across the desert to purify some with Mr Hoare, he adds some which eXlended from the waters ancient temple which might tated the War of the Roses afIected by resonances. around a bush of versicolor new feature to the grounds. of South Queensland around have been recaptured by Arabs Date palms, onc of the plant the north of Australia to Nickol "A long wave whose crest is from Christian invad~rs. which was then growing in the Temple Gardens," Bob said. breeding projects in the 1930s, Bay in Western Australia and in the high tide and whose trough Emperors of a bygone era are now growjl1g in the spacious the Gulf of Carpentaria. is the Jow tide, moves eastwards would command their slaves to The GritIith "museum" has examples of each of these varie­ lawns and have rock gardens Having completed his last cal­ from the Indian Ocean and strew the paths of important under them. A shady corner has through the Timar Sea, across personages with petals. From ties which are still growing just culations on that project and as they did so many years ago. been built round a fish and lily many others he became in­ the continental shelf area be­ North Africa the Moors took pond and in 1970 to mark the lween Papua New Guinea and their roses across to Spain and ClDamask roses, of course, go bi-cenlenary of Cook, a garden terested in, David left Sydney Australia and then down into the recently on his return to Eng­ when the Spaniards invaded the right back into antiquity," Bob feature was formed around Gulf. It circulates there until it New World they took their said. "Four thousand years ago Callistemon vimin(/Us Captain land, leaving Australia consider­ dissipates. The area is unique­ ably wiser about the eITects of roscs with them. a Minoan artist painted one of Coo·k. the tides of its coastline and the about 15 per cent of the world's Phoenician and Greek lraders them on to a fresco and a vase currents of its surrounding tidal energy is lost in that part gathered the blooms from the which decorated the ancient of Australia." gardens of Asia Minor and car­ palace of Knossos on Crete. oceans. Excavations carried out as Jate David also investigated what ried them to Morocco for the Appointmcnt David was first recruited to great pcrflllne industries which as 1926 revealed the treasures CSIRO after he had completed forces control tides around Aus­ and experts clearly identified the tralia and how better tidal pre­ flourish to this day and the Dr R. J. Rose has joined the his Ph.D. in theoretical physics Romans introduced many varie­ species." Division of Horticultural Re­ at the University of Mauchester. dictions could be made avail­ able. "Our ability to do this has ties into England. Among Bob's favourites arc search, Adelaide. Dr Rose He spent the next 12 months on R. centifolia or the cabbage rosc gained a B.Sc. (Agr.) from a CSIRO post-doctoral fellow­ come about as a result of new techniques developed through and R.. foetido bicalo,. or the Sydney University in 1964. ship at Cambridge studying Mcdicines Austrian copper briar. The lat­ After two years with the New oceanography and working with studies of nuclear physics," he In the early days France was added. ter is said to be the forerunner South Wales Department of the Department of Applied a great rose-growing centre and of the modern roses which have Agriculture at AlstonviIle he Mathematics and Theorctical Similarly, he became inte­ in the time of Napoleon nearly since given us the beautiful undertook studies on the physio­ Physics. rested in moonlight predictions, every second shop in the town orange and yellow tonings. HEe_ logy of elongation and division (iThat was where I discovered a study which will help bio­ of Prov.ins was owned by an fore that-up to 1590-most in plant cells at Macquarie Uni­ th~toceanography apothecary. HThese men did a roses were pink and white with in EnRJand is logists in their investigations of versity and was awarded a Ph.D. flourishing business in the pre­ a few crimsons and scarlets in 1969. dominated by Australians." he the behavioural patterns of both said. "In that department alone, paration of rose petals for medi­ among them. rock lobsters and prawns. During the tenure of a CSIRO Iworked with three of them, all cinal purposes and their pro­ post - doctoral fellowship in dl$til)guished men in their field ducts were said to' be sure cures Artists 1970, Dr Rose worked at Carle­ At the cnd of four years in for indigestion, debility, throat - Dr Adrian Gill, Professor "R. centifolia is the rose that ton University, Ottawa. He George Bachelor and Dr Stuart Australia David began to feel and skin infections and eyc comes to the Division from a problems," Bob said. was so often used by the early Turner." he should return to England and masters in their paintings and lectureship at Massey Univer­ the decision was confirmed when At Cronulla, David's first as­ "In the 13th century Edmund, it still takcs pride of place in sity, New Zealand. signment was the prawn survey. he was awarded a Royal Society Earl of Lancaster, was sent to many gardens," Bob said. "Tides appeared to have an scholarship to work at the In­ Prov';ns to quell a revolt against the King of France. While he "About the only time roses eITcct on the biology and bc­ stitute of Oceanography and seem to have been out of favour haviour of the prawns and it was Tides at Liverpool. was there, Edmul1d fell in love was during the early days of London: Scientists studying with a local rose - the bola­ the eITeet of wind on buildings nical kind - called R. gallica found the roof of their research Wheu he returned to Eugland Bob Dalgleish relaxes in the station had been blown away by IAFEIY NOIEI he took the red Rose of Provins, gardens at Grlffith. a freak wind. An eyc conscrvation progl'3mmc Do you use power tools at home? If so- I CXIJcct they arc kept in safe workin~ order and you take commonseIlsc ))fCM cautions when usin~ them - )rCcHutions such as switching off and unpluggin~the power cord before mnking adjustments and always using the guards provided. But what about eye protection? Have you ever given it a thought? Probably not, because it is something which is neglected by most of those in the do-it-yourself field. It should not be. Particles thrown 0([ by power cutting or abrading tools such as saws, drills, sanders and grinders can inflict serious eye injuries. My advice is to invest in some good quality safety spectacles or goggles for the home work­ shop and to wear them whenever using tools of this type. This way you will be able to keep both eyes on the job. While on the subject of home workshops and eye protec­ tion, I should mention arc welding. As the son of a staff member recently discovered, even momentary exposure to the intense light generated by a welding arc can produce a painful conjunctivitis. A shield or helmet with a tinted filtcr must always be used by the welder and any helpers. Spccial care should be taken to avoid striking an arc when the eyes are unprotected - for example, when adjusting the work with the shield raised to obtain a better view. -GiI Barnes, Safety Officer.

171-1973 lan Munro to complete SOME LII(E IT HOT work on fishes book A project (0 dcfenlline whether (here is n difference in A grant of $12,845 from the Fishing Industries Research HlC temperatures in which Tmst will allow Mr lan Munro of the Division of Fisheries Melane.oIliuns null Europeans and Oceanography to complete work begun nearly 20 years prcfol' to live in (heir homes is being undertaken by the !Ja1ma ago on a book of Australian fishes. New Guinea branch office of Ihe Division of Building Re­ The money has been given to grants to go to Ceylon to gather search. the Dh'ision to allow them to material for a similar book on CIllI)loy a research scientist to the freshwater and marine fishes The data collected from the nssist lUll with the IJrclloration of that country. survey should pl'ovide useful information to architects and of Ihe ma/erill" The book will The Ceylon book was even­ the building industry in Papua be similar to the ones he has tually published in 1955 and the New Guinea. 1I1ready produced on the fishes PNG onc in 1967. Mr lan Munro at work in his laboralory at Cronulla. of Papua New Guinea lll1d The Envi1'Onmental Assess­ Ceyhm. In the middle of his prepara­ tion of the Australian book, lOIn ment Project is part of the Ian's interest in doing this work being carried out into was assigned to the Gulf Prawn different aspects of t1'Opical work was slarted not so much Survey, a research programme Or Lennox for London building, especially in Papua as a special assignment from which eventually gave Australia New Guinea, by the branch the Division but rather because a multi-million dollar industry. When Dr F. G. Lennox (be­ While he is in London, Dr which was established in Ihe then Chief, Dr Harold Although the field work was low), Chief of the Division of Lcnnox will have specific duties Moresby more than j() years Thompsoo, encouraged his staff completed on that study some IJrotcin Chemistry, of the Wool to perform but for much of the ago. Other programmes it has to take up some sort of hobby Rcsenrch Lahoratories Group, time he will be free to follow undertaken include the collec­ years ago, the writing up of the those pursuits which will be o[ that was related 10 their work takes up his UI)poinhnent' in tion of solar radiation data and survey results in still continuing greatest interest to the Organiza~ Gut not necessarily included in London next month as Chief problems of algae on concrete and much of this work has fallen tion 01' his own field of research, their formal duties. ScicntiHc Liaison omccr, he will buildings in the tropics. The to Ian. the industrial utilisation of pro­ branch also provIdes an in­ investigatc a numbcr of mnHers "I decided to look at fish eggs "[Jut I always wanted to com­ tein materials. formation service on building which arc of intcrcst to the and larvae and spent a lot of plete the work on the Australian "I also want to look at en­ research. Executivc and various Divisions my own time as well as the Divi­ fishes and now with this grant vironmental science/' he said, he hlls visited in tbe last two Mr. Ken Biggs of the Build­ sion's on it. But I soon ran into wc will be able to finish gather­ c'because this is of special CO!1p monlhs. cern at the moment to CSIRO." ing Practices Group of the a problem ...I realised there ing the material. When Ihe Division, has returned to was no book on Australian scientist is appointed we will Among these is the growing Dr Lennox's appoipJment is a HigheU after a six months fishes and before I could hope visit each of the State museums awareness of the role social break-away from tradition in term in Moresby where he was to identify Ihe larvae I had to and a lot of work will also be scientists can play in research that instead of spending the eus" the resident officer and in know something about the adult done at the Australian Museum being undertaken by CSIRO. tomary 18 months overseas, his charge of the project. Fourteen term will be for three years with fish. here in Sydney, I imagine that homes of three different types a familiarisalion tour back to of construction and all occupied "I started building up infor­ it will take three years for the Australia mid-way through the by Melanesians had had mation on these and then in preparation. After that we'lJ period. thermographs installed in them start talking about its publica­ 1956 the Commonwealth De­ His departure will make him in the same way as had homes partment of Primary Industry tion." missed in many areas bolh in­ 01' a similar group of Euro­ thought it would be a sound idea In the meantime more of side und outside CSIRO which peans in an earlier part of the survey, he said. (0 publish the work in a series Ian's work has appeared in a he has served since 1936. He of 'centre spreads' in the 'Aus­ special supplement of "Impulse"j has been Deputy Chancellor of The occupants were asked to tralian Fisheries Newsletter' Monash University fol' the last a journat published by Win­ five years and is closely asso­ fin in assessment cards four (now 'Australian Fisheries'). throp, a subsidiary of Sterling ciated with the Victoria Institute times a day during November Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd. of Colleges, just to start with. 1972 and February 1973. A "This was begun but because further survey will be under­ of different pressures of work, The company is publishing a Qr Lennox will be accom­ taken this month. During these had a rather eratic life cycle. Wc series on venomous Australian panied by his wife, Fran, a months Moresby typically ex­ reached the forty-second part plants, fish and animals and the botanist. "I'm hoping she'l! be periences three distinct types of and then had to abandon the two features on venomous and able ~D help. me in many ways. weather - the hot, dry dol­ espeCially wlth a project I hope drums, the wet monsoon, and project. Jl poisonous fish, their identifica­ tion, symptoms and treatments, to starl. ...I would like to the cool, dry south-cast trade The compilation of such a Dr. F. G. Lennox establish some Australian plants winds. have been specially prepared for at ASLO," he said. complex book is not new to Ian. Winthrop by Dr R. V. SouthcoU. The same assessment cards Earlier he was asked by the "There's considerable interest Off duty, Dr Lennox is plan­ were also filled in by the Euro­ Department of Agriculture, They arc based on the text to in this field, but as yet some of ning toindulge in his interest in pean occupants of a further Stock and Fisheries (DA-SF) iu be used in "The Neurological our staff are cautious. They music. A violinist, he has played eight homes as a control to link would like to know more of the with various slring groups over Port Moresby to work on the Effects of Noxious MarineCrea­ ways such scientists are being with earlier results. tures" which is to be published the years and during a recent production of a book on the used in overseas scientific or­ trip to London picked up a shortly. lOIn has been respon­ The resident officer of the fisheries of Papua New Guinea, ganisations, particularly in the "fairly valuable" instrument at branch visits the 22 homes each and in 1951 he was the recipient sible for the iIlustration& of areas of urban planning and Sotheby's. week during the survey, Ken of onc of the first Colombo Plan fishes, rays and ecls. land use/' Dr Lennox said. When he leaves Parkville said, collects cards, changes the the Assistant Chief, Dr W. G. thermograph charts and dis­ Crewthel', will look ufter the cusses the progress of the survey Division until a new Chief is with the family so that a good appointed. liaison is built up between Staff advise on wildlife publication ------them. A new encyclollcdia on Aus~ is chaired by Sir Macfarlane search work in We..~tern and tralian 1101'a and fauna, called Burnel. The membership of the South Australia. She is the Ms Maud Diala, one of the Melaneslans co-operaling In the "Ausfralia's Wildlife Heritage", board is made up of a group of author of three books on Aus­ EnVironmental Assessment Project in Moresby, fills in her card (lnblished by I'aul Hamlyn, distinguished Australlan scien­ tralian grasses and has written aftar one 01 her checks on the thermograph. made its Bl)pearancc in ncws­ tists and several CSIRO per­ several booklets on plants found agents and bookshollS last sonalities arc included. They in the vicinity of the ACT. monfh. are: • Dr D. F. Waterhouse, Chief The project is a 70 cents-a­ • Dr Nancy Burbidge who of the Division of Entomology, week method of obtaining a until last month was the Cura­ who is also Chairman of the series which is designed to make tor of the Herbarium Austra­ Council of the Canberra College Australians aware of the urgent liense (Division or Plant Indus­ of Advanced Education and was need for conservation of plants, try), who has lived in Canberra President of the 14th Interna­ animals and birds in their own since 1946 following earlier re- tional Congress of Entomology. country. Recently awarded the 1973 The series will contain 3360 RIYETT Faner Medal, Dr Waterhollse pages of material, including has just returned to Canberra 5000 illustrations and has a LECTURE from a FAO conference on the foreword by the Duke of Edin­ resistance of insects to pesti­ The 1973 Rivell Lec­ cides, held in Rome. burgh in his capacity as Presi­ ture will be delivered by dent of the Australian Conserva­ Professor Can-all Wil­ • Dr L. I. Webb of the Rain tion Foundation. Itwas launched liams, Bussy Professor of Forcst Section of the Div.ision of by the Prime Minister, Mr. Biology at Harvard Uni­ Plant Industry who is Vice-Pt'e­ Whitlam, and endorsed commer­ versity, Cambridge, USA. sident of the Wildlife Preserva­ cially by Mrs Whitlam ([unds to The lecture which was tion Society of Queensland and go to the Foundation). A per­ established in memory of a Councillor of the Australian centage of the profits is to be Sir David Rivell, a for­ Conservation Foundation. Hc donated by the publishers to mer Chairman of CSIRO, was chief editor of "The Last selected national and State con­ will this year be given at of the Laods" and is the author servation societies. the University of Ade­ of liThe Environmental Boo­ The authors of Ihe work arc laide on 20 Sentember. merang" and a number of other Vincent Serventy and Robert Its title will be: "All you scientific publications. Raymond, two of Australia's wanted to know about in­ • Dr D. L. Servcnty, a re~ best-known naturalists. sect hormones ... but tired CSIRO scientist from the An Editorial Advisory Board were afraid to ask". Division of Wild life Research, was set up for the project which is also a member of the Board.

171-1973 7888 and the coLony- NEW CHIEF FOR ANIMAL First ANZAAS in Sydney HEALTH "Tuesday evening saw sqneezed into the Grcat Hall of Sydncy University an almost Prol"essor A. K. Lascelles bewildcring amonnt of knowlcdgc - more, in fact, than could be sccn on the samc night (right), Professor of Dairying at undcr any roof in Sydncy now that Parliamcnt is in rcccss ••." the University 'of Sydlley, ha. Strikes were not new even tions on meteorology, sea been appointed Chief of the So said the Sydney Morn­ Division of Animal Health. ing Herald in August 1888 then on the industrial scene, one depths, temperatures and cur­ speaker claiming they were rents, terrestrial magnelism, Making the announcement, in the columns devoted to caused "through selfishness, ig~ natural history and geology as the Minister for Science, Mr W. the first meeting of the Aus­ norance and greed" which af­ well as the commercial value of L. Morrison, said the vacancy tralasian Association for the fected the whole field 01 colonial seals and whales. had been created throu.h the labour, albeit the men had a appointment of the former Advancement of Science, the The possibility of the dis­ Chie(, Dr A. E. Pierce, to the right to express their grievances. covery of minerals was not to forerunner of ANZAAS. The deep draillage system of Executive last year. A glance hock over these be overlooked, but his special Adelaide was the envy of col­ interest lay in the auroral acti~ Professor Lascelles is a early files is enough to make leagues in Melbourne and vity which it was being said, physiologist with experience in anyone s(ol) and thinh:: nbout the Sydney when an engineer on the might be in some way related to many related fields, inclllding association with Us aim of the scheme claimed Adelaide was weather changes in Australia. radiology, experimental surgery, advancement of science, while the c1eancsl city in the colony experimelltal pathology and im­ the reports of the addresses and had the lowest death rate. "If this be so," he said, "and mUllology. . given tQ the 750 people present the ll-year period o[ auroral Mr J. J. Wild gave a learned He is best known scientifically give an insight (0 many of the oration on "the outline of an­ activity can in some way be questions of the day. correlated with our Australian for hi. work on the analysis of thropological science which," Professor A. K. Lasceiles n was not, for instance, for he saiu, "was a new disdpline cycles of drought and abund­ immunity to mastitis and has Mr S. H. Cox to be concerned developed by the illtense intel­ ance, the aurora in Australia achieved an international re­ then with the genesis of hyd ro­ lectual activity of the 19th cen­ will have acquired a new in­ putation for his research on the thermal and magmatic ore de­ tury.ll terest. ... transfer or immllnoglobulillS to Winners take milk alld other body fluids. posits l a subject on this month's And Professor Black, talking "The exploration of these ANZAAS orogramme. Rather, about chemistry and mineralogy, regions is a task, which, by our Professor Lascelles is 42, mar­ he was still concerned with gold had the foresight to claim that geographic position and wealth, ried and has four children. He the cash and the reckless way millers had chemistry was of great import­ is thrown on Australia as a duty graduated B.V.Se. (1952) and squandered their returns, onc ance to education and should be which cannot be evaded if we M.V.Se. (1959) from the Uni­ About 360 optimistic gam­ having been so unbalanced as lo taught as a subject in secondary have any adequate conception versitv of Sydney and received blers tumed up to a funetioll at have had his horse shod with schools. of our great position in the sou~ hi. Ph.D. from the Australian Head Office last month for the National University in 1963. drawing of a raffle - the first From 1962-63 he was senior prize was worth $1000 in travel research fellow in the Dairy Re­ ticket. or $800 in cash. search Ullit of the Department Club President, Harry Kwong, of Animal Husbandry, Univer­ explailled that it had origillally sity of Sydney, and during the been the committee's inlention next two years was acting dir~ to specify the prize would be a ector of the unit. ticket for two to a romantic Pacific island - possibly Mum­ He will take up his appoint­ roa -- but it had been decided ment towards the cnd of the year. to allow the winner(s) to "do their own thing". He also made it quite plain that the raffle was not in a,d of allY charity. It was a straight­ Tea ladies please note: Ac­ out way of making money for cording to a report from Lon­ the club's Christmas fnnd. don, scientists have .come up The Chairman, Dr J. R. Price, with the perfect method of mak­ drew the lucky number which ing a "cuppa". Turning their went to Martin Cornbe, a mem­ backs on everything their grand­ ber of the finance section at mothers taught them, the ex­ Head Olliee, and his wife, Mar­ perts, who work for the British jorie. Nineteen prizes of $10 Standard Institute, have decreed each were also drawn. it is NOT necessary to warm the After a weekend of careful teapot first. delibemtion, the Combe family settled for the cash prize but But, they say, the milk should may spend part of it 011 a holi­ go in the cup {ir.t alld ~ this is day. very important - the pot should stand for six minules. No more. No less. New D.Se. Dr A. F. Bird of the Division .of Horticultural Research, Ade­ laide, has been awarded a D.Sc. Bridge surgery by the University of Edinburgh for a thesis entitled "The Root­ knot Nematode". The thesis in Darwin collects together almost 16 years of research findings concerned A joint. elTort betweell the with the development, growth Division of Bllilding Research, and morphology of the root­ Highett, and the Commonwealth knot nematode and its relation­ Department of Works ha. saved ship with host plants. a footbridge in Darwin. At the request of the Depart­ ment, Mr E. N. Mattisoll re­ A family iesson in astronomy in Melbourne. This picture Is reproduced from the "The Australlall cently spent a week in Darwin Sketcher", 2 February 1880. It accompanied an article on Hayley's comet In which the author seemed supervising repairs to one of the none too sure about the Influence comets mlghl have on the earth's surface. He noted the spans of a pedestrian overpass co-Incidence, however, that such "apparitions" sometimes appeared in conjunction with a good which crosses Bagot Road, a six­ wine harvest and was optimistic about that year's grape season. lalle divided highway. The prestressed concrete span gold. But with vision he added: Scientists like Sir James Hec­ thern seas and any healthy am­ had been severely damaged by "Australia is essentially a min­ tor from across the Tasman, bition which transcends produc­ heavy earlhmoving equipment, ing conntry ... and it alTers brought first hand accounts of ing the best kind of wool or the and while basic repairs had been every inducement for the further the volcanic eruption at Tara­ finest wine or raising gold and made by the Department of development of its resources". wcra when the famous pink and silver. Works, it was still necessary to "Vaurien" a Hero"l commcn~ white lerraces were totally de­ attend lo the remaining cracks in tator, was pleased to havc an stroyed and there was excite­ "If ever an Australian states­ order to protect the steel pre­ assurance from Mr R. L. J. El­ ment in the zoological air over man had a chance of immor­ stressing rods from corrosion, lery that the recent observations t he discovery of the pineal or talising his name it is now,I' said and to restore the span to its of canals or channels on Mars third eye in some lizards like original stilTness. were not the work of Martian New Zealand's tuatara. the enthusiastic Mr Griffith•. inhabitants. "Where is the politician with a The Division has had con­ "These observations havc But perhaps one of the most mind suillciently educated and siderable experience in using been dilated upon by science interesting picture. of the day with views sllfficiently broad to epoxy resins to "heal" cracks in "Come on in-the pollution fiction writers," said Mr Ellery, came from Mr G. S. Griffiths grasp the situation and to crown concrete, and during his time in is at a tolerable level." "who claim that the canals have who addressed the congress on Darwin Mr Mattison was able Au.trala.ia's duty in Antarctica. his brows with immortal laurels been dug for irrigation or othcr by taking a step which would to effect repairs to the 30 feet of cracking involved. The foot­ great engineering purposes." Claiming an expedition should secure for this colony universal bridge was subsequently success­ Editor: A person employed Social problems of the day be sellt south, he said that it allusion and the approbation of revolved around a fungus mould should have as its aims a "flying fully proof-loaded. on a newspaper, whose busi­ the entire civilised world. in bread caused by contami­ surveyor the coasllille lying If this combined repair opera­ ness it is to separate the wheat nated baking vessels, and ty­ withill the Alltarclic circle and "If we do not move in this tion had not been carried out, it from the chaff, and 10 see that phoid. the conditions of milk the discovery of waterways matter speedily, Germany will would have been Ilecessary to Ihe chaff Is printed. and infant mortality ill Qneens­ which might lead to the South forestall us to our mortification consider replacing the span, at a n land Pole." It should make observa- and disgrace. cost of at least $20,000. Printed by CSIRO, Melbourne

171-1973 172##1973

For circulation among members olGSIRO staff

September 1973 Head Office announces Organization changes A revised structure has been approved for Head Office and became operative last month. The Secretariat now comprises five groups reporting to the Executive Officer, Dr J. A. Alien, instead of the previous three. This has involved the separation of the previous CommunicRtion Services Group and the Central Library and Information Services from the Administrative Branch. The former Communication Clive Garrow has been ap­ Services Group has heen rc­ pointed to the position of Man­ numed the Central Communica­ ager of the Information Servicc. tion Unit. Mr Gcurge Williams Mr B. J. Walby will continue as Editor-in-Chief of what will has the new title of Mnnagcr of now be called the Editorial and the UnU and will be rcsllol1siblc Publications Service. for dcvclulJlllCn'S and their im~ A new position of Senior 1)Ic-mentation in the Held of Assistant Secretary has been ad­ "Brew-up" time on an early morning trip to study the wildlife In the Eurobodalla Shire sees puhlic communication in those ded to each of the Agricultural Dave Shorthouse (GAE) getting some advice on how to boil Ihe billy from team mates (from left) arcus which nrc not the reSI)OIlR and Biological Sciences and the Egons Everson (LUR), John Morris (GAEl. Peter Rlchardson (LUR), Henry Nix (LUR) and Mike Austin sibility of Divisions mul See­ Industrial and Physical Sciences (LUR). (LUR: Land Use Research; GAE: Ganbell'a Go liege of Advanced Educatlon.) ~ ions, the Central- Library and Branches to relieve Messrs A. Editorial Section ~md the two F. GUI'nett-Smith and J. P. Hc~ul SheHon of some of their work. QUiee Science Branches. These positions will also be ad­ vertised soon. (SI RO makes land use Another change has come in the reconstituted Central Lib­ It is intended that the co­ rary and Information Services. ordinaling responsibilily for en­ vironmental maUcrs at Head This is now the Central In­ Office level will be vested in survey on South Coast formation, Library and Edi­ Biolo~ical brin~ the Agricultural and torial Section. It will to­ Sciences 13 ranch. gether the existing Editorial and Eurobodalla Shire on the south coast of New South Wales has been the scene of a Publications Section and the Other changes include the quiet invasion over the last few months by a team of scientists from the Division of Land provision of two new senior Central Library and Informa­ Use Research in Canberra. tion Services into one group. positions in the Administrative Branch - Senior Assistant Sec­ With the impending retire­ retary (Administration) and The team, led by Dr Mike reminiscent of those in the Mike and the team on a wild­ ment of the Chief Librarian, Senior Assistant Secretary Austin, is undertaking a Snowy M-ountains. life survey in the area. Miss Betty Doubleday, the posi­ (Finance and Properties), Messrs The coastal areas provide tion of officer-in-cha r~c will be pilot survey of both the en­ further contrasts with their Surveys .I. Coombe and R. W. Viney A lot of the work has neces­ advertised soon .on an inter­ have been appointed to these vironmental aud social re­ mangrove-fringed estuaries, national basis. sources of the shire. This is farms, coastal lakes and dunes, sarily to be done out in the positions. field and the Division is one , all of which make it a popular Until an appointment is made Mr G. D. McLennan has being done at the request that is well equipped and skilled Mr L. G. Wilson will be tem­ been appointed to a new posi­ place with families from Can­ of the NSW Department of bcrra and Wollon~ong. in the a rt of doing surveys in porarily responsible for looking tion of Assistant Secretary (Ex­ rugged terrain. after the Section, Miss Double­ the Environment, which be­ To comptement the study of ternal Relations). The other Already the team has travel­ day having relinquished her positions of Assistant Secretary lieves the iuformation which the shire's physical resources, post to undertake special duties Mike and his team are hoping ted hundreds of miles in four­ (Personnel) and Assistant Sec­ could lIow from such long­ wheeled drive vehicles over until her time of departure, retary (Finance and Supplies) term comprehensive surveys to learn how changing land use affects thc prosperity of (he land some of which is fit only Mr Peter Drlwe has succeeded are to be advertised within as this could provide an in­ for goats to move around on. her as Chief Librarian and M r CSIRO. people who live in the region valuable gnide for the or use it, and their environ­ They put one vehicle over a mental preferences. bridge that hadn't been used balanced development of its for ycars only to find the logs coastal regions. The depth of the survey, were rotten and they were left New project will assist however, and the timc it takes miles from anywhere with a The purpose of the project to complete, is at present Landrover that was up to its provide an extensive amount of however, is not so much to limited by the resources of the ax (cs in space between terra the back-up services. Under the ob(ain a complete picture of Division itself. nrma.and a deep creek and no Colombo Plan, the Australian every facet of the Eurobodalla So far about a dozen people available help. Thais with Government will also provide Shire, but rather to develop are involved to varying degrees They have made aerial re­ equipment - valued at about methods for gathering and an­ but outside Mike, only three connaissances with assistance others have as yet been en­ $90,000. There will be arrange­ alysing such information so that from the Naval Station at gaged on the work on a full­ ments for counterpart training anyone else in Allstralia want­ Nowra and have spent time baby foods of Thai graduates in Thailand ing to do a similar regional time basis. They are Dr Doug camping in the bush. "And that Cocks, Dr Bob Galloway and and possibly also in Australia. sllldy would have available a hasn't always been like the Mr (Job Gunn. Dr Alex lIuellllllan (right) system by which it could cany holiday it might sound. what who Ims heen in charge of the OLlt the work in an effective with cold winter rain and manner. Appointment New Foods Group 01 the Dairy leeches trying to creep into our This month will see an inno­ Research Laboratory, HigheH, From such surveys the sleeping bags," Mike said. "For authorities concerned can then vation for lhe Division with the all that, the survey has been hns becn seconded to the De­ decide what are the most sllit~ appointment of itsfirsl human IUufmcnt of Foreign Affairs pretty easy .in comparison with able uses of the land resources geographer. He is Dr Peter some of the ones the Division for a hvo-ycar tcrm to work in within their areas. This also ap­ Laul, an Australian who has has undertaken in northern Tbnilund. plies to the Eurobodalla Shire been working in Canada and Australia." where it is for the authorities who will also become a full­ To date more than 100 far­ He left Australia Jast month to deCide how best to use their time mernbcr oC the team. mers have been interviewed for Bangkok where he will as­ land - it is not for the team to "The learn is also planning and on only two occasions has sist the Institute for Food Re­ make such decisions for them. to work closely with CRES, the there not been immediate and search and Product Develop­ Centre for Resource and En­ friendly co-operation and even ment, Kasetsart Universily, in Locatioll vironmental Studies of the Aus­ then, a few moments of discus­ their project to produce low­ The Eurobodalla Shire tralian National University," sion wilh tcam members were cost, high protein weaning stretches from the fishing ports Mike added. "They intcnd to all lhat was necessary to ob­ foods for infants. of Ulladulla in the north to appoint two research fellows tain their hel,), His appointment follows a Bermagui in the south and runs to work on the social aspects of In addition to the ficld work, request from the Thai Govern­ at times about 65 kilometres in­ the study, which will comple­ much of the team's time is ment to the Government of land. It covers an area of ment the environmental and spent back in their Canberra Australia to provide a research The main aim of the pro­ about 6000 square kilometres biological work of the Divi­ oJIices where among olher scIentist for their programme gramme.is the development of (2300 square miles). The shire sion." things, data have to be pro­ which also includes develop­ weaning foods which will be varies widely from the sand­ Some of the staff of the Can­ cessed for information storage mental work on other foods, based as much as possible on stone plateaus in the north, berra College of Advanced and retrieval which will be Dr Buchanan's work in Bang­ local raw materials. They will (similar to those around Education have expressed in­ used along with the compu­ kok will be part of a Colombo be designed to suit the eating Sydney) to the Tuross area in terest in the project and at the terised mapping facilities being Plan project and the Thais will Cont'd on p. 4. the south with its trout streams, beginning of last month joined developed by the Division. CSIROi'S first rainmaker retires Canberra has put the "closed" stamp on the file of Australia's first rainmaker, Mr Jack Cotterill, one of the legendary personalities around CSIRO. After 35 years, Jack has "I knew I had to get him out radar facilities could be put out • d' I 0 • but he was unconscious," Jack of action by dropping showers retIre lfOID tIe rganlz8- said. "Then the plane went on of tinfoil, a process known as tion where he was on the fire and I had to work quickly. "window dropping". headquarters clerical staff. I put my weight behind him "Some of this stuff was and pulled and broke both his He plans now to "get a legs in the process. We weren't ~~~UyhAe~t~nAili~n:~~ti~e~h~K couple more hours sleep a supposed to be flying because we dropped it," Jack said. "Our day, go trout fishing twice a the plane wasn't registered so radar blokes at the coastal sta- I pitched the doctor a tale that month and help the family Arthlll', who was a builder, had tions hadn't heen told about it and there were screams from in their farming and garage fallen from the scaffolding. them up and down the coast enterprises". UWhen Arthur regained con- when the screens were put out sciousness, he didn't remember of action. But we proved the Jack joincd CSIR in 1938 as the accident and the doctors point about its effectiveness." "mechanician", a title he held told him he had had this fall. uniil' if was changed (0 the less For a long time he believed Instructor pretentious "mechanic" after that that was what had hap- Back in his home Territory the war years. About 1950 lie pened." after the war Jack continued Jack Colterll!, one of Australia's pioneer flyers and one of transferred 10 the cledcal staIT Of course, in tell ing the story, flying and was chief instructor CSIRO's best-known personalities, has retired. From now on and became a purchasing Jack makes no mention of the for the Canberra Aero Club. he plans to catch troul and get in two more hours sleep a day. officer. risk he took in rescuing some­ The patron was then Mr Casey, one from a burning aircraft. later to become Australia's Talk to people round CSIRO Governor-General, and onc of they were reluctant to part with His chief worry then was to get and they'll tell you countless But then, you wouldn't expect him to say anything about that. Jack's pupils was Lady Casey. it. Eventually, however, they the aircraft down without en­ stories about Jack Collerill. were prevailed upon to do so tangling the c'ontrols in the nets They'll lell you "he's a great Jack combined his flying in­ on the condition that it was he was trailing to catch insects. bloke, a real genuine sorl of RAAF service terests with his mechanical ones returned immediately after­ He also flew for Dr F. Ral­ person," and then they'll say: and became pit manager and wards. c1iITe when he was carrying out "Did you hear about the time When war broke out Jack mechanic for the champion "Well, you might have known rabbit population research. he ...H And off they go with volunteered for service with the Australian racing driver, Alex it! The only flag to be dam­ "There were compensations for yet another tale that makes you RAAF and became an instruc­ Mildren. the low-flying 1 had to do ... wonder what sort of person tor. He spent some time in aged when we took them down Over the years he had huilt was that one," Jack recounted. we worked in some of the back Jack Collerill really is. Papua New Guinea and then up a wide circle of friends and country and I was able to mark became Commanding Officer of "It was beyond repair. I was By the age of 20 Jack had colleagues who ranged from asked what I could do about it. down some good trout streams the RAAF Station at Mascot. service pCJsonncl to sporting where no one else was likely to developed an interest in flying Some of his duties. as one I had a friend in Sydney who and in 1928 learned to fly with personalities, from politicians to made na~s but he went up in go," Jack added. "I've got might well expect, were scarcely those who lived in Vice Regal sOl11e of them earmarked for the Royal Aero Club in New orthodox. the air at the suggestion he South Wales. He bccame the circles. And it was because he make onc for this particular my relirement." first person in the ACT to hold CSIR had been asked to ex­ was so highly respected by all country since he was nol a pilot's licence and it wasn't periment with rainmaking pro­ those who were associated with licensed to do so. long before he was instructing cedures to help relieve drought him that he was able to open Honour for Chief for the Canberra Aero Club. conditions which were being so many doors when as pur­ ufl took a liltle friendly pcr­ experienced. Someone was ehasing omcer he wanted things suasion and few reminders of Dr P. J. Claringbold, Acting He built an aeroplane known done for CSIRO. old flying days together but Chief of the Division of Com­ as the Flying Flea, the first to needed to fly the aircraft to drop the malerial on to the leThat's where I got so much eventually it was agreed that puting Research, has been be built in Australia powered the flag would be made. It was elected an Ordinary Member of by a single cylinder engine. clouds, and Jack agreed to do ,satisfaction in my work," he the job. said. "1 prided myself I could rushed to Canberra overnight, the International Statistical In­ Later this was dismantled and not without a few incidents, stitute. Although Dr Claring­ an improved version con­ get anything anyone wanted or it "But in those days people find the bits to make it." but we had ready to return to bold's original training was in structed. didn't appreciate what scien­ the embassy the next morning. veterinary sciencel in more re­ "In those days Ainslie was tists were trying to do and New flag It was duly flown from their cent years he developed a com­ the edge of Canberra," Jack there'd have been all hell to hoildings for some time to prehensive interest in the recalled. "There was a cow pay if we'd caused a flood and Around Canberra they tell come after that. If they re­ application of statistics to bio­ paddock we used to fly from at ruined the crops. Or if a flood the story about Jack and the cognised the change, no one logical research. ever reported it to us." the edge of Ebden Street, but I occurred naturally and the far­ flag of an embassy which shall With the advent of com­ admit there were times when mers knew about our experi­ remain nameless. ments, we'd have got the blame. Jack's flying ability ha. often puters, he evolved methods for we took off from the street in­ Some years ago there was an come in handy. On one occa­ collection and analysis of bio­ stead and then flew out over the So 1 just used to write those trips down to 'lest flights'." he international scientific meeting sion he was seconded to fly the logical data which make use paddock." being held in Canberra and of the automation computer said. mail from Albury to Canberra On one occasion Jack wit­ each country represenled was to when there was no service from techniques offered. nessed his partner, Arthur There was also the time when have its flag flown. Bnt there Melbourne bevond that town. DI' Claringbold has been Powell, crash into a field. He some people believed radar was was one country for which no Acting Chief of the Division was trailing behind in his car an infallible way of detecting flag was available. The em­ Another time he flew a plane during the absence in London and reached the aircraft just the arrival of enemy aircraft. bassy concerned hall one it flew for Dr Max Day when he was of Dr G. N. Lance, who has before it burst into flames. Tests in Europe had shown that over its omces, but naturally doing myxamatosis experiments. been the Chief Scientific Liai­ son Oflicer in the United Kingdom. Prawn boats llelp In nortllern survey Mr Roger Morse, Chief of The crews of more than 300 keep logs which would contain To reach the men he has used where the men are if you want the Division of Mechanical En­ for~ Ilrawn boats have been he1lling information useful to both the whatever means of travel were their help." gineering at Highett and a Division and themselves. necessary or available. This has The log books are supplied mer past-president of the Inter­ CSIRO with its Northernl'rllwn included boats. four-wheel drive to the fishermen by the Divi­ national Solar Energy Society, Survey, n major J'cseurch IJr()~ The liaison oHicer appointed to work with them was C1arrie vehicles an.d sea planes. sion. The men fill in the data has been re-elected as one of gramme which is being carried Brown and, along with another "You'll sit up there at Weipa about their catch - the dates, the 25 members of the Society's out by the Division of Fisheries Cronulla colleagne, Len Brown, sometimes, maybe for three its size, location and the types Board of Directors. M l' Frank and Ocennogrullhy, Cronulla. he has since established a good weeks, wailing for the flcet to of prawns found. These may Hogg of the Division has heen working relationship with the range from blueleg, king and reappointed its secretary-trea­ Started in 1969, the project come in:' Clarrie said, "only to fishermen throughout the region. find they've gone la K·arumba. banana to endeavour and tiger surer. has aimed at establishing the or a general assortment. Two other Australians were various types of prawns avail­ There's not many of them Sometimes it's all straight for­ now that Clarrie wouldn't know. ward, but you've gal to go The men fill in three copies also eleeted to the Board at its able in commercial quantities of the log pages, one of which recent international meeting in and where and when the they keep for their own records Paris. They are Mr J. G. Baker, prawns arc located. and the other two are sent back a Sydney businessman. and Dr It also seeks to ascertain the to the Division. N. R. Sheridan of the Univer­ size and rate of development of "If they refer to their records .ity of Queensland. The Society the prawns, to determine the over the years they'll see a pat­ has its headquarters in Mel­ type of water and its nutrient lern emerging which may be bourne. conlent in which the prawns are pretty useful to them," Clarrie likely to be found. and to study said. their spawning and migratory uWe've

172-1973 Gondwana scientists meet Campaign for Three members of Ihe stuft' of • Palaeogeography, including the Division of Mineralogy, palaeoclirnate and palaco­ fruit fly to Sydney, were among the 200 magnetism. scientists who visited CUllhcrrn • Gondwana flora, lust month for the Third rnlcr­ nnfion"1 Condwanu SymJwsiull1. e Age and stratigraphical rela­ be considered tions of glacial deposits. They were Or M. Shiboaka, When fhe Commonwealth Ms Michelle Smythe and Mr • Advances in stratigraphy and and Stales Entomology Corn.. A. J. R. Bennett, who along palaeontology. miU-cc meets in Lae in PUlmu with a university collaborator, New Guinen next monlh it will • Tectonics, igneous activity, Mr R. A. Brillco, presented a geochrono1ogy, structural geo­ huve on ifs agenda the ques­ paper in the section on the ell M logy and the continental tion of an eradication cam­ vironment and origin of Gond­ margins. Plligll to get rid of fhe Queens­ walla coal. land fnlit fly from Australia. The wide range of topics Following the conference, Jim Noble checks Ihe growlh rale of dlllon bushes growing at the The Standing Committee on under discussion gave some idea field trips were arranged which Denlliquln iaboratories. of the complex issues which allowed the participants to Agriculture has asked the are being raised by scientists on make a study of Australian Tasmania. In Western Australia Australia the scientists studied CSEC to look into the fea­ Gondwana. Apart from the Gondwana glacial deposits in the Perth and Carnarvon Basins the Sydney Basin, including the sibility of such a campaign and coal section they included: South Australia, Victoria and were visited and in Eastern Hunte!' Valley region. . suggestions for this have been prepared by Or Alan Bateman of the Division of Entomology's Fruit Fly Uait which works out of the Department of Zoology Evidence of 'super-continent' mounting at the University of Sydney. A campaign to get rid of the For many people, the concerning the theory of the Discoveries dence to suggest it was capable insect in Australia has been break-up of the super-con­ In 1967-68 Or Peter Ba rrett , of crossing ocean barriers. considered for some time but Gondwanaland story is still tinent and its subsequent con­ a piece of science fiction, a New Zealander working with Flora research the major problem has been the tinental drift. the Ohio University (USA) team, vast areas involved, the cost The distribution patte,,;s of but throughout the world In 1947 an amateur geologist came across a fragment of a of covering them, and the de­ the existeuce of the former visited the Department of Earth fossilised jnw of a labyrintho­ certain flora•.like the fauna velopment of suitable tech­ donI. An amphibian this ani­ discoveries, have also been cite\! niques, especially those in rain super-continent comprising Sciences at the Washington l University and tried with great mal was a representative of a as proof of the Gondwana forest regions. theory and a CSIRO scientist at least Australia, Africa, persistence - and frustration­ group which inhabited the But Australia is not the only who is investigating this as­ to present what he claimed was earth during the late Palaeozoic country concerned with such Malagasy, South America, pect is Jim Noble of the Divi­ llconcrete evidence" of the and Triassic times, abollt 200 eradication projects. In recent sion of Land Use Research India and Antarctica has existence of Gondwanaland. He miJlion yeaJ"S ago. years the Queensland fruit fly laboratories at Deniliquin. become widely accepted. received no sympathy and his Where one such fragment has greatly increased its range For three or four years Jim ideas were dismissed. had been found l chances were of distribution by spreading to has been making a study of the Although Ihe idea of drifliug there would be more. Since cerlain islands of the south dilloa bush (Nilral'ia) which is continents had been advanced By 1966, the same depart­ then. the university's Institute Pacific. Clulier, it was 1I0~ until the cnd ment, along with scientists and of Polar Studies in co-opera­ a species that occurs over a wide area of arid and semi·arid In 1970 it was found in New of Ibe 191h ceutury !lUlt geolo­ geologists all round the world, tion with the US National were attempting to unravel the country in southern Australia. Caledonia and the Society Is­ gists seriously suggested the Science Foundation, and the lands, including Tahiti, and in mysteries surrounding the ac­ The plant may have an im­ Victoria University (NZ) have 1971 it appeared on Easter Is­ existence of a large ancestral cepted existence of the con­ mounted a number of expedi­ pOl'tant role in the areas where oonHnent in the soufhern hen1i~ tinent. M any still feel the key it grows for it is believed that land some 2500 miles further tions to the Transantarctic east and on the threshold of the sphere in the geologic past. to much of the story lies in it is an "indicator' I species, Mountains where numerous fos­ South American continent. This Antarctica. which will assist with the man­ Il is on record, however, that sil finds have provided further development was viewed with evidence that at onc time ani­ agement systems used to assess in 1858 a group of scientists The International Geophy­ range conditions and trends ­ grave concern by the Chilean announced that the shape of the mals did indeed inhabit the An­ Government because it posed sical Year (IGY) in 1957 tarctic continent. Moreover, when land is being overgrazed coasts of South America and marked the beginning of a new this is often the time the diJIon a very seriolls threat to their Africa· suggested that at one they Were animals whose fos­ mainland fruit industry. era of exploration in Antarc· silised remains have been found bush best flourishes. time they might have been tiea and since then scientists, "Australia is the only coun­ joined together as one country. in the other countries believed Assistance particularly those interested in to have been part of Gondwana try in the southern hemisphere In 1937 the celebrated South geology and palaeontology (the where the dillon bush grows The Chileans immediately system. asked for the help of Australia African geologist, Alexander du study of fossils), have eome up One of the remarkable dis­ but it is found in North Africa, Toit, published a book in which with some significant discoveries the Middle East, parts of and last year Dr llateman made coveries was a portion of a three trips to the island. He he set forth geological evidence relating to Gondwanaland. skull of Lystrosaurus which was Europe and in Asia/' Jim said. "Russian botanists who have provided the authorities there subsequently identified as be­ with a blueprint for its eradica­ ing "essentially identicaPI to studied the bush in relation to the Gondwana system believe tion and assisted them in the the Lystrosaurus nlurrayi found field programme. in similar Triassic sediments of that it originated during the South Africa. Cretaceous period (70 and 135 Two methods of suppression LystrO;S{lUrllS was about the million years ago) on the wes­ were used against the fly popu­ size of a dog with a heavy tern rim or what thev call the lation, each using a different body, short limbs, broad feet 'Gondwana fragments'." speciHc chemical attractant and a beaked skull. Scientists While Jim's major interest in mixed with the insecticide already knew of its distribu­ lhe bush is its place in the Malathion, but applied in dif­ tion through South Africa, the rangelands flora, he is also in­ ferent ways. Each method used Indian Peninsula and in China, vestigating its relation to the alone might have been ade­ but now Antarctica could be northern hemisphere species quate but previous research in added to the list. and its role in the GondWllna Australia had shown that simul­ LystrosOllrus was described as theory which may add further taneous application of the two a denizen of the land. Although weight to the now widespread considerably enhanced the it may have been equatic to the belief that Australia was in chances of success. extent of living around rivers some way linked to the super­ The treatments were started

and lakes l there was no evi- continent. in July, and within a month the detectable population had col­ lapsed to zero. No live speci­ mens have been found in the island since then, despite an Doctorate for Chief exhaustive search in November. At the end of the project a The Chief of the Division of comprehensive network of de~ Fisheries and Oceanography, tection traps for the five major Or K. Radway Alien (right) has fruit fly pests now occurring been awarded a Doctorate of elsewhere in the Pacific region Science from Cambrid,ge Uni~ was set up as an "early warn­ versity. Dr Allen was able to ing" system. This should mini­ receive his degree from a Con­ mise risks of the island becom~ vocation of the ScnHte of the iog rcinfested and acting as a University during his recent staging camp for species visit to England where he was noxious to Australia and else~ attending the International where. Whaling Commission. Request The degree was awarded in Dr Bateman has now been recognition of his published asked by the Fmnch Polynesiaa papers, about 80 aB told, over authorities to prepare a similar three main areas: trout streams blueprint for the eradication of and trollt population ecology; the fiy in their area and this theoretical population dyna­ has been done. If finance is mics; and the analysis and as­ cries Division o[ the Depart~ available, the French hope to sessment of whale stocks. ment of Primary IndllstrYI Can­ begin their operations this At the meeting of the Whal­ berra. month and Dr Bateman may go to Tahiti to supervise the work. Deciding how the oountrles believed to have been part of ing Commission, Or AlIen was While he was away, Or Alien one of Australia's two scientific also attended an international In the meantime, he has been Gondwanaland were related to each other is like playing with a advisers, the other being Mr meeting of a sma1l working in Switzerland attending a con­ Jigsaw puzzle. This sketch (courtesy Or Edwln H. Golbert, New John Bannister of the Western grollp of seven scientists which ference of the International Bio­ York) shows one waY of reconstructing it, but other scientists Australia Museum, while the has been set up by FAO to logical Programme where he have shown the Juxtapositions of the various countries In several Australian Commissioner was make a study of marine was leader of a fruit fly work­ different ways. Mr Arthur Bollen of the Fish- mammals. iag group.

172-1973 Letters to the Editor Ncw titlc The letter below was received by the Weslern Australian Labo­ ratories at Floreat Park. The young enthusiast was referred to the Sir- Western Australian Museum for whom it is hoped he is now happily Now that the lide of "Com­ "deteckting" coins.-Ed. monwealth" is receding before the wave of "Australian" it may be time to consider a new name for the Organization. This Dear Sir, is particularly so as the social My name is James--. I am in Grade V. I am 10'12 sciences begin to intrude on the yaars old. I like oid coins and relics. 11 you give me a agricuHural, industrial, etc. metal detecktor I will go on beaches where nobody is And May I suggest a name with a deteckt coins. You will get % 01 what I find and I will keep less specialised connotalion and the rest. Nobody will know about it iJ I find some. When al10wing the addition of even you Pick your % of my coins you get to pick of what you more varied activities. Wc want. This will happen avery Sunday. I am a very hard could become the Australian worker and won't give up. So, In other words, I would like Research Commission or ARC, to become a part time member of your councli. wilh our symbol 01' motif those Your sicerely Mr R. C. Fisher, Assistant Pit Superintendent at the copper initials within a portion of a James--. mine site 'at Panguna, on Bougalnvllle, in Papua New Guinea, circle. so shows Mr Chris Christian (right) where some of the development is taking place. (PIcture: Courtesy eRA.) Morc Indians Dcscrt song Sir- Sir- I would like to dispute Ms I noticed a remarkable por­ 'Christ Christian in new role Sonia Castl'o's comments in trail of a man in the desert in At the end of last year. Mr C. S. (Chris) Christian retired The style of print could be "Corescarch 170". She states: the July issue. May I be per­ from the Organization after being a member of the Executive for left la the graphic artists, but "Many Australians seem to mitted to point Ollt two matters. 13 years and bemg with the ".firm" since J933. suggestions of a lightning flash think that Soulh America is fllll The worker is not from the That should have been enough service to have earned him the through the letters may please of Indians and revolutions as Division of Land Use Research. right to take a long holiday, but that is not the nature of Chris the electronics and engineering well. Chile has European back­ bul the Division of Wildlife Re­ Christian. groups. On the other hand, to ground, but its culture and lan H search which maintains a group Instead, early this year he joined Conzine Riotinto of Australia satisfy biological mr. and ms., guage are Spanish. As for the at Alice Springs studying din­ as a part-time consultant and has already visited a number of Noah's vessel depicted balanc­ Indians ... they are in about goes. Secondly the worker has operations .including BougainviIJe Copper at Panguna 011 the ing delicately but high and dry the same numbers as your retained the use of his "under­ island of Bougainvi1le in Papua New Guinea, Hammcrslcy Iron. on a mountain peak may be Aborigines. 'I daks", a remarkable pheno­ more acceptable. Sulphide Corporation, Heron's Creck Timber Mills and some coal Having travelled through menon. But, (he 00111t is this: interests. South America recently and jf Coresearch is as accurate as your description of that man, Mr Christian is serving the eRA Group through its General taken interest in its peopJesJ es­ Mining Division which has the responsibility of co~ordinating en­ pecially Indians, I would like to we are all sadly misled. vironmental cHorts for the Group. He is working in an advisory quote some relevant figures I A. E. Newsome, capacity, the responsibility for environmental practices remaining was given. In Chile alone, Division of Wildlife with the operations themselves. where Ms Sonia Castra seems Research. According to Mr Don Fairweathcr, General Manager of the to have spent many years, there Canberra. Division, the Group is fortunate to have available to itMr are 150,000 full-blooded Indians, Christian's wide knowledge and experience and he has already almost twice the number of Sorry, the item came from made a number of positive suggestions towards improvement of Aboriginals in Australia. In an officer in Land Use Research the environment at the operations he has visited. Bolivia wilh ils population nf and my Held-bog corresJlondent "He will be able 10 spot problems and anticipate new ones for 4.5 million, lhere is a 70 per did not think to fully establish us," M r Fairweathcr said. I'Not only will his own valuable ser­ The Terms and Conditions of cent Indian conlent. In Equa H the identity of the conscientiolls vices be directly available to us, bUl he will be able to dircct the Employment could be called dol' 39 oer cent of the popula­ note-taker. Secondlv. being a Group to specialists dealing with specific problems." lhe Covenant. but I find it more tion of 6 million is of pure In­ shy, retiring and modest lass Mr Christian himself says he's (lading the work interesting and dimcull to suggest an appro­ dian blood. Columbia boasls of and being unfamiliar with SUCll is pleased at the receptive attitude of the company personnel. priate name for your l1ews~ 398 Indian tribes, Peru's mining pieces of desert equipment, I "With their co-operation," he said, "I'm looking forward to mak­ paper; perhaps "Archives" . industry alone employs 80,000 did not think it riAht that I ing a positive conlribution on environmental issues in the or would that be where the Indian miners, and there are should make a close scrutiny to industry." workers are'! 5000 Indian settlements, mostly see whether or not the gentle­ T. G. Broek, in high regions, where one finds man concerned had retained his it dillicult to finu anyone who RAO, Sydney. "under-oaks". Besides, it's a speaks Spanish. relatively free country so why Erik Holm, should I question such an id io­ Division of Entomology, syncrasy7-Ed. They had a ball! Floreat Park, W.A. Editor's note: Madam I. The Townsville Laboratory L'Ayfor-Paye: All letters to the recently held its ciJ!.hth annual cditor have lo be personally ball at the Townsville Golf Honours list signed before they can be pub­ Ciub. The thcme of the even­ lished, though names need nol ing was ICDisguise" and prizes Mr L. E. Oates of the Divi­ be used for publication, were awarded for the best sion of Textile Physics, Wool masks. Because of the effec­ Research Laboratories, Sydney, tiveness of their masks, the win­ has been awarded the Dcgree Agrccd of Master of Engineering ners should remain nameless. Sir- Nevertheless, Coresearch dis­ Science from the University of covered they were: New South Wales. His thesis Right on, T. B. Paltridge! Most sylish lady - Ms Cecily was entitled: "Static stability (Coresearch No. 170.) Edye. of a plenum chamber air Jan Peverill, Best eOllple - Mr and Ms Ian cushion vehicle in inclined posi­ EXHRanl!elands Research Crutchley. tions." Unit, Alice Springs. "Sir . .. we've managed to recycle Professor Henley." Runners-up (best cOllple) - Dr {Courtesy "Punch") and Ms Peter Gillurd. Most humorous - Mr Richard Baby foods tralia, but where you are deal­ Hollroyd. ing with people who exist on a Runncr~up (most humorous) ­ Cont'd from P. 1. day-ta-day basis for money, 5AEIT¥ NOTIS Mr Bob Reid. habits of Thai children and some packages may have to be Most grotesque - Mr and Ms the abilily of their parents to small enough for them to buy Barry llalguc. pay for them. just enough to last for a day or Really Hot two." Most imaginative - Mr Step­ Recent disclosures of a high An electrical short ci ('cuit recently occurred in an oil-filled hen Bailey. lactose intolerance among Dr Buchanall said attention radiator. These ullils arc popular in many laboratories as Asians afC not likely to be a also had to be givcn to the type they have no exposed hot elements. In the case above, oil problem, said Dr --Suchanan. of prcpara{ions made available had leaked into the box containing the thermostat and ter­ Appointmcnt This belief was confirmed in an to the people. "111ere was onc minal block, destroying the insulation and a slight move­ Mr Mike Jones of Mineral official statement from a UN example of a product being ment of the unit caused the short circuit. If you have one Chemistry, Port Melbourne, is Protein Advisory Group which sold to them which required the of these radiators, check it for oil leaks. in Indonesia on secondment for set up a cornmittee lo study and material (0 be mixed with boiled Another warning - these radiators are 110t safe for use a short term to the Department report on the matter. water. The village mothers soon in a flammable atmosphere. The thermostat is not in a of Foreign Affairs. Mike is Another interesting aspect of found it could be mixc<1 with vapour-proof box, and could spark 00' all explosion. working in Bandllng at lhe the programme will bc the in­ cold water. The watcr they Mining and Mctallmgical Re­ vestigation into the packaging uscd was dirty and the children Don't be Needled search Centre, where he is train­ of the products. developed diarrhoea, so the Many of our autoanalyser samplers [lave sampling needles ing a small group of analysIs "YOll have to take into ac­ mothers blamed the product which are forcibly driven lip and down, and can be a hazard in the techniques of using the count many aspects, even the and stopped using it. to unwary operators as the needle could easily penetrate AA5-R spcctrometer. presented colour," Dr Buchanan said. "Wc will have to investigate the wrist or palm. Tesls on one unit showed the needle to Presidenl Suharto by the "The wrong one may upset educational programmes in would easily penelrate a 25 mm thick block of hard Australian Government last local beliefs in some areas. We which we will try to teach paramn. year. will be looking into village mothers to prepare the food conditions to sce what storage correctly." Skating Rin({s facilities are like. Packages The Institute .is fortunate in Every laboratory seems 10 have onc - a section of floor, WOrll forcc may havc to be such thal they that it has ready access to a ramp or stair which is dangerously slippery. The hazard can There is a division of labouf could be opened and then be group who could be used for be significanl1y reduced by the application of a llon H skid even in vice; some people ad­ scaled in some way to prevent Iltllritional trials and from paint, or strips of cOlltaet adhesive anti-skid tape. Regard­ dict themselves to the specula­ ants and other insects getting whom they could learn the eat­ ing the laller, ask us for a free sample. tion only, others to the prac­ in. ing habits of the Thai people. -- J. Hallam, Safety Omcer. lice.-Wllliam Hazlitt, English HAnd then there's the cost critic, essayist and lecturer, factor. The large economy size 1778-1830. may be fine for people in Aus- Prinled by CSIRO, Melbourne

172-1973 173##1973

.111 1 4 ,a. we

Produced by the Central Communication Unit for circulation among members of CSIRO staff October 1973 CSIRO to set up laboratory in Indonesia

A major agricultural research project which will draw on the scieutific resources of CSIRO is to be established in Indonesia. The programme, which is expected to cost about $9 million over the next 10 years, will be part of Australia's foreign aid contribution to that country. This will be the first time that CSIRO has set up and operated a laboratory ontside Anstralia, although in the past it has made its staff available to give technical assistance to overseas countries when reqnests have been received. The new project will have its quired to make visits to In­ CSIRO will provide the hcndquarters at Uogor in West donesia from time 10 lime. As OlIicer-in-Charge for the first Java and will initiate reseal'ch the other positions become seven years after which the into genetics, nuCritioll and needed, they too will be ad­ position will be reviewcd. The vertised. Indonesian research stall will be animal husbandry as a lncans The project envisages that appointed by the Indonesian of increasing production hum BARI will be staft'ed initially by Directorate of Animal Hus­ ponltry, sheep, goa,ts, caUle an Ollieer-in-Charge (CSIRO); bandry. and buffalo. a research leader (CSIRO); a scientific liaison oHicer (In­ Objectives By selection within local donesian); about seven research strains of livestock, the intro­ The project has two asso­ scientists (Ph.D. level) sup­ ciated objectives. One of these Mr A. P. Slregar, Department of Poultry Husbandry, Animal duction 01' strains new to the ported by about six graduate region, cross~breeding and the is the training, both in Aus­ Husbandry Research Institute, Mr Alan Charles and Mr Ray experimental olIieers and three tralia and at the laboratory, of McVllly, CSlRO, Professor D. Roblnson, Professor of Animal adaptation of modern feeding technical assistants (all CSIRO); techniques, it is hoped to in~ Indonesian scientists who could Sciences, University of California; Dr M. Pandjaltln, Director, about six Indonesian 'scientists progressively replace AustraHan Animal Husbandry Research Institute, at the site chosen for the crease the animal. protein con­ who will work initially at the tent of the food Indonesians eat. personnel, and in the other, the laboratory at Clawi, Bogor. experimental officer level after Indonesian G overnmenl will be The Indonesian Government post-graduate training in Aus~ helped to develop the nearby has provided a block of land tralia; and about threc In­ Animal Husbandry Research In­ carried out by Mr A. F. Gur­ Biological Sciences Branch, and of about 30 ha near Bailor, donesian technical assistants. stitute to work 011 shorter-term nett-Smith, Secretary of the comprised Professor David but it will be the responsibility The Administrative staIT will problems in conjunction with Agricultural and Biological Robinson of the University of of Australia to design, supervise be led by a laboratory secretary provincial research and exten~ Sciences Branch, and Mr T. California, Davis, a former the construction of and equip (CSIRO) Sllpj'lorted by a pro­ sion. services. Goggin of Foreign Aft'airs' member of the slaff of the Divi­ the laboratory initially. It is perty omcer (CSIRO), both with The idea 01' the project dates FOl'eign Aid Sectiol1. sion of Land Use Research, Ml' anticipated that the design and Indonesian counterparts in train­ back to Febwary 1970 when Ray McVilly, Deputy Finance construction will take at least ing; a librarian, oflice and the then-Minister for Foreign Priority Manager, CSIRO, and Mr A. two and a half years from the workshop staff (Indonesian Affairs, Mr McMaholl, pro­ After an extensive visil to Blackburn, Foreign Aft'airs' time Indonesia and Australia where suitable staff can be posed that CSIRO should be­ South-east Asia, these men re­ Foreign Aid Section. exchange letters of understand­ found, alternatively CSIRO staff come linvolved as an entity· in commended that Indones.ia The team spent seven Or ing which will give the official with Indonesians in training); Australia's overseas aid pro­ should have priority for such a eight weeks in Indonesia during green light to the project. and Indonesian field and service gramme. This was to be on programme and that the field of which time it came to the con~ The laboratory has tentatively staff (gardeners, animal attend­ the basis of CSIRO managing animal husbandry was one elusion that the laboratory com­ been called BARI - the Bogor ants, field workers, drivers). an aid project fnnded by his where Indonesia needed and plex should be sited near the Animal Research Institute-and In addition, a senior member Department. would welcome assistance. It Javancse city of Bogor. is expected to involve about 25 of the Indonesian Department The Executive agreed in prin­ was also an area where CSIRO During the course 01' their CSIRO scientists and snpport of Agriculture will be appointed ciple to accept such a respon­ had staft' who could materially investigations the two teams staft'. The Executive is advertis­ to lead a group of scientific sibility, the scientific nature and contribute to the programme. made a survey of the needs of ing for an Ollicer-in-Charge and liaison nllicers who will be re­ size of which would depeud on The recommendations re­ the Indonesian people and the a senior administrator. Both sponsible for extension activi~ a thorough investigation of all ceived the general approval of dccision to concentrate efforts people will be located initially tics associated with the labora­ the aspects involved. both CSIRO and Foreign Af­ in the field of genetics, nutrition in Australiu but wi]) be 1'e- tory. This early jnve~tigation was fairs and in June last year a further team was sent to In­ Cont'd on page 3 donesia to investigate the best •• ways to implement the I1ro­ posed programme. Space suits saves miSSion This was led by M r Alan Skylab Charles of the Agricultural and A (udr of SJluce age 'long the story saying that the Ameri~ jolms' invented by Des lIurton cans working on the space rnis- of the Division of Mechanical sions had heard about his work Engineering, Highe1t, helped io and in 1965 invited him to visit their country and explain its save the American Skylnb mis- workings. Portrait to SiOll from disas(cr. 'NASA officials saw its pos- When the three astronauts, sibilities and developed it from be painted Captain Charles Conrad, Dr there so that it was used on the Joseph Kerwln and Commander first Apollo Mission to the A leading Sydney portrait Paul Wcitz, arrived on board Moon. In fact, I understand it's painter, Mr Oracme loson, has Skylab they discovered the been IIsed on all the Apollo been commissioned by CSIRO missions,' Des said. to paint a portrait of the for­ water cooling system was much mer Chairman, Sir Frederick too cold. 'The suit comprises a com­ bination "lolig johns" and vest White. There was not enough elec­ Sir Frederick, who retired For Oxford tricity being made to allow and keeps the body at the right temperature,' from the Organization in 1970, Dr John Basselt (above) has them to carry out their experi­ has been reluctant to have his ments. In 1967 Des decided on a ended a 12-year association change of scenery and came to portrait hnng in the 'gallery' of with the tan Clunies Ross Ani· Bnt the men had with them Des Burton former chairmen and executive water cooled suits, based on an Australia where he took up a mal Research Laboratory at contract with the Division of oflicers, but he has now agreed Prospect. He has accepted an invention of the Royal Aircraft gineering deparlment at the that this could be done. Establishment, Farnborough. RAE, told the British press how Mechanical Engineering. At the appointment at the Nuffletd In­ end of his three years he A committee comprising Dr astro~ the suit had been invented io stllute for Medical Research at The suits, Worn under headed back to England. He Max Day, Mr M. V. Tracey, Oxford where he will continue nauts' space suits for space and the physics engineering depart­ ment by Des in 1964. then decided Anstralia was Dr F. G. Lennox and Mr A. his work on aspects of foetal moon walks, have tubes con­ really his first love after all, so F. Gurnett-Smith has been set endocrlnology. At Rosslab taining water running through It was Des' first major job, he he turned round and came back up to make the arrangements. John pioneered the develop­ them. said, and was originally designed in 1971. The Division had the The staff and other friends ment of several sensitive radlo­ One of the suits Was wrapped to make pilots more comfortable welcome mat out for him on his and former colleagues of Sir stereoassay methods for mea­ round the circulation point in when sitting in aircraft cock­ return. Frederick are being invited to surement of steroid hormone the system and warmed it lip. pits in the tropics carrying out Since being back at his aid contribute to the CSIRO por­ ground checks. leveis In peripheral blood The remedy worked and the desk, Des has been working on trait fund and donations may which have been adopted system returned to normal. The suit was later adapted thermal comfort projects, the be sent to it at Head omcc, wtdely In Australia and over­ In an interview, Mr Robert for pilot, flying at high altitude. results of which are expected 1;0 P.O. Box 225, Dickson, ACT seas by workers In endocrlno­ Thorn, head of the h lIman en~ In Melbourne, Des confirmed be announced soon. 2602. iogy. Star watchers praise (SIRO staff efforts The stuffs of the Division of Building where the assembly H.adiollhysics and the National was staged, and others back at Sfandards Lnboratol'Y hnve the Epping omces were also in­ slowly bcen coming down 10 volved. Even the former As­ sistant to the Radiophysics earth again aficr SIJcnding many Chief, Arthur Higgs, was en­ wcel,s working with 800 star eOlu'aged to come out of rctire~ Wlltcllcrs. ment to help the local organis­ ing commiltcc. The astronomers were attend­ ing the fifteenth General As­ Stalf members assisted with sembly of the International As­ the registration of participants, The Foundation Chief of the tronomical Union and came met them at airports and bus CSIR Division of Industrial from all over the world. Apart stations, They arranged ac­ Chemistry and former Chair­ from the assembly itself how­ commodation, packed kit sets, man of Ihe CSIRO Chemical Re­ ever, there were a number of answered a thousand queries search Laboratories, Sir lan associated symposia in different ... in fact, you name it, they Wark (above), has been pre­ parts or the country. did itl sented with the ANZAAS Medal. The medal, which has When it was announced that Harry Gillelt from Physics so far been awarded on eight the assembly would be meeting and John Masterston from occasions, is given in recogni­ for the first time in the sou­ Radiophysics coped with the tion of services in the advance­ thern hemisphere this year and press photography and other that the venue was to be film requirements and the Cen­ ment of science in Australia Sydney,·few people realised just and New Zealand. Sir lan was tral Communication Unit from a member of the Executive how much work would go into Head OHice provided the IAU from 1960 to 1965. He is an it. Now that it is over, no onc with the services of two of their has been left in any doubt about staff, Jack Sandry and Dorothy honorary consultant to the the amount of time it con­ The last major assignment for Jack Sandry of the Central Minerals Research Laboratories Braxton, to produce a daily Communication Unit in Canberra before he left CSIRO to join and has an office in the DIvi­ sumed. newspaper, handle press in­ the Department of Heallh was to write and produce a news­ sion of Mineral Chemistry, Mel­ For about two years in fact, quiries and liaise with the paper tor the Fifteenth General Assembly of the. International bourne. Sir lan is also a the organisation of the assem­ media. For the production of Astronomical Union, held in Sydney at the end of August. The Governor of the lan Poller bly went on quietly in the back­ 'Astronomy 73' they were aided paper ended up with the name 'Astronomy 73', after the astro­ Foundation and a member of ground and while the Academy and abelted bv Dick McGee nomers had rejected 'For those who trust the stars', 'Daliy the South Australian Board of of Science, different universi­ from Radiophysies. Planet' and 'Stardust'. At Health, Jack wlli be publ'lcising the Advanced Education. ties, observatories and other in­ work of the National Health and Medical Research Council. He stitutions were involved, a great Even wives of staff were in­ volved. They formed a women's has been with CSIRO for nearly five years and during that time deal of the work 'was carried has been responsible for many publications. He aiso edited out by CSIRO. committee to look after the wives of participants who were Industrial Research News from 1971 to 1972. Canberra Scientists from the Divisions not taking part in the proceed­ of Physics and Radiophysics ings and put III many hours of were involved at the profes­ hard work over a period of two girl to sional level and read papers years to make sure that every­ Lunar name and chaired meetings of the 40 thing ran smoothly. They were Commissions which make up also responsible for the displays study In the asse,mbly as well as making of Australian wildfiowers that The Hardy Perennial for CSIRO contributions in other ways. delighted the overseas visitors. There was still plenty of work that was less glamorous per­ Compliments for the success­ We have at least one each year - you can rely on it. He1s scientist England Ilaps, but equally necessary to ful oIganisation were' given by be carried out by other rne}11­ many of the participants, not the chap who fiddles with the A former member of CSIRO Ms Madeline Mould, 24, a bcrs of the stafl:, however. the least of which came from lawn mower while it is still is to have a feature on the running. moon, possibly a crater, named technical assistant in the Divi­ Phil Kelly from Radiophysics the international secretary, Pro­ sion of Plant Induslry, left Can­ fessor C. de Jager. An aHempt we know of to after bim. He is Dr Joseph had a bevy of girls assigned to Pawsey, who founded the radio berra last month to undertake dozens of tasks around Carslaw refit a tyre which had come a year of study at the Glou­ Australia, he said, had won astronomy group of the Divi­ the right to hold the eonfer­ off resulted in a badly gashed cestershire College of Agri­ and broken finger. sion of Radiophysics. culture. ence because it was in the big The decision to honour him MadcUne has been awarded Laugh machine league of astronomy. Its scien­ Always stop the mower be­ was made at the General As­ a Rotary Foundation grant, tists set a very high standard of [ore clearing blockages, making sembly of the International Anyone with a good ya rn to research and were noted for the minor repairs, etc. Check the having been nominated for the tell and who wants to test its Astronomical Union which met honour by tile Rotary Club of strength of their instnlmenta­ blades and attaching bolts - a in Sydney at the end of August. laugh-raising quaHties should Hon. flying blade is a deadly weapon. COOlna. The award itself comes get in touch with Neville Michie Dr Pawsey was well known from the Trustees of the Rotary of the Division of Textile Phy­ 'There is no second-class level Do not mow with children in the field of optical astro­ Foundation in Evanston, Illi­ sics, Sydney. Neville recently of work done in this country,' in the vicinity-a rotary mower nomy, in ionospheric research nois. invented. the machine to judge he said. can eject stones like bullets. and in many applications of While she is away, Madcline the tallest.!ales told at a yarn­ And in thanking the back­ radiophysics techniques. He had will visit the Unitcd States and spinning contest organised by room people, he said the astro­ Near miss just resigned from his post (in apart from her studies, will the Division for its Community nomers may not have seen 1962) with the Division and speak about her work to Rotary An extract from a lettcr re­ Aid Abroad activities. The much of the soutllern sky cently received: taken up a position as Director Clubs in south-west England. [Jointer of the machine is oper­ through the haze of Sydney but of the American National At Plant Industry, Madeline ated by a servo-motor actuated they had eertainly 'sampled the 'While testing a piece of elec­ Radio Astronomy Observatory works on research on rhizome from an amplified microphone generous hospitality which was trical cquipment I measured the at Green Bank in West Vir­ bacteria applied to legumes, a ill the deckle-edged acoustic everywhere evident in the per­ voltage across two output ter­ ginia, USA, when he became subject of special interest to horn. The contest winner was fect organisation of the As­ minals as 25 volts DC and con­ ill and later dJed. her home district of Monaro. B. J. Rigby. sembly'. sequently I did not take special Dr Pawsey joined CSIR in precautions when handling the 1940 and was instrumental in instrument (an amplifier). A building up a strong research later check revealed that one team concerned with the prac­ terminal had all earth potential tical and urgent problems of New Faces at Environmental Mechanics of +400 V, while the other had producing effective radar sy­ an earth polential of +375 V. stems for the armed services There is no need to elaborate The Division of EnviroDmen(al Mechanics and in investigating some of the on the possible outcome of ac­ more fundamental aspects of has bad (he welcome JlUlt out for new faces cidentally touching either of the radio wave propagation and around its Canbcrra offices in l'ccent wceks. terminals; and this highlights radar detection as was practical the importance of caulion when in wartime conditions. Professor Edward E. Miller arrived on a handling any electrical equip­ three-months visit to the Division in August as ment.' His own particulnf area of a Pye Fcllow. Dr. Miller is from the Univer­ research in those early days was sity of Wisconsin, USA, wherc he holds a joint -J Hallam, Safety OHicer. concerned with lightning_flashes appointment in the Departments of Physics and and later he became involved in Soil Science. solar research. While at the Pye Laboratory, he will be New Ph.D. By the time he was 50, Paw­ sey was called 'the Grand Old working on the transport of water and energy Mr Frank Wilson, who un­ through soils and plant canopies. Man' of radio astronomy and til his retirement last year from he had built up a scientiflc Dr. Miller's past research activities include CSIRO was officer-in-charge of group which even then had scaling and hysteresis of porous media, optics the Sirex Biological Control Edward E. Miller Dr Ido Se9iner made considerable contributions of plant canopies and computer modelling of Unit in England, has been to science and had become well watcrshed hydrology. granted the degree of Doctor of known and respccted through­ The second Pye Fellow, Dr the United States. Science for his work in the field out the scientific world. Outside the laboratory, Dr IeIo Seginer, Associate Pro­ In Israel he has carried out of entomology. The degree has Only two other scientists Miller is well-known as a wil­ fessor, Faculty of Agricultural been awarded to him by the derness enthusiast and environ­ extensive research in the physics from this part of the world Engineering, Tcchnion (Israel of sedimentation and soil ero­ Universily of London. mentalist. His wife, Midge, who Jnstitute of Technology), Haifa, were recommended by the IAU has not been able to accompany sion. His current work is in for similar honours - John has begun a 12-month vjsit to the field of micrometeorology, him on this trip, is an elected the Division. Tcbbutt, an early amateur as­ Representative in the Wisconsin particularly the aerodynamics If sunbeams were weapons tronomer in New South Wales Dr Segincr was born and edu­ of crops and windbreaks. He of war, we would have had Legislature and is a noted cam­ who made significant contribu­ cated in Israel and I'cccivcd his will be carrying forward these solar energy long a9o.-Dlr­ paigner for a stronger political tions la his science, and the Ph.D. in agricultural engineer­ studies in the Division's newly ector of the British Association, New Zealander, Lord Ruther­ voice for women. ing from Cornell University in commissioned Pye wind tunnel. Sir George Porter. ford.

173-1973 Engineer does own aerial testing When Peter Taylor, leader of the Agricultnral Machinery Gronp of the Division oE Mechanical Eugineering at Highett, wants to test eqnipment in the group's programme of research into problems encountered in the aerial spray­ ing of liquids and the spreading of fertilisers, he has an advantage over most people .•• he can fly his own plane and do his own experiments. A former wartime instructor Complementary to the simu­ with the RAF, I·efer likes to lation and laboratory work, kcep his hand in with flying. field experiments which could As he said, he wasn't exactly determine the distribution pat­ cOO1phtining whcn it wos sug­ tcrn and volume recovery were carried out with l)awnee air­ gested "'"' CSIRO should look into (hc problems nssociatcd craft. with ~lcrial topdrcssing and thnt In the research involving the his unit should he 1hc one 10 aerial spreading of solids, some do it of (he work on an aerodynamic type of spreader called a tetra­ There have been a few hedron was partly carried out moments, however, when Jle by the Aeronautical Research was not quite so sure that it Laboratories before the unit's was all a good idea, Back in programme was started. Later December 1971 for instance, he at Highettl the oplimum shape was given permission by DCA was determined from a series of to carry out some flying ex­ model lests and then a full-scale periments on the airfiet"d at version was built by Aerial Canberra's Regional Admini­ if you're looking for us (and time, we shall be cosily en, I3enalla in Victoria. strative Office, the Writing and that includes 'Coresearch') will sconced In our new premises. Agriculture Ltd, Bankstown. Production Services Group of be Electricity House. Or head The RAO's address is now 'The idea oC going there was 'Our field tests exceeded our the Central Communication for the Monaro Mall, look be, Box 500, Civic Square p.a., to take advantage of more expectations,' Peter said. 'We're Unit, the Conference Group, yond the car park and the new A.C.T. 2608. Their phone num, Rural Research Group and building behind It will be us. bel' is 484211, telex code is Keith Martin of the Film Unit, If Canberra weather con­ 62528 and telegram code Is have all moved from their tinues to be as unkind as it has Raocanb. The Central Cam, offices in the AMP Building In been iately, you may need to municatlon Unit's address re­ Canberra to the CAGA Centre wear gumboots to reach us, mains p.a. Box 225, Dickson, in Akuna Street. A landmark but we are assured that, given A.C.T. 2602.

There are about 7,8 million Indonesian laboratory goats (80 per cent o[ them on Cont'd from page 1 Java) and [our million sheep and animal husbandry emerged in Indonesia, but the goats are aftcr careful consideration of rarely milked and the sheep sei­ many factors. dom shorn. Both are produced under primitive systems of hus~ Animal stock bandry and are often seen being herded bv children along the The production of eggs and roadsides. Breeding research meat pel' bird in the poultry and husbandry studies with industry, they found, is cur­ both these animals could tead rently very low but the indlls­ to an increased production of try is nevertheless an important meat. one since it provides a source of protein at very little cost. Religious prejudices against The village chickens live as pig meat might limit the deve­ scavengers and are generally not topment of a large pig industry 'Steady on, Chariiel in Indonesia, but in nlaces like given shelter, but instead, roost It's on the protected list.' stable weather conditions north now considering a smaller ver­ in the trees. A meal in a village Bali, which is predominantly Hindu as opposed to Java's of the Dividing Rangc and sup­ sion to suit the Pawnee air­ restaurant anywhere in In­ posedly little traffic. The only craft as well.' donesia is testimony to the Moslem faith, and in some of the Christian areas like South thing was the same area was Although the programme was smail amount of mcat that is to Rivett Meda I used by some enth usiastic mem­ be found on the scraggy birds. Sulawesi and North Sumatra. only scheduled to last for three the pig numbers are high with bers of the local Aliding club There arc, however, about Dr John Rai'on of the Plant , .. after some dodging tactics years, further work is con­ 65 million poultry in Indonesia a total population of about two Physiology Unit, Division of sidered necessary. million. had been employed wc mutllaily and about 41 million of them Food Research, Sydney, has agreed who would fly where 'And then for aerial applica, are on Java. There are a few Buffaloes currently provide a been awarded the 1973 Rivet! and whenP tions, a comparison of aircraft commercial poultry farms, with Medal. The award, one insti­ significant part of Indonesia's The ultimate object of the needs to. be made, and arrange­ most of them directing their in­ meat consumption but very little tuted by the OHieers' Associa­ ments of spray-gear and flying terest to broiler production tion, was presented to him at programme is to produce re­ research on the industry has commendations regarding spray­ techniques need to be further which can be a profitable enter­ been undertaken. the Rivett Lecture in Adelaide tested. All of this will give us prise when supplying the higher last month in recognition of his ing lechniques, the type of equipment best suited for the improved en'ectiveness in spray­ income bracket. While every inch of earth on outstanding contribution to ing and will reduce dangers of knowledge of the function of work, and its arrangement on Imported strains of chickens Java is precious to its over­ the aircraft. drift and pollution.' wouid not necessarily be more crowded and oonlinually ex­ membranes in plant and animal productive than local birds panding population, the outer cells. 'Our recommendations should When completed the research under village feeding and hus­ islands have large tracts of un­ This work provides a com­ enable aerial operators and will be of value to the com­ bandry conditions. A breeding used land which coutd prove pletely new understanding of farmers to achieve the top bio­ munity, the producers and to programme needs to be insti­ good areas for the industry. the way many plants and logical result in an eHcctive and the 63 active aerial top dressing tuted but changes in poultry The Indonesians are anxious to animals suffer injury and even economical way - that is, the operators in Australia. feeding and husbandry prac, improve their stocks and the death when exposed to low minimal waste of materiall In 1972 they treated 10.6 mil­ tices are also necessary. At the teams felt that this was another temperatures, yet other plants minimal risk of damage away lion acres, an area which grew same time similar work could area worthy of support from and animals can tolerate such from the target and minimal from two million acres in 1958 be done on ducks. the Australian project. conditions without distress. pollution of the atmosphere and to more than 16 miltion in 1965. streams,' Peter said. From then on it declined The work has been divided through droughts and recessions into three areas, simulation to the iow 1972 figure, but by Bogor, where the BARI laboratory Is to be set up, lies studies, nozzle characteristics all accounts it will be hiAher almost due south of Jakarta on the island of Java. It is and field experiments. this year with the general im­ about 35 miles from the capital and is reached by a provement in primary industry. winding road. Bus services connect with the capital, but In the first, simulation by the Indonesian Ideas of bus services may not necessarily mathematical modelling was The relativety small band of match those of metropolitan Australian cities. done to understand the be­ operators has so far put up haviour of droplets released $t 5,000 towards the cost of the Bogor is an ancient city, the site of the old Sundanese from aircraft spray nozzles. The programme. As well as assist­ Kingdom during the 12th to 16th centuries. The Dutch took influences of the aircraft, the ing with the field experiments, the area over in 1745 and their Influence on its archi­ air disturbances it caUses and they help to guide the pro' tecture Is still obvious. the meteorological conditions gramme through their repre­ The city has a population of about a quarter of a million people and has a reputation for all had to be taken Into account. sentatives on the Agricultural being the scientific centre of Indonesia. Consequently there is also quite a large expatriate Measurement in the labora­ Aviation Research Committee. population. tory of nozzle characteristics 'Thc programme Is due for Bogor Is backed by high mountains, Is cooler than Jakarta and has less humidity than has been started to determine completion at the end of this the coastai regions. One of Its most famous features is its botanical garden which has an droplet size ranges and flow year,' Peter said, 'but the Re­ International reputation. rates in relation to supply pres­ search Committee is taking The national language, Bahasa Indonesia, is spoken there but Javanese Is also wldeiy used. sures and liquid properties, but steps to keep it going. The English Is the second language of Indonesian secondary school children but not many the apparatus currenlly used is Division is prepared to maintain become really fluent In it. Bahasa Indonesia, however, Is not a difficult language to learn only suitable for thc smaller its support at the present level, and Is a distinct advantage to have, especially from the point of view of friendship. sizes of nozzles used on aircraft but we feel more financial as­ or with ground operated sistance is needed to make sub­ machines. stantial progress.'

173-1973 Summary of Estimates of Expenditure for 1973-74

Estimates Expenditure Increase or 1973-74 Budget 1973-74 1972-73 Decrease The 1973-74 Budget brought down by the Governmeut $ $ $ provides a total amount of $93,592,200 for CSIRO's allllual Under CSIRO control: and capital expenditure, of which $79,222,000 will be pro­ Salaries and general lunning expenses .. 65,500,000 58,056,472 7,443,528 vided directly by the Governmeut, $11,470,300 by Rural Buildings, wmks, plant and development items 5,700,000 1,852,513 3,847,487 Iudustry Committees aud $2,899,900 by various other coutributors. Total under Direct Control of CSIRO .. 71,200,000 59,908,985 11,291,015 Treasury fUllds vices and administration will Under Department of Services and Property control: cost $516,000. Acquisition of sites and buildings 854,000 428,500 425,500 Of the amount of $79,222,000 • An amount of $123,000 has from Treasury appropriation, Uudcr Dcpartment of' Works control: $65,500,000 will be for salaries been sel aside to meet in­ and general running expenses, creased grants [or such bodies Buildings and Works 6,100,000 2,841,113 3,258,887 $12,822,000 for capital expendi­ as the Standards Association Furniture and fittings .. 168,000 168,039 -39 ture and $900,000 for repairs to of Australia, the National Repairs and maintenance of buildings 900,000 667,731 232,269 buildings. The allocation for Association of Testing Autho­ salaries and general running ex­ rities and Research Associa­ Total CSIRO - Treasury funds 79,222,000 64,014,368 15,207,632 penses represents all .increase of tions. $7,443,528 over the actual ex­ e To cope with the increased Contributory Funds: penditure for 1972-73. This in­ cost of goods and services 540,984 crease will cater for the follow­ Salaries and general running expenses 13,820,500 13,279,516 due to price rises in the past 549,700 408,660 141,040 ing requirements: year and service costs for Buildings, works, plant and development items . includ~ new accommodation 15,889,656 • Increments, rcclassiHcalions, ing cleaning. light and tele­ Total FUllds CSIRO - All Sources 93,592,200 .77,702,544 payments in lieu of furlough, phone, a sum o[ $1,026,000 additional week's recreation has been provided. leave and salary adjustments arising from arbitration dc­ The capital allocation from terminations are expected to Treasury sources is divided into Wing for Division of Radio­ a large part of the finance avail­ absorb $4,113,000. lluec categories: those works physics, Epping, $180,000; con­ able to CSIRO from non-Trea­ To the Editor • The planncd development of under thc control of CSIRO, slruction of Urban Studies sury sources. In 1973-74 the Sir- high priority projects initiated those controlled by the Dcpart­ Building for Divisi on· of Build­ total will bc $11,470,300, most To me it is sad to read in in earlier years will absorb ment of Works and those hand­ ing Research, Highett, $165,000; of which will be utilised for Coresearch 171, under the $1,038,000. The aelivities in led by the Departmcnt of Ser­ extensions to machine shop and wool and meat research. heading 'Nine-day fortnight for this category afC: vices and Property. The first laboratory for Division of At­ trial', the patent absurdity group of itcms totals $5,700,000. Wool Research Trust Fund 1'1s11cnes anct oceanography mospheric Physics, Aspcndale, $8,667,000; Meal Research Trust 'Surveys will be carried out This will be spent on develop­ $136,000; crection of poultry before, during and after trials Mineral exploration mental work at field stations Fund $1,863,010; Wheat Re­ G rain storage. unit and quarantine facilities search Trust Account $196,277; to ascertain staff attitudes to $500,000; thc purchase of maior for Division of Animal Health, the total working situation'. Included in the above figurc items of laboratory equipment Dairy Produce Research Trust Maribyrnong, $363,000; instal­ $266,563; This could mean 'A survey will of $1,038,000 is an additional $1,050,000; Account Tobacco In­ the development of lation of insect-proof facilities dustry Trust Account $275,100; be conducted to find ont how amount of $150,000 for the a new area of land provided for for large animals for Division development of research pro­ Fishing Indnstry Research Trust the staff rcgards the new ar­ the Ginninderra Field Station nf Animal Heallh, Indooroo­ rangement': jects to the stage of practical $20,000; the new Cyber 76 Account $138,445; Dried Fruits piJIy, $262,000; new laboratory Research Trust Account $58,380; I was at once reminded of an application. Computer $4,100,000, and pre­ for Division of Wildlife Re­ ex-politician who was fond of liminary expenses associated Chiekcn Meat Research Trust • Twenly~follr new projects for scarch, Helena Valley, $268,000. Account $5,525. 'at this point in time' for 'now' which $667,000 has been pro­ with the planning and design The acquisitions proposals and of an associate who has vided will be startcd during of an oceanographic research which are handled by the De­ Only a small proportion spoken of 'in thc plant situa­ the year. The more im­ vessel $30,000. partment of Services and Pro­ ($325,480) of these funds relates tion' for 'within the (living) to capital items. The remainder, portant of these arc: Of the $6,100,000 provide9 perty include a new field sta­ plant'. Cotton research, water and tion near Seymouf, Victoria, $11,144,820 will cater for sala­ It is beyond my comprehen­ for building projccts under Ihc ries and general lunning ex­ waste water treatment, pro~ for the Division of Animal sion that people wish to pad­ control of the Department of penses for current programmes tecled proteins, biological Works, $5,500,000 will be Health at a cost of $375,000; out with ponderous asininities control of weeds. grain an additional 11,080 acres of of agricultural research except their writing or their speech. needed for buildings under in the case of the Fishing and nitrogen, built environment, construction at the end of 1972­ land adjoining the Woodstock It is as though they want to manufacture of polymer Field Station ncar Townsville Dried Fruits Industries where avoid, by al1 means, the feat 73 while the remaining $600,000 funds have been provided for materials, solar energy, will cover new works to be for the Division of Tropical of making a simple statement. navigational aids, atmo­ Agronomy $71,000; and a smal1 three small new projccts. Other To the perceptive reader or lis­ started during the current year. expenditure from grants and spheric pollutants, crop Those items costing more than block of land adjoining the tener such succeed only in mak~ adaptation, technology of CSIRO properly at North Ryde donations from commercial ing high-grade fools of them­ $100,000 includcd in the 1973­ enterprises cuUing wear and abrasion. 74 New Works Programme are: $24,500, and Government selves; the message gets lost departments will amount to in the verbiage. e Additional supnort for cur­ Installation of chiller refri­ $2,899,900. This will cover a rent research programmes in­ geralion system for Division of Other funds wide range of collaborative -Po R. Maguire, cluding computing mathe­ Food Research, North Ryde, The joint Commonwcalth­ projects involving most of the Food Research Laboratory, matical statistics, research scr- $110,000; additional Laboratory Rural Industry funds provide Divisions. North Ryde. (eres watchers Did you by any chance take 'When Mulga Joe Went Dry' part in the occultation last month? Jock Currie (right), a painter Or, to put it a different way. at the Division of Building Re­ did you become a Ceres search, Highett, has won the watcher? Bronze Swagman Award for If you did, then Dr David Auslralian bush versc. Jock was Duoham} Department of Astro­ presented with the award at the nomy. University of Texas, Grand Rodeo Ball in Wintoo, Austin, Texas, USA, will be de­ Queensland. His winning poem lighted to hear from you. was enlitled 'When Mulga Joe For those not normally in the Wcnt Dry'. Unhappily, thcre is habit of star-gazing but who only room for one verse but happened to notice something Jock would probably supply different in the heavens on the free copies to fdends if re­ night of 4 Scptembcr. an oc­ quested. cultation of Ceres by tile moon I've humped my swag through took place. 1 Bunnaloo That is to say - if you arcn t Third year fitting and machining apprentice, lan Marwick ot astronomically-educated - the Along Ihe outback trails. the DivisIon ot Applied Chemistry, receives a bronze medallion moon passed in front of the I've camped with sunburned during Melbourne's Apprenllce Week from the State Minister for asteroid Ceres, onc of the more swagmen who Labour and industry, Mr. J. Ralferty. lan's award came as re­ important minor planets. Could tell the tallest tales, cognition tor his construction of a micro ceramic testing machine. The occullalion was to be But one could out-talk all the 'Coresearch' visible in the skies above both rest Anstralia and New Zealand and 01 maggers that I know, 'Coresearch' is pro­ lhe University is hoping that Of ai/ tile tales I've heard the duced by the Central the directors wil1, in their weli­ any astronomers. professional best Communication Unit tor Credit Society known gesturcs of philanthropy, or amateur. who made observa~ Were told by Mulga Joe. CS/RO staff, Members keep interest rates at their pre­ tiolls of that event will send are invited to contribute Or, a/l you ever !I-'et/lled to sent low level or move them lhem any information they can. or send suggestions tor know about interest rates, but slighlly. If enough observations were For adventure, join •.. articles, The deadline cou/dn'l find oul .. made, the University hopes to Column Eight of the 'Sydney for material is normally The Directors wish to assure be able to gain a more accurate Morning Herald' has happily the tlrsl day ot the month With the present atmosphere bolh depositors and horrowers preceding publication, of uncertainty surrounding in­ idea of thc sizc of Ceres and noled that the spirit of adven­ that they have the matter 'under possibly discover, for the first ture is not dead. It quotes Material and queries terest rates generally, deposi­ close surveillance' and as soon should be sent to the tors with thc CSIRO Co-opera­ time. its true shape. CSIRO's advcrtisement in Bri­ as the haze has cleared~which According to the Royal Edilor (Dorothy Braxton), live Credit Society are naturally tain for entOlTIologists '... to it hadn't donc by the lime this Greenwich Observatory, there partici pate for part of each year Box 225. Dlckson, A.C.T, wondering whether their in­ issuc of 'Corescarch' went to will not be another occultation in expeditions in Africa and 2602, Tel. 484211. terest rates will move. prcss - tbey will be in a posi­ of one of the first four minor elsewhere for the purpose of Similarly borrowers are also tion to announce any changes plancts until July 1975 when studying and selecting dung in doubt wondering whether in interest rates. Pallas will be involved. beelles', Printed by CSIRO. Melbourne 173-1973 174##1973

Produced by the Central Communication Unit for circulation among members of CSI RO staff November 1973 New Chiefs Appointed To Land Laboratories CSIHO has three new Chiefs of Divisions, all in the Land Resources Laboratories. They are Mr R. A. Perry of Canberra, who has beeu appointed to head the Division of Land HesoUl'ces Management in Perth, Dr A. E. Martin, who has be(~ollle Chief of the Divisiou of Soils, and Dr R. J. MiIlingto n, also of Canberra, who will take ovel' as Chief of the Division of Land Use Hesearch, Canberra.

The apI)oilltment has con~ Mr PerrYJ however, will solidlltcd the chungcs in the move 'from Canberra to Perth and has already begun commu­ John Cook, Division 01 Applied Physics, bollles some 01 his home Organization's resenrch lldivi­ brew at his home at Goslord. (Picture: Courtesy 'Sun-Herald'. ties on land resources made last ting between the two cities. He will move to Western Australia Sydney). March. permanently about Christmas. These, in the main, grouped With him will .go Mr Justin together the three Divisions as Murphy. and possibly one or the Land Resources Labora­ two other members of the Can­ tories. Provision was made at berra staff. Nice work - if you the time for the activities of the three to be co-ordinated A graduate (M.Sc.) from the through a committee of their University of Adelaide, Mr Chiefs under the Chairmanship Perry joined CSIRO as a re­ can get it ... of the Chief of the Division of search officer in 1957 and has Soils. Dr E. G. Hal1sworth. since established a world-wide reputation as an authority in At the time that appointment arid lands ecology. He repre­ John Coole of the Division of Applied Physics won the was made. Dr Hallsworth was sents CSIRO on a number of double when he went to Forbes Ior the town's Vintage to hold the dual role but in the national and international com­ Festival. Not only wns he there officially to jndge the first light of increasing public inter­ mittees concerned with research est in land use and the impor­ in this field and is author or Mr R. A. Perry Nntionnl Home Brewed neer Competition bnt 011 arrivnl tance of environmental studies, co-author of some 50 papers. he and his wife, Mal'garet, were 'asked to join the jndging the Executive now believes Dr panelIor the local beauty competition. Hal1sworth should be free to The third member of the trio. give all his lime to the integra­ Dr MiIlington. graduated from tion of land research activities. the University of Sydney and With the beauty assiglUllcn(" The entries came from as far It also wants him to develop completed his Ph.D. degree at safely over, John settled down away as Darwin -'The freight closer collaboration with or­ the University of Adelaide. He on his own in a quict, locked alone on one entry from there ganisations outside CSIRO on became a research officer with room in fhc grandstand ut the was $10', John said-and matters related to the research the NSW Department of Agri­ local showgrouIJ(ls to ((Isle 98 So nth Australia. Only Western Australia was not represented. programmes of the laboratories. culture and went on to become entrics of home brews from all a lecturer in agronomy at the over Australia. The brews proved to be a His appointment as a 'free Waite Agricultural Research fine collection but with due standing' Chairman left a vac­ Institute. Asked by 'Coresearch' which modesty, John felt that his own ancy in Soils and the Executive had been the more interesting recipe which has made him one recommended this should be He was then employed as a of the two tasks, John immedi­ of Australia's best home filled by Dr Martin who has research soil scientist in the ately invoked the Fifth Amend­ brewers, ranked along with any been the Assistant Chief. US Department of Agriculture ment and refused to comment. he tasted at Forbes. Another change has been for a short time before becom­ He was however. happy to And John ought to be able made at the same time as the ing Associate Professor and talk about the home brew com­ to say that with some right be­ appointments for the Range­ later Professor of Soil Physics petition. cause he has not only success­ at the University of Illinois. lands Research Group of Land 'I didn't know it until after­ fully made beer but has written Use Research. Because Mr Since his appointment to wards,' he said, 'hut I was told two books about the subject Perry has been their leader CSIRO, Dr Millington has been that the iocals expected me to and is fa recognised authority. since its establishment in 1971, Or R. J. Millington engaged on research into envi­ drink a glass of each beer and There were two sections to it has been decided to transfer ronmental biology and is record my opinions. They were the competition. one for light the Group to his Division of author or co-author of 70 somewhat surprised when I beer and the other for dark. Land Resources Management. His colleague, Dr Martin, papers in the field of soil emerged after six hours still The overall champion was Mr Although the Division will graduated from the University physics. sober from the effort.' V. Ireland of Burwood, Vic. have its headquarters in Perth, of Reading in 1940 and became who also won the light beer most of the Rangelands stalf a Fellow of the Royal Austra­ section, while the runner-up in postings will not be affected lian Chemical Institute in 1952. tbe event was Mr W. I. Smith and their field stations will re­ He was awarded his degree of of Pymble, N.S.W. The dark main where they are. D.Agr.Sci. from the University beer section was won by Mr E. of Queensland in 1959. Staff members gaol MeNally, Sylvania, N.S.W. In 1940-41 Dr Martin worked When the official judging with the Chemical Inspection was over, John was invited to Department of the UK Minis­ At the invitation of the Prin­ Both speakers said after­ a workshop meeting of par­ try of Supply and then became cipal of the Educatinn Centre wards that the two and a half ticipants. 'They kept pouring an assistant advisory agricul­ at Pentridge Prison in Mel­ hour meeting had been ex­ me out glasses of their own tural chemist at the University bourne, Ran Hinde and Nick tremely stimulating because of special recipes and asking me of Reading until 1945. Follow­ King of the Division of Ap­ the infectious enthusiasm of the to taste and comment,' he said. ing this, he was a lecturer in plied Chemistry in Melbourne audience. Although there were 'They were so enthusiastic chemistry at the University of attended a meeting of 'A' only 12 men there, an incred­ about their hobby that eventn­ London and later a soil chemist Division's Current Affairs ible number and variety of ally the organisers bad to at the Grasslands Improvement Club. questions were asked without rescue me.' Station. any nagging throughont the meeting. Joining CSIRO in 1949 he The CSIRO film 'Approach eventually became Assistant to Science' was shown and then Ran and Nick would be Appointment Chief of Soils last year. Ron gave the club members a happy to discuss their experi­ general explanation of the work ence with any other Melbourne Mr F. J. Whitty, Regional Most of Dr Martin's research of the Organization. This was members of CSIRO who would Administrative Officer, Sydney, has been concerned with the followed by a second film be interested in taking part in has been appointed the Scien­ study of nitrogen transforma­ 'Flight Line One' which deals the Pentridge scheme. 'If nur tific Liaison Ollicer in London. tion in soils and he is author with control burning in forests audience was typical, others He will replace Mr 1. C. Bogg or co-author of some 35 papers from aircraft and Nick spoke will be well rewarded by the wbo will be returning to Aus­ Or A. E. Martin in soil chemistry. abnut bush fire control. keenness of thei r listeners.' tralia in January. Solar Energy Research Gum trees for homesick By Roger Morse Australians in Scotland Chief, Division of Mechanical Engineering Over the years many mem­ bers of CSIRO who have been Why is energy so much iu area that solar energy is startp thetie petrol made from wOlld in Scotland have visited the the news - do we really have ing to make itself felt and chips on a perpetual cycle, the Macaulay Institute for Soil Re­ an energy crisis in Australia ~ could, with known technology, nutrient for the trees being re­ search in Aberdeen. Most of what is the role of solar make an important contribution cycled and the C02 for photo­ them at some stage of their energy? to the country's energy re­ synthesis being produced by visit have noticed an Australian The energy crisis has really quirements. combustion of the fuel. The eucalypt growing near the been imported from the United Our solar water heaLing indus­ problems arc enormous but it walled garden and there's States and it is a manifestation try is small but effIcient and pro­ seems likely that this could usually a touch of nostalgia for of the very real energy prob­ duces wcll~engineered absol'bcJs produce another 13 percent of those who have not been home lems that have arisen in that which are not surpassed any­ our primary energy needs for for any length of time. country, but it has been too where else in the world. They 2000. The tree grows there as the readily assumed that our situa­ provide heat at about 60°C and The prospect of a (I under of result of the perseverance of tion in Australia is the same. call be developed for applica­ Australia's ]))'imnry energy Dr Dal Swaine (right) of the Energy is vital to an indus­ tions up to 120°C for the coming from solnr ene.rgy with­ Division of Mineralogy, Syd­ trialised community, and it has manufacluring and process in­ ill 30 yem'S would be n clml­ ney, who cheerfully (now) ad­ been shown that there is a tlustries and for residences. longing natioonl goal, involving mits that he sull'ered from a direct correlaiion between the To obtain a piclure of lhe 11 wide cross~scdion: o£lhc solid dose of homesickness average per capita income in possibilities for solar energy it community. It will need re­ when he was at the Institute countries throughout the world is necessary to look at its search and dcvc-]opm~tt by doing his Ph.D. and their per capita cnergy con­ characterislics: that it is inter­ Government, academic and in­ To keep his national links origins and is apparently cop­ sumption. It therefore tends to mittent and requires storage is dustrinl Jaborntorics, as. wc:IJ as strong, Dal originally tried to ing well with the rigours of the be assumed that ellergy must be obvious, that it is dispersed and investment nud construction on have a wallaby or kangaroo in­ Scottish winter on the eastern cheap and plentiful for an in­ available where needed without n ve,ry huge scale. stalled but when those eITorts coast.' dustrial economy to thrive. reticulation is sometimes over­ A wide range of disciplines failed he settled for a gum tree. Dal gives much of the credit This assumption is now being looked. will be involved, including bio­ The seeds were supplied by for the success of the venture seriously challenged, because logists, chemists, economists, Dr Don Martin, CSIRO, to the former head gardener of there is little doubt that it has Misunderstandings mechanical, chemical and sys­ Hobart, who is particularly in­ the Illstitule, Mr H. Mann, but led to energy waste on a grand tems engineers, meteorologists terested in the growth of euca­ if it hadn't been for his own scale, the 250 hp motor car But there nrc two chnracter~ and physicists. The meeting in lypts in the United Kingdom. determination to have his gum being a good illustration. istics which are widely mis.. Canberra in June, called to dis­ 'We managed to get a num­ lree. it is doubtful if anytbing Primary energy consumpti 011 understood. The first is that cuss solar energy in CSIRO, ber of seeds to germinate, but would have earn., of the idea. in Australia is approximately fhe average annual insolation, showed that there were 50 the trees usually died before The tree probably E. niten" one-third transportation. onc­ or amount of energy availnblc people in 23 Divisions who they reached three metres in and now 10 metres tall, re­ third electric power and heat at from the SUIl, in the centre of were interested. Clearly we height,' Dal said. mains a sentimental link for Ol1e­ 1101' have the skills that could make high temperatures, and AustTalin is only 40 cent 'FinallyI we managed to get Dal who. after he completed his third low grade heat, that is, above that of Melbourne, not a major contribution and pro­ one to survive. It's now grow~ Ph.D. studies at the Institute, heat at temperatures below enough to juslify the, extra cost vide the scientific lead in this ing in the garden along with a later returned there as a mem­ 120°C. of com:itructiol1 and reticulation impnrtant field. number of others of diverse ber of the staIT for eight years. The Australian problem­ from a remote solar installation Tn Melbourne recently an oil crisis is too strong: n worcl- is in the Austrnlinll deserts to our company executive, referring to that nil our frnnsportation und coushtl cities. the United States energy crisis, some of our other energy, in Secondly, there is no advan­ pointed out that Australia had fact 50 per cent of lhe tolal, is tage, but on the contrary a big a great asset in that it had time Aboriginal training scheme derived from liquid petroleulU disadvantage, in focusing solar to avoid such a crisis. We produels which are rapidly energy by parabolic or other could add the observation that being dell]eied. Wc arc now concentrators. Concentrating time, like his oil, is also a starts in Darwin importing 30 pcr cent of these, devices can only make use of wasting asset. and long before the cnd of lite about 60 to 80 per cent of The Di vision of Wildlife Re­ p!oyment with CSIRO or in eentUl'y wc will be totally dc­ direct energy from the sun, the search has introduced a training other areas such as the ))cndcnt on iml}Orls unless new rest being lost through 'scatter­ scheme for Aboriginals in their National Parks and Wildlife discoveries are made. We need, ing'. Concentration can only Darwin laboratory. Service. Htcl'eforc, to fiml an nUcl'native be justified to obtain high tem­ Young scientists Initially three young students During their period of train­ amI wc do not ltavc- much timc. peratures for either power will be taken on as trainee tech­ ing their salaries will be met by generation or other application, Younger members of three nical assistants for a period of the Department of Aboriginal and this certainly does not ap­ families of the Division of Tex­ two years. Affairs, who along with the De­ Huge teserves peal' to be a high priority area tile Physics recently displayed partment of Labour, have been for Australia. work which won them prizes in During this time they will be 1l1volved in the appointments. Coal, both black and brown, rotated around the Division's is the primary energy source A committee recently ap­ the 1973 School Science Re­ Although this is the first pointed by the Australian search Compelltion, organised various activities in the area, for three-quarters of our elec­ the present programme of the time the Division has initiated tric power and we have huge Academy of Science reported by the Science Teachers' As­ a training scheme for Aborigi­ that the most effective way that sociation of N.S.W. for second­ laboratory including surveys of reserves which are believed to fauna and theil' habitat prefer­ nals, they have done similar be adequate for hundreds of solar energy could meet some ary school students. They were trailling on a shorter term basis of the country's energy needs among about 35 prizewinners ences, studies on pigs and buC­ years if used efficiently, TI]e faloes, native rodents and the for Papua New Gnineans. environmental impact of large in the short term is in the form whose efforts were on show to of low grade hent, and set a the public at Macquarie Uni­ eITeets of habitat alterations on power stations will certainly wildlife populations. need further study hut there is target of 10]8 joules per an­ versity. nothing to suggest that the num, or ~13 per cent of the Peter D'Arcy (son of Mr R. The Division envisages giv­ problems encountered cannot country's energy needs, by the L. D'Arcy) demonstrated a ing the men a broad training Apprentices be readily solved. We are in year 2000. study of wave action on a model over the next two years in the the very fortunate position of beach, Jennifer Baird (daughter diITerent facets of both labora­ tory and field work so that at not having to depend on nu­ Synthetics of Dr K. Baird) showed details honoured clear power with its unsolved of pollen morphology of some the end of that lime they environmental problems. There is also the intriguing native Australian flowers and should be qualified to take em- For the second successive Much of the energy that is possibility of making syntl]etie Rebecca Lynch (sister of Dr L. year, two apprentices from the required as low grade heat ac­ fllel from cellulose, which can J. Lynch) exhibited the results Division of Chemical Physics tually arrives in the home or be regarded as solar energy of studying some properties of Interest rates have received Bronze Medal­ factory as electricity, oil or stored in plant material. We Sydney's water snpply at two The CSIRO Co-operative lions from the Apprenticeship natural gas, but it is in this could envisage a form of syn- access points. Credit Society has announced Commission of Victoria. They are Robert Cathie and Patrick the following neW interest rates for money held on deposit by Francis who received their awards for the outstanding eX­ the Society: hibits manufactured by them in Class I (money deducted from their respective trades. The salary) remains unchanged at Uronze Medallion is the highest 6 per cent p.a.; Class 2 (money award in each trade. on deposit [or less than 12 months) - 6.5 per cent p.a. (pre­ Robert Cathie, 21, a third­ viously 6 per cent p.a.): Class 3 year apprenficc in instrument making, designed and manu­ (money on deposit fOf more than 12 months) - 7.6 per cent factured a machine tool ccntre­ ing instrument known as a p.a. (previously 6.5 per cent com~ p.a,); Class 4 (money on deposit centricator, making all the [or 5 years or more) - 7.75 per pOllenls with the exception of cent (previously 6.75 per cent). the dial indicator. The quality Jll~W of the design and construction These rates will be eHective of this instrument was the sub­ from I December, 1973. ject of special comments at the Loan Interest: The interest presentation of the awards. rate for loans from the Society has been increased to 8.75 per Patriek Froneis, 20, a third­ cent reducing quarlerly, also ef­ year apprentice in precision OpR fective from! December. 1973. Lical finishing, made a glass cube in born-silicate crown op­ tical glass. The craftsmanship and technical ability required No cbange to manufacture such a cube to nor~ AI/hongh the CSIRO COII­ the accuracies achieved are ference Uuit is now )ocntcd in mulIy shown only in craftsmen Or Lex Blakey, Assistant Chief of lhe Division of Building Research, Is not playing hopscotch. He's Cnnbernt's new CAGA Centre, o[ many years' experience. proving you can stand on fresh concrele after only 20 minutes through using a 'vacuum dewatering' Akllna Street, fhemail otldress Each apprentice, in addition process whereby the mats (which you can see) are laid on top of fresh concrete and the water is for the Unit J'emains P.D, Box to trade conrse work, is pursu­ sucked out. The process has just been inlrodueed commercially In Australia by Readymlx. 225, Diekson, ACT 2602. ing a technician's course.

174-1973 WILDLIFE SURVEY IN WESTERN ARNHEM LAND

The Division of Wildlife Research in Cllnberra has almost completed its fauna survey of western Arnhem l;and in the Northern Territory. There will be some 'mopping up' opel'lltions to do in the next dry season and when all the laboratory work is finished there will be llll assessment of the facts. And the facts are likely to Research have all been involved wildlife, but the men found it excite anyone in Austrnlia­ as well as the Departments of was common for a hundred mil~ Ul1d oversens - who is iutcfR the Northern Territory and or more along the Arn­ estcd in wildlife for, apart from Minerals and Energy and the hem Land escarpment. Australian Mining Council. Al­ the survey boing the most- CXR 'We succeeded in trapping most every possible aspect of about 100 of them for further tcnshrc ever undertuken in the lllnd use, including tuurism, is investigation,' John said. l'cgion, the tcam has mudc some being looked at. imporlant discoveries. The area is rich in species of 'Our share of the money marsupials, bats and rodents, enabled us to make a complete some of which are endemic to There was, for instance, the year~round day Dr Dick Schodde from the research programme the region. Before the survey, Division in Canberra and lan and like the other interested though, no more was known of Mason from the Darwin parties we'll now present a full some of them than the appear­ laboratory of the Division. report of our activities. ance of their dried skins in went fishing on a billabong 'When these are all in, de­ museUm collections. near the South Alligator River. CISions will be made on the Now the team has consider~ Ian threw in a line and hauled total land use of the area,' John able knowledge of the habits out a turtle which would have said. and breeding biology of a much been interesting enough on iis wider fange of animals, includ­ own, but on this occasion the Team interests ing the rock possum whose turtle turned out to be a nearest relatives are found in Cllrrelloche/ys inset/lp/a, com­ From time to time various the Atherton rain foresls and A helicopter approaches the western Arnhem Land escarpment. monly known as Ihe pitted­ people have been involved in the New Guinea highlands, and (Picture: R. Story). Shelled turtle. Ihe wildlife survey, but in the the rock wallaroo that lives on The turtle was long believed main the memher~ of the team the steep escarpments and has ditions and the next moment Some of the bones were then to be restricled to the southern have been John, whose interest a nl1mber of 'features not shared you'd be in a patch of rain gathered and placed for safe­ part of Papua New Guinea and has been in the mammals, Dick, by any other kangaroo. forest. It's a great mosaic 0[' keeping among the' rocks. was not recorded ill Australia difIerellt vegetation types. 'Wc also discovered a great until as late as 1969. Ian's 'The escarpment, which you many rock paintings. In fact, specimen was only the second hit aboul 160 miles from Dar­ I'd say that in one day you one ever collected in this win. is a spectacular geological could see more such paintings country. feature which also makes for a up there than you would find What made the discovery of pretty excititlg place to do our in the wholc of New South even greater significance for the sort of work. Wales and Victoria put 10­ team was that investigations 'But you wouldn't say that gelher. showed it had only recently working up there, especially in 'It's our belief that some of laid eggs. This meant that it the wet, was climatically the these have never been seen by was now known to breed in greatest joy you could ask for. Europeans, and that this area The temperatures are usually is one of the great primitive Australia. 0 a,'ound 32 to 34 C and not art centres of the world. much of a drop at night. There 'If the proposal to have a Snrvey origin is a lot of rain and the mos­ national park there becomes a quitoes are most certainly not reality, it would be essenlial The story of the Arnhem an endangered species when i l that strict controls be placed Land survey goes back some came to numbers.' on such areas to preserve the years when the Division first Northern native cat (Dasyurus Harney's marsupial mouse hallucatus), a common animal (Anlechlnus bllarnl) a rock­ There is also the hazard of paintings and other relics of began sending its staff up there bush fires which, for instance, aboriginal culture for all time.' on short expeditions. in the Alligator River region. tnhabitlng species known only (Pictures: Ed Slater). from the western Arnhem Land the team experienced last month lIt was obvious to us even escarpment. when Keith Marlin of the Film from those field trips and our Unit staff was up there with preliminary observations th~t them. On that occasion, the there was a wealth of fauna in who has investigated the bird­ Discoveries men were out setting traps when life, tbeir habitat and the vege­ they noticed a fire, safely, as the region,' John Calaby, the During the COUrse of the leader of the survey team, said. tation of the area, and Dr they thought, in the distance. Harold Cogger from the Aus­ work the nests of several birds Within an hour or so it had 'But the northern part of tralian Museum who joined were discovered for tbe first swept through more than 30 Australia is ecologically the them to work on reptiles and time. The birds themselves miles of bushland and as the least known part of the couutry frogs. were known to exist bnt little was known about them biologi~ men said laconically, 'It came a and other than our s\,asmodic Others have included Tony liltle close i'or comfort'. work and the field tnps made Wolfe and Ian Mason from the cally and neither their eggs nor by the Northern Territory Ad­ Darwin laboratory, Peter Mar­ thei r nests had previousiy been minislration, there had been tensz from Canberra and seen. Rock paintings only three major wildlife ex­ rangers fnlID the Department The discov~ries included two One of the bonuses for the peditions into Arnhem Land liP of the Northern Territory. rare pigeons, the banded party cume with the realisation until then. pigeon and the red quilled rock that the land was rich in traces 'The bi ology of the mam­ pigeon, the nests and eggs of 'We bad just begun to take a mals and birds had never be­ of early Aboriginal occupation. detailed look at the area of the which were found for the first 'We came across a number of fore been studied in the con­ time. Another significant find proposed Kakadu National ditions of the "wet" so that places where boncs of the dead Park when potential conflict was the nest and eggs of the had been placed in rock much of what we learned was white-throated grass wren, the arose between the interests of either completely new,' John crevices.' John said. 'Vole conservationists ancl the mining most richly coloured of Aus­ learned that it had been a cus­ said, lor confirmed predictions'. tralia's grass wrens and known companies. A number of animais which tom of the tribes living there One of the Aboriginal rock previously from only a few to expose their dead until the IThe discovery of uranium were previously thought to be Arn~ palnllngs of a turtle found by records and only on the Hesh hud gone from the body. called for a detailed look at the extremely rare, have turned out hem Land plateau. the team. resources of the ,area and a to be quite common. For Dick and Ian also came fund was set up to allow a example, onc of the marsupial across the nest and young of complete survey to be made. mice, previously known from n white lined honcy-Wlter, Qur Divisions of Wildlife Re~ only three specimens, was con~ another first, for although the search, Entomology, Applied sidered to be among the bird was known, the young Geomechanics and Land Use 'a]most~unknowns'ofAustralian was one of those neVer before seen by Europeans. In the reptile field, Dr Cog­ ger and one of the rangers, Dave Lindner, discovered a number of undescribed reptiles and frogs which up until re­ cently were not known to science. Crocodiles were seen by the party but only the small fresh­ water species were in any nUm­ ber and the 'salties' were ex­ tremeiy rare. Habitat Describing the arca in which they were working, Dick said that the land offered a variety of habitats. For the most part it was fairly open eucalypt woodland with patches of open forest and small pockets of rain forest. 'What made it so interesting John Calaby (righl) and Tony Wolfe examining a trapping site in though, was the fact that at one A typical area in a rain-forest region of western Arnhem Land. long grass which almost envelops him near the escarpment base place you'd be among bare The habitat for wildlife In this area varies considerably with that at the beginning of the dry season (Picture: Ed Slater). rocks and spinifex in arid con- In the pictures above and lett. (pIcture: R. Story).

174-1973 Finding People In (SIRO By Clive Hackett The author argues that our methods of locating expertise in CSIRO are inefficient. He asks whether we would allow information about our skills to be stored on a CSIRO data bank

One of the 'in' words in lem. A scientist and his assis­ formation for storage in this csmo this year has been tant together stumble acroSs a manner. property of radio waves which 'colmnunicat'ion' - cOJmnuni.. Some may respond negatively ""tion with the Australian Gov­ nlight make it possible for air­ craft to scare oIT birds in their because they would like (0 stay ernment, with Ihe slaff and path at take-of[ and landing, under cover - fewer interrup­ with sociely al brge. without fouling up radio navi­ tions, fewer red herrings, and gation devices. Since they fewer chances of having (0 ad­ Discussion has mostly missed the article in Rural Re­ mit ignorance. I sympathise centred around the absence of search on this problem - and with this view, but I don't channels for communication or the information that aircraft think society will tolerate it blockages in existing ones. engines must be capable of much longer. So it may be But there is another form of withstanding a 4 Ib chicken wiser to lift the cover volun­ tbe problem, one which has re­ at 400 mph - they would start tarily than under duress. ceived little discussion but is talking to people. They would Others might be willing in tbere all the same. It is the be looking for those in CSIRO difficulty of quickly locating principle to co-operate but who know something about at might believe (hat the informa­ people In CSIRO who have in­ least two of the following sub­ formation you need. tion could be used against us jects: bird physiology, existing somehow. I acknowledge this Let's first consider how the bird-scaring techniques, radio problem but lack the Watergate Secretariat can experience this waveS, aircraft construction, mind to see how. Much of the problem. Say that Foreign Af­ and airport regulalions. information .is already on file. Ms Lyn Bosworth, left, and Ms Marilyn Wannan, two 01 a small The only additional elements group of women on the technical staff of the Division of Applied fairs rings Head Offke one According Lo their energy morning and announces that a would be extra-mural skills or Physics, exhibit a peggy square rug the group has made to raise and luck, thc team would find interests which could be funds for their pet charity, the children of Dr Barnardo's Homes In place has suddcnly become sufficient help in a week or a available for a CSIRO soil brought into play at short Sydney. The women spent many hours knitting the squares which month. But thei r search would notice - e.g. knowledge of were then crocheted round and joined up. The group has actively scientist who speaks Portuguese obviously have been hastened to join a delegation to Brazil. languages, accounting, an- supported the children for several years and last year their efforts jf they could have consulted a tiques, etc. The safeguards netted $300. The delegation leaves in seven data hank. days and will be discussing the would be voluntary provision effects on the rain·forcsts of of information and universal Some will argue about these access to it within CSIRO. the vast programmes for the examples, but the existence of inland regions. the problem can hardly be dis­ A recent report2 has stated International CSIRO ball in When this message is re­ puted. I think it will become that scientific and technological ceived, people will first ask more serious as our involve­ information resources are very awards to around locally. If they come ment with environmental proh­ poorly developed in Australia, Canberra lems increases and as we for finding people as well as up with a name, just one, that The Head Office Social Club person will probably be con­ acknowledge the connectedness publications. CSIRO is no ex­ of all the problems we handle. ception in the [ornler respect. two scientists has staged one of its most suc­ tacted direct. If he's free and Two CSIRO scientists have cessful annual bails with more his Chief agrees, he's probably In terms of the old saying One form of accessible data about hiding lights under been chosen for tnternational than 1000 people attending the as good as on the plane, awards by the World Meteoro­ funclion. Among those present whether or not he's the only bank does exist already in bushels, the question is whether CSIRO, in the form of the you would be willing to move logical Organisation in Geneva. were the Minister for Science, CSIRO soil chemist who speaks They arc Dr C. H. B. Priestley, Mr W. L. Morrison, and Mrs Portuguese. handbook 'Fields of Activity in your bushel over a bit? CSIRO Research', which is up­ Cbairman of the Environmental Morrison, the Chairman, Dr J. If this first search yields no dated at least once a year. But Physics Research Laboratories, R. Price, and Mrs Price, and 1INFOL2, DeR Teclmical Note 40, and Dr G. W. Paltridge of the names at all, the Secretariat this production has at least one by N. R. Pummeroy, Jlln~, 1973. Mr WaIler Ives, a former mem­ Division of Atmospheric ber of the Executive and now will start telephoning long­ major limitation, in that it does 2Report of the Scientific and Techno­ distance and usi ng the telex. A not list expertise, only activity. logical Services Enquiry CommtLtee~ Physics. Secretary of the Department of dozen such urgent messages So perhaps only 20 per cent of Chairmen Sir Peter Crisp and Si r Dr Priestley has been Primary Industry, and Mrs Ives. Samuel .Tones ~ see summary in would have to go out, to cover the potentially useful informa­ 'Search' August 1973, p. 313. awarded the International The ball was hosted by Mr all the labs containing soil tion appears. Meteorological Prize jointly Justin Murphy of the Division scientists, and a dozen people Footnote: When Or Hackett with Mr J. S. Swayer, Dj rector of Land Use Research, as would start running around on To add (he other 80 per cent submitted the above article to of Research in the UK Meteo­ Chairman of the Ball Commit­ receipt of them. If the Secre­ to the handbook might make it 'Coresearch' he sent advance rological Office. The award is tee, and masterminded by his tariat was unlucky, two or three unmanageable or unccono.mic, copies of it to various mem­ the highest international secretary, Kim JanseD, and names might turn up. A choice but such a store of personal bers of the Secretariat. Some honour in meteorology and this Harry Kwong, President of the would U,en have to be made, information could be med and of these people while apprecia­ is the first time it has been Social Club. perhaps wilh some delicacy. searched on the CSIRO com­ ting Dr Hackett's Views, have given to a scientist working in puting syslem.l The cost of now Indicated that they would the southern hemisphere. When it was decided to make Jf such information had been the function a BYOG alIair available on a computer, a setting up such a store on the like to reply to the article. It is awarded for the re­ computer "and maintaining it These will be puhlished In the cipient's contribution to and hold it in the Woden Plaza, large amount of time would a large shopping complex in have been saved. would have to be carefully as­ December issue. - Ed. science and for his services to sessed, but the prime question international meteorological or­ the national capital, the Now let's see how the scien­ to my mind is whether we ganisalions. prophets of doom were quickly tist can experience the prob- would be willing to supply in- at work. Dire warnings were Ur Priestley's main research forecast about the terrible has been on the mechanism of things that could happen as atmospheric pressure changes people travelled "1' and down Engineer helps and on the interacting processes on the escalators either to dance between the atmosphere and on the plaza's large ground the underlying land and sea Door or to dine at their tables on bridge surfaces. His work is regarded on the second floor. as being a cornerstone of modern approaches to clima­ As it happened no bodies problems tology. finished spread-eagled on the Dr Paltridge has been (Joor but many plaudits were Dr A. R. Toakley 01 the awa,.ded the WMO Research heaped on the heads of the Division of Building Research Prize for IThe encouragement organisers for a highly success­ has returned to h is desk at of young scientists.' It is given ful night. Highett after a period of 20 to the author of a single re­ months with the Lower Yarra search paper considered to be Crossing Authority. of outstanding merit and Dr Toakley was seconded to originality. 'Coresearch' the Authority's Directorate of Dr Paltridge's papcr, 'A Engineering and worked as model of a growing pasture', Chief Design Engineer in provided a means of calculating cCoresearch ' is pro­ charge of a group of engineers and therefore predicting, raLes duced by the Central and draftsmen who had the of plant growth from atmos­ Communication Unit for (ask of redesigning West Gate pheric data on radialion, lem­ CSIRO staff. Members Bridge in Melbourne following perature, humidity and wind, are invited to contribute the failure of the original measured above the crop. or send suggestions for bridge in 197I. articles. The deadline He also deputised for the for material is normally Director of Engineering on Honour the first day of the month Mr Alan Richardson Who is on secondment to the Australian several occasions when he was preceding publication. Wool Corporation from the Division of Textile Physics, recently overseas and visited Europe Dr P. M. Robinson, Division himself on their behalf. Material and queries arranged for a party of scientists and industrial representatives 01 Tribophysics, Melbourne. should be sent to the 10 visit the Clunles Ross Animal Research Laboratory at Prospect, In a letter to the Chairman, has been awarded the degree nf Editor (Dorothy Braxton), Sydney. Alan Downes, Kevin Ward and Ralph Chapman gave an Dr J. R. Price, the Chairman Doctor of Science from the Box 225, Dickson, A.C.T. outline of the Laboratory's chemical defleecing programme and of the Authority, Mr o. G. University of Wales, CardilI. 2602, Tel. 484478. the various methods of approach to the problem. Later the visitors Meyerl expressed his apprecia­ Dr Robinson has recently re­ saw two sheep defleeced In rather less than a minute apiece. tion of the work that Dr Toak­ turned from a four-months Tony Holmes (centre), an accomplished shearer by conventional ley had done. He also thanked tour of the USA, UK and Printed by CSIRO, Melbourne methods, demonstrated how easy the job could be If chemical the Organization for allowing Europe where he looked at defleeclng becomes a commercial proposition. He Is watched by an outside State body to have work going on in the hard Dr Peter Booth, AWC (left) and Mr Richardson. the services of one of their staf[. metals area.

174-1973 175##1973

Produced by the Central Communication Unit for circulation among members of CSI RO staff December 1973 Shearers' long blow may become short pull A method of harvesting wool from the sheep's back by chemical processes is being investigated by the Division of Animal Physiology at Prospect, Sydney. If the experiments being carried ont there are successfnl, Anstralia could see a gentle revolntion in its shearing industry - the first for nearly a century.

Behind the )Jrojcct is n team came involved because the meat production or reproduc­ ot' scienHsls and icchnical staff, steroid hormones he was work­ tive potential, or in any other some full~till1c) some ]Jart~timc, ing on had an interesting side way. And those are tests yOll who hnvc set out to try to elfect - steroid-treated sheep can't do in five minutes.' subsequently lost their fleeces, In a tour 01' the sheep pens, solve fhe )lroblcms associated This finding has led to a Bill Panaretto showed 'Core­ with both the costs involved in method which is being studied search' how some of the steroid shearing and the dilficulfy of closely -- the injection of syn­ hormones which had been tried geUing t]unliJicd shcnrers to do Uletic steroid hormones Im­ reacted. The fibres on one A member of the wool harvesting project, Peter Reis, with a the work, porled from overSeas. In some animal's back came off at the sheep which has been chemically delleeced. The longer wool sheep, this causes wool to slightest tOllch and with ab­ around the neck shows where defleeclng was less effective, Mr Alan Richardson has loosen in such a way that the solutely no discomfolt to (he been seconded to the Australian fibres can very simply be Wool Corporation from the sheep, It didn't even know the Moving to another sheep plucked by hand, In theory, wool had been plucked, But­ Division of Textile Physics to the idea sounds feasible and which had been given a slightly in the bare patch that was left co-ordinate all aspects of the has the potential for success, difl'erent hormone treatment, he Credit Society wool harvesting project and from a previous similar test demonstrated how its 'bare but bcfore the team will start 'harvesting't the new wool had Alan Downes, Peter Reis, proclaiming they have found a patch' had the beautifully soft Ralph Chapman and Kevin so far not started to come downy appearance of new wool wants more practical answer to the wool through after several days, One Ward from Animal Physiology industry's prayer, it has a great coming through. 'Now that have formed a research team question the researchers had to looks perfect,' he said. 'But many more tests to run. answer was how long it would to investigate chemical and bio­ 'In the first place,' Mr watch ' money invested chemical methods of defieecing be before the wool started to Downes said, 'we have to deter­ grow again. Giving (he fleece a light sheep, mine the effect of the drugs on More investors in the CSIRO 'We're looking for the per­ pull he showed that it did not Co-operative Credit Society are the animals, That in itself re­ 'No farmer is going to ap­ come away from the animal fect agent,' 'Coresearch' was quires a tremendolls amount of preciate it if he loses, say, a urgently needed so that the told, 'It has to be reliable, safe with qu He the same ease as heavy demand for loans from work because we have to ap­ month's growth,' Bill said, had thc first one, 'Now the and cheap, and it has to stop proach it from a number of 'What we have to discover the society can be met and the thc growth of wool for the animal felt that,' he said, 'Only present delay for loans to be dilIerent angles. It not only with that drug is whether the slightly, but that's not good shorlest possible time.' has to do the defleecing satis~ amount injected should be less paid can be greatly decreased, enough. We've got to do more Short or long term invest­ Another member of the stafT, I'actorily, but it has to be safe Or marc, how often it needs to tests to overcome that.' Bill Panaretto, who was study­ to use so that the animal will be given, and the best possible ments by CSIRO employees ing stress in shorn sheep, be- not be harmed either in its method of injection.' Turn to page 3 and other members of their families and their relations will be welcome. CSIRO elll!J\oyees are re­ minded that they arc ahle to BUILDING RESEARCH PULLS OUT OF PNG save wi(h the society by rcgular forfnightly dedul'tions from dc~ After 11 ycnrs the Division of Building Rcscnrcll is tu close i's salary. Interest·on these posits is 6 I)er cent per allnum branch ollice and labora'ory in I)ort Moresby. ;md intel'cst accrues from the dny the money is invested. The move is in line with the targely composed of clay, very After six months the interest Australian Government's lU)licy little of the material is imme­ diately suitable for brick or rate is automatically adjusted of disengagement of Govern­ to 6.5 per cent per annum. ment instl'uIncnhllifies fi'om pottery manufacture, Work by the last resident officer, Mr R. There is no charge for this ser­ l'upuu New Guinca following K, Hill, however, indicated that vice and the money is available self-g.ovcrmncl1i. there were several promising at calL During the time the office deposits near Port Moresby, Lump sums invested for less was staffed, the Division of Lac} Goroka, Kainantu and than 12 months also earn 6,5 Building Research provided a Wau, The clay from Wau is of per cent per annum and for total of six officers, who spent parlicular interest because it is more than 12 months but less periods in Papuu New Guinea 'white burning' and suitable than five years the interest rate ranging from three months of for making porcelain. is 7,6 per cent per annum; 7,75 relieving duty to four years of per cent is paid if the term of One of the most sustained inveslment years or more. service. is five elIorts was the recording of cli­ Forms for each type of in­ From its \nception the office matic data. Directional rain Mr lIa lmanl, a local assIstant, checks specimens on lhe expo­ vestment are available from provided an information ser­ gauge records (monthly aver­ sure rack at the Port Moresby laboratory 01 the Division of Administrative Omcers in each vice on building and other mat­ ages) were gathered for a de­ Building Research, Division or from the registered ters, either by responding to cade at Lac, Goroka, and Port office of the society at 314 questions or by issuing infor­ Moresby, while solar radiation the Papua New Guinea office, ducted this year, concerned in­ Albert Street, East Melbourne, mative leaOets in its Tropical intensity throughout the day It is interesting to note that the digenous people, It is hoped 3002. Building Research Notes series, was recorded for several years rate of corrosion of mild steel lhat the results will be of bene­ some 60 01' which were pub­ at Port Moresby and the results in Papua New Guinea is only fit to architects, builders and lished, Questions for these sent to the World Meteorological aboul hall' the rate in Mel­ authorHies responsible for Fiji assignment came from missions, indivi­ Organisation. The equipment bourne and a quarter of the housing in Papua New Guinea. Dr F. J, Bromilow of the duals, local and Australian concerned has been transferred rate in London. Government Departments, and to the Institute of Technology Some of the functions of the Building Operations and Eco­ from overseas. at Lae so that records of tro­ Two 4comfort surveys' were former branch omce will be nomics Section of the Division carried out by different resi­ carried out by Papua New of Building Research, Highett, Studies were made of local pical solar radiation may con­ dent officers. In these surveys Gninea's Public Works Depart­ visited Suva last month to hold materials such as clay, lime­ tinue despite the withdrawal of people living in different kinds ment, others by the Depart­ discussions with stone, bamboo and sago palm, CSIRO, senior officers of houses recorded on cards ment of Forests and still others of the Fiji Public Works De­ and advice was given to manu­ A considerable amount of how they felt thermally, how by the Institule of Technology partment. The visit was ar­ facturers of concrete masonry. work on fungus-resistant paints much air movement there was at Lac. In addition, officers ranged under the South Pacific It is an ironic fact that and a long-term programme of at the time, what they were from the Division will visit Aid Programme by the Depart­ although much of the land in exposure testing of plain and wearing and so on. The first Papua New Guinea from time ment of Foreign AlIairs at the Papua New Guinea, including coated metals were among the survey involved only expat­ to time for discussions as the reqnest of the Government of many of the mountains, is other activities carried out by riates, but the second, con- need arises. Fiji. Twice-a-year crops? Science may change plant habits Rivett medallist John Raison is a man who's going about his work these days well conteut that he's had professional recognition among his peers both at home and overseas. He's also quietly confident He met Dr John Raison, a 'The change caused damage thal hefore long his research - plant biochemist with the Plant to the plants' metabolism, de- of ..articular interest to scien- Physiology Unit of the Divi- pending on how 10nR and how lists studyiu" Illant and animal si on of Food Research, Sydney, low were the temperatures. This " who was already working on led us to see whether the same IJsysi'ology - will soon have mitochondria, minute particles thing happened in the animal Ilradical 111l1lliculiolJs. found in the cells of plunts and world. We found there was a This could mean that: animals which produce energy. distinct relationship between o crops such as sorghum and After discussions, the two men the two. maize could be harvested decided lo work together and 'An extension of our obscr- twice a year from that day onwards, profes- vations showed that warm- • other crops could be grown sionally John Raison has eon- blooded animals with the capa- i~ng~~ld;~;iot,J~~i~h~~tesbefg~ ~ff~t::~t~~, ~~~k ~f~~d t~fth~~~ ~~~carlyr ;~~~-b\~~dedP~if~~ .• cl studies. chondria when they're active, Injure And that research won for but once they go into hiberna- • fruit and vcgetables such as him the 1973 Rivett Medal. tion they ehanoe to the mito- tomatoes and cucumbers, 0 which presently soon spoil in 'For many years, researchers chondria of the cold~blooded refrigerated conditions, could have been trymg to understand animal,' John said. tI,e be stored in cool tempera- why certain plant and animal Research into Iipids tures for longer periods. ce.IIs cannot lolerate for long (fatty substances) of mem- temperatures which fall below branes in chilling-resistant Looking into the realms of a certain point - about lOOC plants showed that they could Among the hundreds of recent visitors to the Radio Observatory possibilities, it may even mean for plants and 23° C [or ani- be likened to margarine ~ at at Parkes Were these happy children from the Calare Public that doctors could keep vital mals --'- while other plants and low temperatures they re- School at Orange. Although the children were all deaf, they organs in healthy condition at animals appear to be immune mained fluid. left little doubt that the visit had been an important one in their 11andlcapped lives. On hand to host them round the equipment }~~ la;=~nE::ai~~~~~ns~l~~~s~itclY :~m~~~at~~~,~1~h~t s;ld~ lower h;I~ai~till'~h~;,~~st~~ ~~~~;: was Les Fellows (right) from the Division of Radlophyslcs. And in more than just the 'Dr Lyons and I began our They remain solid,' colloquial sense of 'way out' d' h I f fi d' science, astronauts might be stu Jes in t elope O· n mg - and' understanding - the Award given a chemical injection to changes that occur in both New Unit formed place themselves in a state of h The published data on their Overseas win suspended animation or biber- plants and animals when t ey work earned for the men re­ A Solar Energy Studies Unit nation during long voyages in- are faced with adapting to or cognition by the American In­ has been formcd by CSIRO. It being injured by coldcr tem- for Film Unit to outer space. peratures, The first step was to stitute of Biological Sciences. wi 11 be headed by the Chief of They considered it the most When Stan Evans, Olficer-in­ the Division of Mechanical En­ US collaboration isolate the mitochondria from outstanding single contribution Charge of the Film Unit, and gineering. Mr Roger Morse, The work which led to these several plants in both areas into research into the prodllc­ his wife, Lillian, walked into who is also the immediate past considerations was started in and subject them to chilling tion of vegetable crops for that the events on the first day of President of the International 1968 when an American scien- temperatures-within the range year and in 1971 awarded the the 27th Congress of the In­ Solar Energy Society. tist, Dr James Lyons, Head of of 10'C to o'e. Wc discovered scientists the AIBS-Campbell ternalional Scientific Film As­ Ve~etables Mr Morse will relinquish his the Crops Depart- that while no change occurred Medal and a cheque for $1500. sociation jn Bulgaria, LilHan present post early in the New ment of the University of Cali- in the chilling-resistant plants, admired a large Bulgarian chilling~ Ycar when he and his stalf will forniu, came to Australia tu one did occur in the crystal vase which was the take up their new duties in study the differences between sensitive plants at. the critical trophy for the first place in the Melbourne. plants which arc chilHng-sensi- temperature of about IO"C, research film section. tive and those which are ehill- (depending on the species of Stan agreed that it was a fine ing-resistant. plant). piecc but added the comment that it would be R 'damn nui­ sance' to carry back to' Aus­ tralia. A short time later the Wally Evans farewelled vase was in his possession and When Wally Evans left CSIRO last month, the Organization was part of his personal lug­ said goodbye to a personality who had been a member of the gage for the rest of h is overseas Melbourne staff for 28 yeal's, seven of them with the Division of trip. Stan had to acccpt the Buiiding Research and 21 of them with Head OtTice. In that time trophy on behalf of CSfRO Wally performed an unosually large range of dulies including when the Unit's film> 'Ruptll.re secretarial and administrative work for some of the boards on Patterns in Wood', took the which CSIRO is represented, particularly the Electrical Research first prize. Board and the Radio Research Board. The film was produced by 'One piece of work for which Wally will be specially remem" the Unit in collaboration with the Forest Products Laboratory bered is the detailed analysis and description he made of the At this point John returned activities of the Radio Research Board,'"" said the Chairman) with Bill McKenzie of the to Australia and with his Aus­ Laboratory as scientific adviser. Dr J. R. Price, when he presented Wally with a watch. 'This is a tralian colleagues, began look­ fascinating part not only of CSIRO's history. but also that of The Unit's team comprised ing for practical applications. Peter Bruce (camera and edit­ Australia'-> Working first with the Dr Price made mention of Wally's public relations work for the ing) Percc Watson (animation) The Unit has been set up echidna or spiny anteater> and Stan Evans (production). Organization which he said had done much to make· known the which, it is generally agreed, following a conference earlier aims and objects of CSIRO familiar to the community. Two· other films were also this year when an appraisal was goes· into a stale of torpor in entered: 'Measurement - an Wally had also been responsible for bUilding up and looking the winter rather than true made of the work a number of after the archival section which in 1965, Dr Price said, had been International Language', and Divisions had been doing on hibernation. John found that the 'Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes', almost non-existent. animal could low~r its body solar energy. Since then CSIRO temperature in the winter and bas been reviewing its solar that as this process occurred energy research in the light of used as the staple food of a Australia's future needs. the lipids' In the membranes developing country.' were modified to withstand the Thc new Unit will advise the change in temperature. While the Unit is eoncell­ Executive on the most promis­ trating on the biochemical as­ When this and the earlier ing applications of solar energy pects, collaborative work is for Australian conditions and work was made known to being nnderta ken with col­ scientists studying animal hiber­ indicate the directions in which leagues at the University of research will be most effective. nation, there was considerable New England, at the NSW interest and it has given rise to It will conduct feasibility Department of Agriculture and studics of solar energy and its a fresh impetus to look further in a commercial nursery who into the changes in animals' applications. both short-term are looking at plant breeding and long-term. metabolism using John's and programmes. Dr Lyons' data as the key. In making the announcement, John himself is more con­ the Minister for Science, Mr Plant effects fident of sllccess with the plant W. L. Morrison said that breeding project than with CSIRO had been carrying out In the world of plants, how­ chemicals, hut believes that a continuous research and de~ ever, John and the others are chemical could be developed velopment of solar energy utili­ now trying to find ways to which, when sprayed on to the sation for nearly 20 years and simulate in chilling-sensitive fruit, would give them a longer that the work of Mr Morse and plants, either by a chemical life in storage. 'In other words his colleagues had been largely process or by plant breeding, we'd modify the plant at that responsible for Australia's in­ the properties of the mem­ stage of its development.' ternational reputation as being branes of chilling-resistant He is at present organising in the forefront of solar energy plants. a conference of scientists work­ and its practical utilisation. H it's possible to change the ing in this field in both the Mr Morrison said the work lipid components in ehilling­ United States and Australia for of the new Unit would not only sensitive plants then those February, to be held in Hawaii ensure that Australia kept a­ plants should be able to grow and hopes that it will attract a breast of solar energy develop­ in a wider range of latitudes or number of researchers from ments overseas but added, 'It for an extended season. both countries so that duplica­ will help to place Australia in The Chairman, Or J. R. Price (left), says goodbye to an old 'This could have an import­ tion of effort, which costs both a position to turn increasingly CSIRO personality, Mr Wally Evans. The Organization expressed ant effect on crops like sweet time and money, can be fore~ to alternative forms of energy its appreciation of Wally's work with the walch he Is wearing. potato" John said, 'where it's stalled. if the need arises.'

175-1973 There's still hope for our oceans Scientists will monitor pollutants A plan _0 monitor 1)QlIufion in a known quantity as the pro­ 'We want to know how they of the uir, sea nod land Oil a pellant vehicle used in hair break down oil, for instance, global scale, is (0 be IJrcscnled sprays, deodorants, shaving how long it takes and the effect to a meeting of the Governing creams and insecticides. the oil has on them. A lot of work needs to be done to find Council of Hie UN Environ­ 'Since it is stable and does out if microbes absorb certBin mcntal I'rogr1ll11111c when it not break down in the same way as, say, DDT does, we wastes which are then trans­ meets in Nnirohi in Fcbruury. should be able 10 monitor what mitted along the food chain and The Chairman of the team happens 10 it and use it as an converted into more lethal which has prepared the sub­ indicator of interchanges be­ wastes. missions is Or George Hum­ tween the air and sea and pos­ 'We know this happens in phrey who heads CSIRO's sibly the land. This may give the case of mercury which is Marine Biochemistry Unit in us a better understanding of converted into methyl mercury, Sydney. how some of the pollutants are but what other wastes are simi­ The Minister for Science, Mr W. L. Morrlson, gets a briefing on Back at his desk (brieflv) dispersed.' larly affected by this gap in our the CSIRO Repco sell-twist spinning machine at Geelong. With after a meeling in London of For years now Dr Humphrey knowledge?' he asked. him are from left: Mr Max Bourke, Science Liaison Office.r; the Working Group of SCOPE has been concerned with pollu­ Dr Humphrey believes that Mr R. B. Whan, MHR.; Or M. Lipson, Chief of the Division, and (the Scientific Committee on lion of the oceans but despite Australia is a fortunate country the Chairman, Or J. R. Price. Problems of the Environment) all the alarmist reports he is in that it has comparatively and a conference of the quietly confident that there is little sea pollution. General Assemblv in Kiel, Dr still hope for them. 'We're lucky to have such a 25 years in wool research Humphrey said tbat a priority 'It's not so much that I'm an vast coastline all to ourselves list of pollutants has been optimist,' he said. 'Just a rea­ a long way from any other Twenty-five years of CSIRO wool reseaI'ch at Geefong was drawn up for lhe Nairobi meet­ list. I believe commonsense continent,' he said. This was marked by an industry conference recently at the Division of ing. will prevail to prevent exces­ in contrast with the four or five Textile Industry. Among the 200 guests who attended the func­ These include the PCBs sive pollution. And there are countries which polluted the tion were the Minister for Science, Mr W. L. Morrison, and the (polychlorinated biphenols), signs that this is already hap­ Rhine in Europe so that it Chairman, Dr J. R. Price. metals and petroleum products pening.' poured out a 'real mess' into Opening the conference, Mr M01Tison referred to the past and it has been decided that the North Sea. The Baltic was achievements of the Organization and emphasised the value of Dr. Humphrey said that also polluted bv industrial freon should be included. SCOPE's working group was research as a national investment. The development of the in­ waste and the Mediterranean herent qualities of wool had, through CSIRO research, made it one IFreon is an interesting one,' particularly interested in gain­ byoil. Dr Humphrey said. 'It seems ing a greater understanding of of the greatest fibres in the world. Dr Humphrey said that most Mr Morrison spoke of the natural qualities of wool such as its to be harmless but nevertheless the way microbes break down of Australia's marine pollution it is put into the atmosphere wastes poured into the sea. durability, and flame and crease resistance, which had been en­ was due mainly to the coastal hanced throngh WOI'k carried out by CSIRO in terms of shrink amenities. Sewage, he added, resistance, drip-dry characteristics, permanent crease and improved was too valuable to be dis­ colour fastness. Woo1. he added, could now compete not only with charged into the sea. other natural fibres but also with the artificial ones. 'The main requirements are It had been of some concern that there was an imbalance in to determine baselines for ac­ the allocation of available funds between promotion and research ceptable pollution levels. After and this he felt was to the detriment of research. that, I believe the problems are more economic and political than scientific. rently considered "way-out", 'Some of the reports of Wool Harvesting including the use of a laser "dead lakes" and "dead oceans" beam.' he said. are highly exaggerated but they Cont'd from page 1 The crisis in the wool indus­ do make people take notice. Before any drug could be try in 1971, had brought about Scientists can give a more commercially marketed and a spirit of innovation which balanced view to the picture. given over to farmers to use had not flagged since. How­ It's not diilicult for them to on large scale applications, the ever, apart from simplified wool draw up u map even, of present whole technique had to be per­ classing through pre-sale test­ arcas' of pollution on a world fectly safe and cheap, Bill said. ing , no new techniques were in scale and the projected areas Another aspect which is im­ commercial use. as well, but after that it's out portant with chemical defleec­ Wool harvesting had been of the scientists' hands and ing is the possibility that having largely neglected and the cost you've got to get governments been given its injection, the of shearing, crutching and to take action.' sheep would begin to lose its mustering 1\veragcd about 70c wool in the holding paddocks. a sheep. The transport and 'No farmer would appreciate handling of wool had received that either, so we're now look­ a lot of attention ancl the cost ing at ways of putting the ani­ of this to the farmer could Scientist to mals into coats that would have probably be reduced, he added. a two-fold I'llrpose - they CSIRO had looked at ways of would keep the wool intact dur­ improving breeding 'easy-care' go south with ing this period of the operation sheep, the Use of 'snow combs' and would serve as a protection to leave more wool on the sheep against the weather after­ was being considered, and year­ Russians wards until the fibres begin to round rugging was under in­ grow again. Industry is look­ vestigation. Dr John Garratt of the Divi­ ing into this for us and we Other ideas involved im­ sion of Atmospheric Physics, already have some coat provements to shearing shed Aspendale, has been invited to samples.' complexes. join a southern ocean expedi­ If chemical defleecing be­ Research going on in all tion 011 the Russian oceano­ these areas was not confined When Ray Eaton (above), former navigator of a schooner which comes a reality on a large scalc, graphic vessel 'Dmitri Menda­ it will be the first major de­ solely to CSIRO, although the visits coastal missions in the north of Australia, wanted to go laev' this month. The vessel velopment in the shearing side Organization was well com­ walkabout from Port Keats to Darwin. he knew he had one will call at Adelaide after an of the industry in Australia mitted to investigating many problem - how to find fresh water every day. intensive programme of re­ since machine shearing was in­ avenues of the wool industry, When equipping himself for the trip he tried to find a portable search in the Pacific during the troduced in 1888. Mr Richardson said. Other still but had no luck, even though they were life-raft equipment last two months and will pick Nearly 100 years have pas­ organizations such as universi­ 30 years ago. He approached CSIRO's Information Service in up a small number of Aus­ sed since then, and although ties, Slate Departments of Agri­ tralian scientists, including Dr Melbourne for help and was referred first to the Division of there have been refinemenls on culture and manufacturing Mechanical Engineering and then to the Division of Applied Garratt. machinery and techniques, there firms, were also involved and Chemistry. During the expedition, Dr have been no major changes the Corporation would be look­ Mechanical Engineering suggested a version of their solar still Garratt will deploy an instru­ since then in the harvesting of ing at all ideas put forward. but that was ruled out because of the problems of carrying the mented spar buoy at a latitude Australia's wool. 'Whether the chemical shear­ glass. . of 45-50° S. The buoy, 10 According to Mr Richardson jng succeeds or not, it does ap­ metres in length and weighing chain shearing systems offered pear that in many ways the Bob Swinton of the Watel' Purification Group at Applied time for technological change Chemistry, a Venturer leader and bushwalker himself, came llP 250 kg, will house a power the second best prospects) com­ supply transmitter, recorders pared with chemical shearing, and innovation has come to tile with the answer. After a few experiments on weight reduction wool harvesting scene in Aus~ and simplification he produced a simple still which can prepare and sensor electronics. to save on shearing costs and five to 10 litres of fresh water in a couple of hours over a The sensors will include an skilled labour requirements. tmlia.' Mr Richardson said. anemometer to provide mean 'The Australian Wool Corpora­ 'This change and innovation wood fire. wind ~peed, a thermistor for will bring benefits to individual Ray checked the still out and was full of enthusiasm when he tion wants to look at every pos­ sea surface temperature, a sible an~Je of harvesting the woolgrowers and to the overall set off last month on his trek. Walking mainly along the coast multi-thermocouple arrange­ national economy) but we must with excursions to inland Aboriginal reserves, he expects to be wool und this has involved con­ see that it also brings adequate ment for air/sea temperature sideration of some ideas CUl'- away a couple of months. With him is an Aboriginal guide. difference and a fast response benefits to the employees who In addition to the still, he is carrying a pack, small rifle, some eup anemometer to provide an provide a major contribution to insect-collecting gear and sample containers, maps and compass, indirect assessment of the wind the work necessary for the suc­ medicine, 15 Ibs of dehydrated vegetables, a hammock and stress over the sea surface. The huoy will be a proto­ cess of the wool industry. mosquito net plus a two-man innatable dinghy to bypass mangrove The transmitter will operate type of those planned for the 'In the overall situation of swamps. The mouth of the Daly River, which he has to cross, on an intermittent basis every TWERLEjRAMS experiment change and innovation r sug~ will iuvolve a 10-mile paddle which must coincide with a 20 ft tide. half hour with a 50 W output to be conducted in the Pacific gest that the keynote will have His only worry is the presence of crocodiles. at freqnencies of about 2 and and southern oceans during to be consultation and co­ Last year he went walkabont with some of the mission Abori­ 4 Mhz and give a range of up 1975. At the end of the cmise operation between employers ginals while his boat was being repaired and it was during this to 500 ml at night and 100 ml it will be recovered and brought and employees, between the expedition that he discovered. the fresh water problems. by day. The buoy will be back to Australia, woolgrowers' organisations and Next year he plans to walk across Arnhem Land. Why? Because located from the ship on a day­ The final cost of each buoy the unions in the wool-harvest­ he reckons the Aboriginal is a 'beaut bloke' and he wants to learn to-day basis by the use of a system is expected to be about ing area, particularly the Aus­ more about them. suitable radio receiver. $5000. tralian Workers' Union.'

175-1973 Letters to the Editor Obituary Sir- Ofl1ce has developeu a com­ puter based system which Dr Clive Hackett was good enough to let me have a prc­ allows ready access to a record publication copy of his con­ of each member of staff's bio­ graphical details, academic Dr. D. (lark tribution 'Finding People in back';l"Ound and the research CSIRO' (Coreseareh 174). I programme he is associated The death has occurred of should like la thank him for with. This system is currenlly Or Doug Clark, head of the this and while I support in Australian plague locust in­ being extended to include, for general terms his proposal that example, the precise scientific vestigations at the Division of information about the scientific Entomology, Canberra. Dr discipline or employment calcw and technical expertise and Clark died in his sleep at Cun­ gory of tbe individual. It is other relevant skills of CSIRO namulla, in south-eastern proposed to develop linked stalf should be stored in data bases to cover additional Queensland, where he was do­ machine~readable form,. it is ing Held work in the campaign rather dillicult to put his total information such as overseas visit details. against the current locust proposal into effect. plague. However, there is no plan for We have in CSIRO two data the present at least to include Dr Clark joined the Divi:-iion banks wilich go a long way to­ 'extra mural activities' in lhis in 1954 and had worked exten­ wards achieving Dr Hackett's data bank (e.g. languages, non­ sively on plague locllsts and objective. academic qualifications, in­ grasshoppers. In recent years Firstly, we have a compre­ terests. skills, sports) nor have he made siRnificant contribu­ hensive Index to all scientific the ethics involved in incor­ tions to our knowledge of the pllblications of CSIRO staff. A porating into this system con~ breeding habits anti migration machine-readable version of fidential malerial thal may be patterns of tbe Australian this Index is being developed private to the indivitlmtI yet plague locusl, eSDccially in re­ which includes all entries from been considered. In any event, lation to climatic conditions. and including 1969. Search op­ no action would be taken to in­ This informulion is the basis tions include authors, author clude this type of data without of the evolution of malhema­ location, title and keywords. the agreement of staff and tical models which predict re­ In addilion to published scienti­ Chiefs of Divisions. liably impending locust infesta­ lic papers, which are abstracted It is clenI', then, that even tions. He had collaborated fnr 'CSIRO Abstracts', it also now we are able to provide closely both with State authori­ ties and with the Anti-locust includes scripts of radio talks quite an amount of information and other unpublished but Research Centre in London. Betty Doubleday spent her last working day with CSIRO at the from these two dala banks. significant material which This carubility will increase as Dr Clark was resneeted for National Standards Laboratory library which by coincidence was shollld be readily retrievable. his professional work and his where she spent her first day, 22 years ago. Photographer HarrY we develop linkages between In addition to 'CSIRO Index' these systems. amiable temperament Won him Gillett captured this picture of Betty at an informal library many friends. His sudden death function. the Information Service has We would like to oITer our built lip a referral system services la members of staff has left colleagues both in the which locates expertise in who have a problem locating Division and in many olher science and technology outside ex pertise or information in areas of CSIRO with a deep sense of loss. Librarian says goodbye of CSIRO. One important re­ CSIRO and elsewhere jn Aus­ ference for this work is 'Scien­ tralia. Judging by the many At the time· or Dr Clark's tific and Technical Research requests wc receive from both death considerable publicity - her way Centres in Australia' which within CSIRO and externally was given to the role of CSfRO lists research and development and from Dr Hackett's com­ in dealing with the locust prob­ The librarian in charge of the largest single collection of interests of government, aca~ ments, we are encouraged to lem when the Film Unit was literature in science and technology in Australia, Ms Betty demic nnd industrial labora­ believe that the development able to supply television tories. This publication is be­ of a comprehensive informa­ channels with their film ITrack~ Doubleday, is to retire soon from CSIRO. ing revised at present The tion storage and retrieval sy­ ing of Locusts by Radar'. Net­ new edition will contain many stem should be an important works in South Australia, Vic­ After 22 years, lIeUy fms and speaking to every Branch more entries in the industrial objective of both the Central toria, New South Wales and handed over her responsibilities in the Commonwealth. sector. It too, will be available Information Librarv and Edi­ Queensland were covered. Dr to Mr I'c(cr Dawc und has 'Her advice on library and in machine-readable form as torial Section and the Admini­ Clark had been responsible for slarled leave which will lake related matters has been widely well as hard copy. strative Branch of Head Ollice. much of the work involved. sought and her services much her through to her nctual rCM In the second instance, I -C. Garrow, in demand by the Australian tiremcn( date cul"ly next year. have been advised that the Ad­ Manager, Government - in particular for ministrative Branch of Head InformaUon Service. Departure from the Mel­ a comprehensive survey of bourne ofIicc was not marked government departmental lib~ by any oineial functions be­ raries in 1959, and, again in cause Belty, in typical fashion, 1965, as a member of the insisted that there should be no Working Party .of the Public SAFEfY NOTES formal farewells or presenta­ Service Board, the Natin1la1 tion. Library, and CSIRO into a While dcclining to accept any prescription and rc-definition What is the best type of able everywhere if we were all personal gifts, Bctty has agre~dl of library qualifications and emergency resuscitator avail­ trained to apply it. however, to allow her aSSOCIa­ salaries. able? A medical authority The film 'Pulse of Life', lion with CSIRO to be marked 'To all these activities, Betty (111ey crop up everywhere) re­ available on loan from the by a display case which is be­ Doubleday has brought not cently suggested that the ideal CSIRO Film Unit, graphically ing made in her honou,r and only an incisive mind, a highly equipment should satisfy the demonstrates mouth~to-mouth whicll will be housed 1I1 the articulate voice, anu a fierce following specification: resuscitation and cardiac mas­ Central Library. It will include determination for maximum 'It must be simple, and sage. Arrange for a showing her OBE which she has given achievement, but also a huma­ should be portable; inexpensive at your laboratory, and also get Professor H. Marschner of the to the Organization in recogl~i­ nity which has so often re­ enough so that we can have it an expert along to demonstrate Institute of Plant Nutrition, lion of the fact, as she secs It, vealed itself in a compassionate anywhere, reliable and imme­ the techniques. Technical University, Berlin, is diately available. It should fit that 'the award most properly concern for the welfare of those Oil Bames, Safety OlIicer. spending nine months sab­ belongs tn CSIRO and my lib­ about her.' all patients; its rate and volume batical leave with the Division rarian colleagues who made it Hetty was quick to realise should be variable, and it of HortiCUltural Research in possible'. the value of applying computer should have a self-contained Adelaide. His main research The case wi,n contain other techniques la library procedure power source and an inexhaus~ interest has been the mineral momentoes and documents of and information retrieval but tible oxygen supply.' New degree nutrition of plants. In Adelaide, an historical nature and will was also aware of the pitfalls He went on to say that the Mr M. C. Rees of the Divi­ Or Marschner will use tech­ be used to display valuable encountered overseas by lib~ mouth-ta-mouth method fulfils sion of Tropical Agronomy has niques developed by the Chief itcms CSIRO has in its pes­ rarians who had allowed enthu­ all these criteria. been awarded his Master of of the Division, Or J. V. Pos­ session. siasm to run ahead of economic I am not so sure about in­ Agricultural Science Degree by slngham, to study the growth Even though Betty has feasibility or practicability. As expensive, but it could be avail- the University of Queensland. of chloroplasts, chlorophyll­ ha nded over the reins at the a result of her disciplined ap­ containing particles in plant Central Library, her influence proach these techniques have cells. is likely to be felt around the been applied to those areas o( place for a long time to come library management in CSIRO for she made a significant con~ capable of giving maximum re­ tribution to Australian biblio­ turns for a comparatively graphy which slands as a testa­ modest invc..'\tment. 'Coresearch' ment to her foresight, planning In 1972 Betty was awarded and plain hard work. the OBE in reeognilion of her 'Coresearch' is produced services to the Australian com w Just before her deparlure a by the Central Commuaica­ w munity. review of her work was pub tion Unit for CSiRO slalf. Jisheu in IThe Australian Members are inviled 10 con· Library Journal' which said: lribute or send suggeslions 'Although often critical of Visitor for arlicles. The deadline librarians and their propensity An overseas visitor to the for maierial is normally the for contemplation of their cor­ Divisions of Mineral Chemistry first day of Ihe month pre· porate navel, as also impalient and Applied Chemistry on an ceding publication, of their frequent concern for eschange scholarship for 12 Material and queries should minutiae (of both cataloguing months is Kyoji Kaeriyama be senl to the Editor and other kinds), nevertheless frolll the Research Institute fOl' (Dorothy BraxtonJ, Box 225, she herself made a substantial Polymers and Textiles, Yoko­ Dickson, A.C.T. 26D2, Tei. contribution la the profession hama, Japan. Kyoji is working 484478. of li b rarianship in Australia. on eyc10pentadienyl derivates ~ She was President of the Lib­ of transition metals in colla­ 'These figures are only apprOXimate, but it seems clear that we rary Association of AustraJja boration with Drs R. S. P. went over the top In the first quarter, with cmp damage far for 1962-63 and, while holding COlltts, A. F. Reid, D. E. Seaife beyond our expectations.' ofIice, made a point of visiting and 1'. C. Wailcs. -Courtesy 'Punch' Printed hy CSrRO, Melbourne

175-1973