212##1977
A monthly pUblicationfor CSIRO staff January/February 1977 III New Chief Or IllN WllSH lOBEODME for Tropical Crops and INDUSTRY OONSUlTINJ Pastures Dr Alan Walsh-scientist, inventor and entrepreneur-retired from CSIRO on Dr E.F. (Ted) Henzell has been 5 January after 30 years of research, and 15 years as Assistant Chief, at the appointed the new Chief of the Division of Tropical Crops and Division of Chemical Physics. The Division has arranged a buffet dinner in his Pastures. honour at the Monash University Club on Saturday 26 February to which staff, Hew-ill take up his new duties on the retirement next month of their husbands/wives, and friends have been invited. the present Chief, Dr Mark 'I've been to so many farewell dinners recently that I'm beginning to acquire Hutton. a taste for wine,' Alan said, a little overwhelmed by the fuss being made of his Dr ... Henzcll. who has been the Division's Assistant Chief since departure. 1'970, . graduated B.Agr.Sc. from And Alan makes the point that he is not retiring from work. He intends the .. University of Queensland in taking a holiday for three months to recharge his batteries and then become a 1952. Dr Alan Walsh In the same year he was awarded private consultant to industry. a Rhodes Scholarship and under took research work at the De For unlike many other scientists ralia a head-start over the rest of Alan concedes that the research partment of Agriculture, Oxford A1an enjoys mixing with the cap· the world in the technique. conducted by most CSIRO Divis Honour University. This culminated in the The Chairman, Sir Robert tains of industry and talks their 'This was especially important ions is, of necessity, problem award of the degree of D.Phil. in Price, has been made an language. during the miner.aJs boom of the oriented. But he maintains that 1955. onc~a-t:op:cf~ss Hnnorary Member of the 'My family was steeped in the 1960s when the mining industry scientist is recog Before joining CSIRO in 1956 Royal Society of New South traditions of the Lancashire tex needed a method for rapidly nised as such, and given freedom he gained extensive farming ex Wales. tile industry. ·1 was brought up in analysing ores for metal content'. of work, practical benefits will perience in the Roma district of This brings him into a the real world...:...where one went Or LloydRees, Chief of the always flow from wha.t ll'e does. Queensland. very small and select group out to make a quid', he said. Division of Chemical Physics and As for CSIRO of the future, Or Henzclfs wide spheres of of distingUished people on This attitudeI and a need to a colleague of Alan for .30 years, Alan confessc$ ,to being worried interest in the Division have in ~ncreas_ing whom the honour has been show that his scientific theories also paid tribute: by the bureaucracy. cluded agronomy, physiology, soil conferred. were correct, led to CSIRO's 'Alan Walsh's contribution to 'Inquiries alldrearrangements fertility, plant nutrition, bio The number of honorary best-known money spinning in science, industry and human.wel seemto,gopri-forever. The chemistry and advanced mathe members never includes more vention-the atomic absorption fare has been considerable•. But, OrgaJ'iizution. is doomed if its matical techniques. scientists·feel .. ·obliged to justify than 20 people spectrometer. in spite of his great distinction, He is recognised both in AustR The instrument-described as he has never found it necessary to every stage of their research. Sir Robart' 5 membersh ip was ralia and overseas as an authority 'the most significant advance in develop eccentricities or affecta conferred on him 'for eminent on plant and soil aspects of the chemical analysis this century' tions~and he enjoys life. Continued on page 6 learned attainment'. nitrogen cycle. can measure minute traces of a 'He could be said to be the metal in substances as diverse as totally successful migrant, were it oil, soil and blood. not for the fact that after 30 Its accumulated benefit to the years he still supports England in Australian economy has been cricket'. estimated at more than $200 million at present day prices. Scientific freedom Its manufacture in this country provides employment to some Alan came to Australia in 1946 400 people. after gaining his degrees atMan But use of the spectrometer in chester University and .··spending hospitals throughout the world five years as a research -physicist has given Alan more satisfaction at the British Non-Ferrous Metals than all the dollars it has earned. Research Association. 'What does making money mean Equipment that he devised compared with helping to save Jife during this period foruse in emis and improving standards of sion spectroscopy instruments is health?' he asks. still in production and forms an integral part of many modern Tributes spectrographs. CSIRO's Chairman, Sir Robert Aian thought that he had gone Price-a colleague and friend of as far as he could with his line of Alan Walsh for many years work and opted for a change-to spoke in glowing terms about Australia and what was then the Alao's research work. Chemical Physics Section of the 'Alao's contribution to science, CSIR(O) Division iJf Industrial to the application of his dis Chemistry. Twenty five children from Waimea Heights School now know a lot more than most Australian children about coveries, and to CSIRO itself has He recalls that things were lively the productiOn of fish fi ngers. been enormous', Sir Robert said. in those days: The children visited the Tasmanian Regional Laboratory and while there were shown how experimental fish 'Despite the indifference and 'At 3D, I was the second oldest fingers are made, beginning with the mechanical separation of the fish Into minced flesh and bone. scepticism with which SO many bloke in Chemical Physics when I They were also told how the minced fish was frozen into blocks of a suitable size, later to be cut up and scientists greeted his ideas on arrived. We were allowed to made i I1to the fingers, atomic absorption, Alan's ability dev.elop research programs.in our After the mechanical separation demonstration, the children sampled some of the fingers which had been to persuade instrument makers in own way and had much more made up by the staff from two pieces of fish - ocean perch and frost fish. Melbourne of its worth gave Aust- freedom than scientists do today'. On hand to talk to the children and serve them their samples was Allan Bremner. Photo: A. Van CSIRO staffin honours list The services of a number of CSIRO staff have been recognised in the recent New Year Honours list and in the Australia Day Awards. They included: New Year Honours Member of the British Empire Knights Bachelor Kenneth John Prowsc, of Ainslie, William Joshua Vines CMG, of ACT, for public service. (Regional Darling Point, NSW, for dis~ Administrative Officer, Canberra) tinguishcd service to primary British Empire Medal industry. (Part-time member of Harold Kendall King, of Carling CSIRO Executive) ford, NSW, for public selVice. Companion of the British Empire (Senior Laboratory Craftsman, Victor Dudlcy Burgmann, of Division of Animal Production). Dealdn, ACT, for service to science. (Member of CSIRO Australia Day Award Executive) Member in the General Division Order of the British Empire Hector John Lee, of Fullartoo, Miss Helen Alma Newton Turner, SA, for services to science, of Roseville, NSW, for service to (particularly animal research), Dr Ken Myers has resigned f~om versity of Sydney for his pub up experiments on control of Hono~ primary industry. (CSIRO (Until January on the staff of his position as Chief Research lished works on the biology of the rabbits in arid areas, members of rary Research Fellow) the Division of Animrtl Nutrition.) Scientist with the Division of rabbit in Australia. the CSIRO rabbit research team Wildlife Research in Canberra to In his citation during the pre took time off to buy pastorallst take up a Professorship of Biolo sentation ceremony, the Dean of friends a drink and to thank them gical Sciences at the University of the Faculty of Science said: for their continued support: left Knight for aday Guelph, Ontario. 'All Or Myers' examiners agree to right: Ken Myers, Bill Price, As congratulations poured in for members of CSIRO's staff who abput the excellence of his work, Harold Bults, Greg Richards, Mal were named In the New Year Honours list, few people received Ken was leader of the Division's h is international repute and the calm Stanger, Bruce Parker with work on rabbits for 15 years. Mr and Mrs Alan White of Wona M more attention than did Mr Victor Burgmann, a member of the great contribution he has made to Just before his departure for Can Executive on whom the Queen bestowed the CBE. his subject. mint. Station ('Blue Hills') and ada he was awarded the degree of On a recent field trip to north John L1bke. Front: Oon Wood By becoming a Companion of the British Empire, Mr Burgmann Doctor of Science from the Uni M western New South Wales to set and N. Oay ICallndary Station). has joined a distinguished_ group of people but somehow the Canberra Times thought it also conferred upon him a knighthood. In a front page story on 1 January. it made references to CSIRO's new 'knight' with the result that 'Sir Victor' ,'.nr! 'Lady Burgmann' have come in for their share of additional con~ gratulations. ,Death of former librarian The new 'knight' and his IladY' were among friends and cQllea~ gues who dropped in to the home of Regional Admlnistrativa A littleover three years ago CSIRO of her own - she was one of those possible seJ;Vic~ to the research ~.aid: Officer Ken Prowse, on New Yearls morning to congratulate.Ken its official farewells to its special personalities that the Or staff. on being awarded an MBE. Chief Librarian, Bctty Doubleday. ganization seems to attract. about Everyone took the opportunity to pay due homage to 'Sir fr~)ll; __ ~y~:nv~~~~:. ,io .. thc .• ()r whom people reminisce. Betty was responsible for the liatiiz.tio!1'n
Good inventions come from the the idea of producing the machine Organization each year, often as a for distribution in the United result ofamajor research program, States. often simply because a member And back at NML, the regular of staff is attuned to the needs of users of the machine are delighted his colleagues. Some of this with it. latter sort have recently come to Another NML technical officer. light and a...e akeady being pnt to GH Russell, has invented a piece good use. of office equipment, a typist's For instance, a technical officer copy-holder, which alleviates back at NML, Peter Smartf has appear and neck strain. ed on the current ABC television GiI came up with the idea after program 'The Inventors' with his attending a course at the Univer invention of a hydraulic lift sity of Sydney on 'Occupational apparatus for raising and lowering Health in Industry'. the Laboratory's heavy pedestal He realised that many typists drilling machine without risk of suffer from back and neck prob injury. lems. caused by unsuitable desks Soon after NML took delivery and chairs and lael.. of work aids. of its new pedestal drilling mach ine it was apparent that it was a 'I was soon convinccd that a potential cause of it~ury. The copy-holder which holds the copy machine weighs in at 22 kg at eye level in front of the typist, (50Ib). eliminating the need for her to With the weight of a machine continually bend her nec'k SIde· vice and the component for ways and downwards to read her drilling added 011, the total weight work, would be well worthwhile isove... 26 kg (60 Ib). and set about designing one', GU That's a lot of metal to hold up said. with one hand while the other The version that he came up hand is dealing with the clamp. with rolls up the work sheet as After a few near misses when typing proceeds. Several arc now people misjudged the weight and in use at NML and -are proving the work table either dropped very popular. with 11 thud or shot up in the air, In addition, arising from his Peter applied himself to designing participation in the occupational a lift. health course, Gil has an extensive 'I considered the methods nor collection of books and notes on mally used in these ,situations, the -subjecr,-a:nd"can pass :d~ti:~!i that is a rack and pinion or lead on toanyiuter.csted l' screw. but rejected them as they Theforeman-'c'a-:pen' are clumsy to operate and very Physic~, JackFlcrn,i slow', said Peter. ned and madcal 'Instead, I turned my thoughts hold the keys of the to hydraulics and came up with a flexitime -recorders, hydraulic lift. After a couple The rack has a s of minor modifications it worked ceramic magnet. set· ·h~low,.·~a.~h perfectly.' key hook. This holds (l,ek.y in The table is lowered simply by place even Jf p~oplefail,to make opening a valve and letting the concact with thehook:in 'their weight do the work. As the valve hurry to start work. is progressive, the operation is The Simplex flexitime recorders always under the complete cow differ from the Hangstler ones trol of the operator. installed in other Divisions'.in Although Peter's invention was several .. :respects but ,primarily in not chosen as 'Invention of the the fact that the key.op.....ting The head-up, eyes-front, ro/l-on copy-holder which GB Russell invented for NML typists, Week', his appearance on 'The each recorder is removable both Inventors' brought the apparatus after 'clocking on' and 'clocking to the attention of potential ofC. The need for an adjacent manufacturers. key rack was therefore apparent As a result a Queensland firm and Jack came up with the below has been in touch with him with right idea.
New Fisheries Centre for Manila
A new international fisheries ion of Forest . Research and a centre has been established at former meniber:of CSIRO's Exec Manila in the Philippines. utive. Known as the International The aim of ICLARM is to stim Centre for Living Aquatic Resour ulate ·andconductl"esearchl train ces Management (ICLARM), it is ing and development to increase an autonomous, non-profitt inter· the production of fish. national scientific and technical Its initial interestwill:bc in institute similar to the Inter South East Asia where fish is _an national Rice Research Institute important food. (IRRI). ICLARM will develop lillk~ with Acting in their personal capacit fisheries ceotl"es throughout .. the ies the founding officials included world with the idea of. forgillg a number of distinguished scieli~ research networks designed to in tists and administrators including crease fishcries production and Or Max Day. Chief of the Divis- improved resource management. Jack Flemlng's novel key rack for the flexitime recorder.
212-1977 Open dayscontinue>at.laboratories
Events of 3 and 4 December last of the F.C. Pye industrial Liaison year will be long remembered by Centre. Mr A.J. MacKenz.ie, AlProspect many Sydneysidcrs. Some will Federal Member for Calare,pec recall the scorching westerly winds formed the ceremony onbeh~f which sent temperatures close to of the Minister forPcimary 40° and bush fires close to their Industry, Mr ran Sinclair. homes. Others will have vivid Sir Robert Price and the Chief memories of their trip to CSIRO's of the Division of Animal 'Prow Division of Animal Production duction, Dr Trevor Scott, both during its series of open days. paid tribute to MrPye'sgenerosity Despite twin hazards of heat in providing funds for the Centre and petrol shortage, more thnn - the third gift of this type made 6000 people found their way to by him to CSIRO. (The first was the Prospect laboratories. the F.C. Pye Fidd Environ Once there, they were let mental Laboratory in Canberra, loose on a trail of information nnd the second the F.C. Pye and entertainment around the Wildlife Research Laboratory in Division which took in sheep Darwin.) shearing, bandicoot behaviour, cattle breeds ... and Norm Pede's The new Centre will be used by ever-running tap. liaison officers at the Division for The tap, suspended by a string their program of seminars, dis from the roof of a building and cussions, lectures and for the with no apparent inflow, contillu general exchange of ideas. uously gushed water into a barrel. Sir Robert felt sure that Mr Pye's Goggle-eyed children looked on confidence in the value of this kind increduously; adults were heard of liaison work would be justified. to say 'That's just what we needl' Mr F.e. pye (left) Is one of CSIRO', benefectors and donated the finance needed to build the Industry But Animal Production is all Family outing Liaison Centre which bears his name. The building was officially opened by Mr A.J. Mackenzie, MP for about animals. and the goats, The effective public address Calare (right!. Photos: Phi! Potter end Tony Williams. lambs, guinea pigs and calf in the system not only gave a carnival animal nursery came in for more atmosphere to the open days by than their share of patting, fond providlng music, but also in bring~ ling and ear pulling. ing aid to the entrance tent when Vidcotape displays showed how it collapsed on its occupants in ewes recognise their own offspring. the gale-force winds. while for the more biologically Still, the public did not seem to inclined, protozoa consumed mind the weather. Cold drinks starch and other protozoa in a and cups of tea supplied by the five minute video clip. Welfare Club helped many a For the leg-weary and heat visitor around the exhibits. affected, Tom Dagg arranged Carried away with enthusiasm screenings of a number of films for the .occasion; phrases :like in air-conditioned comfort, inclup 'worthwhile .. thing"~lld ·'possibl~ cling the Divisional films 'Ocflec annual event~<,,~er~;.:,:~oon cing' and 'Pouch Life of Bandi bandied at'oulldJnth coots'. Without .,·cloubt,',thc ·.:rriixfllr#".~f well prepared' displays, .... the. ·ani,,: New Centre mals, and good organisation tllr~ One of the highlights of the ned a laboratory open day into a festivities was the official opening good fan\ily outing.
Old timers return The shearing of sheep by both traditional and chemical methods was a feature of the Prospect displays. to Griffith Lab At Griffith Someone always has to do things in a different way and so it was with the jubilee celebrations. As conducted tours are a nonnal feature of daily life at Irrigation Research in Griffith, the Division decided to celebrate the jubilee with a staff reunion. Several hundred invitations werc sent out to places as far apart as Israel and Canada and despite the postal strike most of them reached their destination. In aU, somc 280 former staff, present staff and invited guests attended a typical DJ.H.. barbecue in the station grounds, and cries of 'It can't be you' echoed all night as former staff from 1924 to the present met again for the first time in many years. Guest of honour was Mr Eric West, the station's Office-in-ehargc from
1924, when it was known as the Commonwealth Citrus Research Stationl until his retirement in 1956. During the evening Mr West recounted the activities of the early days of the station when the staff consisted of only four people and the farm 'machinery' was a horse. The twenties era was represented by Edith Martin, the ~tation's first office girl, the thirties by Arllold Dreyer, Bert Gilliard, Stan Polkinghorllc and Ray StacYi the forties by Eilccn Belford, Jack Cunial, Aston Combc, Harry Frith, Clive Gates, Al Grassby, Ccdric jones, Allan May, Lachy Mycrs, John O'Keeffc, Joan Ross, Boo Sidlow, Nan Simpson, Bob WiIliams, Ursula Wood and Ray Wotthingtoll, while those from the fifties, sixties and seventies were too many to mention. To mark the occa..;;ion of the jubilee the former staff. through Bend Mcijer, presented the Division with an original oil painting by Daphne Howie. This now hangs in the foyer of the main building. Some of the former members ofstaffwho attended the party included (from left) Mr and Mrs Bob Williams, Mr and Mrs Eric West, Mr Jaek Hallam, M.L.A., Mr and Mr5 AI Gl'assby, Mr and Mrs Clivc Gate::; and Mrs Bnrbarn Josling. 4 212-1977 C9lROpbud.~r~~~,11\1\Ab_sed on 'nogrowllilitualen The 1976/77 Budget provides a totalamoulltof The acquisition proposals which Other Funds Other e-xpenditure from grants $155692 908 for CSIRO's annual and C New edition ofSSAL Soils produce latest Divisional newsletter published by Printing Unit Soils is the latest Division to pro torrential rain, mud and the duce its own newsletter. occasional python. The final pages of the newly The first edition hit the streets The compensations? According last month. to 'Profile', these include a magw updated 'Scientific Serials in According to a foreword from nificient profusion of living things: Australian Libraries' came off the the Chief, Or Arnold Martin, the trees with enormous buttress press of the Printing Unit in I'lluscle behind the venture is roots and festooned with vines, Melbourne at the end of last year. Kevin Handrek, the Division's in': under-storey shrubs and trees, It was a major achievement for formation officer, John Coppi multi-storeyed displays offlowers, all concerned, especiaBy the was responsible for the title, hundreds of species of small editorI Jean Conochie, and the ·Pl'ofile,' while Penny Cody, des animals and insects living 011 or in Printing Unit staff. cribed by the Chief as a 'drafts the forest floor litter, and the rich person in our drawing office' smells of perfume from flowers, SSAL, as it is commonly called, designed the cover. rotting vegetation and damp earth, is a looseleaf catalogue in three Soils is a Division which is not to mention panoramic scen volumes of some 60,000 scien geographically scattered and 'Pro ery of Hinchinbrook Island and tific and technical periodicals and file' aims to act as a medium of Passage on the way to the experi serials holdings in 480 Australian communication among the staff mental sites. libraries. It is intended to provide whether they are located in Ade There is also news of Ian Little, the research worker with an up laide, Canberra, Townsville, Hob a chemist in the Brisbane Reg to-date finding list, but, because art or Brisbane. ional Laboratory, who has of its high bibliographical stan Even in this, the first edition, scooped a first, at least as far as the material covers activities of the Division is concerned. dards, has been used as a biblio staff from several parts of the This month [an, moves to WA graphical tool not only within country. for one year to work. in the In Australia but, increasingly over For instance, there is news of stitute of Agriculture of the Uni seas, as its outstanding merits Alistair Spain, John Holt and versity of WA. have been gradually recognised. Members of the Printing Unit staff, (from left) Joe Spino.olla, Ralph Steve Bailey who are studying 'This is a sort of sabbatical The authors of a recent French Judd end Reg Sutton watch the final print run of SSAL with the editor, the flow of energy and nutrients leave,' says 'Profile', 'but without thesis on union catalogues had Jean Conochie, and the Chief Librarian, Peter Daw8. in three rainforests in northern the overseas component usually this to say about this work: Queensland. associated with sabbaticals.' The men have to contend with In part, Ian plans to continue 'SSAL is seen to be a valuable cise nature ot the entries•. , taken almost three years to com~ leeches, mosquitoes, march flies, his studies of the development of identification and research in Nowhere else is it possible to plete and there· was good cause tangled vines that trip them up. soils and the chronology of the strument and is distinguished establish mQl'c precisely the for celebration when relevant stinging bushes, barbed tendrils sand masses of Fraser Island, using from other collective cata~ genealogy of corporate entries••. ' members of CILES staff met at on bushes that tear their clothes some facilities in Perth not avail logues...by the extremely pre- This major updating exercise has the Printery to mark the occasion. and eyes, faIling black bean pods, able in Brisbane. 212-1977 Si,ofo,um A~~rican The Division of Land Resources award to CSIRO logo Management in Perth has been using a logo for some time ... Miss M. Vickcry of the Division of simply tbe letters CSIRO, It may Or oFiKelsal1 Radiophysics· has taken up the not be generally known that this, Dr D.I'. Kelsall, Chief of the challenge of producing a logo for in fact, is what many areas of the Division of Chemical Engincer~ CSIRO. In her accompanying Organization, including Head ing, has been awarded the Robert letter she writes: Office and the Canberra RAO H. Richatds Award fnr 1977. The logo represents the lay have been doing. The DivisiOl~ This prestigious award is pre out of the 96 aerials and the of Soils has its own logo, a sym sented annually by the American transmission lines connecting bolic drawing and the letters Institute of Mining, Metallurgical each of the aerials with the main CSIRO undcrneath.-Ed. and Petroleum Engineers for ouservatory building, Each of achievernents in the field of the outside dots represents an mineral processing. aerial; the transmission lines are Former It is the first time that the 'stacked', groups of lines being award has been made to a scientist carried on common so pports who is not an American citizen until, 130 m from the observa Assistant and is also the first time that it Forest Research has said goodbye to Bruno Monteleone who worked in tory building, the system is re has been received by a scientist the Division and its predecessors for 24 years. duced to two groups of 48 lines working in a government depart Bruno was a research worker on the outdoor staff of the Genetic each. These two groups faIrn Chief dies ment or agency. Section and was responsible for planting many thousands of pine trees the letter ']' in 'CSIRO'. Dr Kelsall received the award for progeny trials and other experiments. The design would be improved . The death has occurred in Mel for 'his outstanding contributions A farmer in Italy before coming to Australia, Bruno is an active member by progressively strengthening bourne of Mr C.S. ElIiot, an to minerals processing in the of the Italian community in Canberra the lines to indicate the 'stack Assistant Chief of the former theory~ operation and develop In his retirement he plans to continue his horticultural experiments ing' process and to add depth to Division of Forest Products. ment of equipment ill at least on a smaller scale - tending his own garden and making wine from his the design itself. Mr Elliot died in the Royal three areas: analysis of the own grapes. I think this logo has the merit Melbourne Hospital after a long performance of hydro~cyclones The Division marked the occasion with a farewell party at which the of being an actual layout of an illness. and development of the cyclo Chief, Or Max Day, (left) made a presentation to Bruno and his wife installation, although inevitably 'Sib', as he was known to his siser, pioneering control and Guisepplna. ' it thereby emphasises only the friends, joined the Division's modelling of grinding circuits Picture: Alan Edward particular Division concerned. Timber Seasoning Section in 1930 after graduating from Melbourne and the simulation of flotation University. Between 1932 and circuits'. 1941 he was Officer-in-Charge of The cyclosiser is manufactured the Section and played a major in Australia and has become role in improving the standard of standard equipment in labora timber seasoning in Australia. tories both here and overseas for the precise and rapid sizing of He was appointed Assistant very finepartic1es. Chief in I942-a post he held until 1963 when he left the Dr Kelsall has been invited to receive his. award at a ceremony i[l Division to become the Australian Atlanta,Georgia. next month. Scientific Attache in Washington. L.F. Cross' logo (December issue) Mr Rlliot retired in 1965 does not recognise the gains made after returning from Washington. by the women's movement. A During his 33 ·years with theDiv~ 'Coresaarch' more appropriate logo would bel ision he became well Imown to 'Coressarch' is produced members of the timber industry by the Central Communica· and State Forestry Departments. tion Unit for CSIRO staIf. He also earned a reputation It is also circulated to some overseas for his wide knowledge people outside the Organ of the industry and his appre ization who have a pro R.W.i-Ende ciation of the value of forest fessiomll interest In CSIRO Chemical Technology products research. activities. Members are invited to con tribute or send suggestions for article', The deadllna Mr Ray I,ball, Ragional Soli, Officer at the Davie, Laboratory of the for material Is normally the Division of Tropioal Crops and Pastures, has been awarded the 1976 nrst day nf the mnnth pre Medal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science for his out~ AlanWalsh ceding pUblication. standing contributions to agricultural science. Material and queries should Ray (right) was presented with the medel at a Town,vllla function by be sent to the Ed itor the President of the Queensland Branch of the Institute, Mr Gardon Box 225, Diekson, A,C.T: Purss. retires 2602, Tel. 48 4476 Members of the I'hrth Queensland branch of tHe Institute and colleag Continued from page 1 from the Royal Society in Lon" Editor. Dorothy Braxton ues from the Oavies Laboratory attended the functIon. don. The citation to the Royal 'In addition, restrictions placed Medal mentions Alan's early work on scientists travelling abroad to on emission spectroscopy, a fact conferences will cut them off which pleases him greatly. from the outside scientific world-to the detriment of He has been a Fellow of the CSIRO', he said. Australian Academy of Science He regards CSIRO as still the since 1958, and is a Founder I world's best governmental scien Member and a former President tific research establishment, but of the Australian Institute of warns that its high reputation Physics. abroad should not be taken for With the honours, however, granted. came many invitations to lecture at home and overseas, and Alan Honours now feels that he has earned a Many of the numerous honours rest-to renovate his house, play bestowed on Alan Walsh in recent some golf and swim a little. years have come from overSeas. He sees himself very much as a In 1969, he was elected Fellow product of his Division in that its of the Royal Society and a 'frec-wheeling' approach to re Foreign Member of the Royal search enabled him to achieve so Academy of Sciences, Sweden. much. Morc recently, he has been elec The success of the atomic ted an Honorary Fellow of the absorption spectrometer has Chemical Society (London) and already entered CSIRO folklore an Honorary Member of the as Andrew McKay showed i~ Royal Society of New Zealand. 'Surprise and Enterprise'. Alan Within the past few months he Walsh's own account will app CRr has received the Torbern Bergman in a book being compiled by Medal from the Swedish Chemical Professor A.J. Birch of the Society and a Queen's Gold Medal Australian National University. 'Don't tell me your troubles. I'm an endangered species.' 6 212-1977 213##1977 A monthly publication for CSIRO staff March 1977 115 National CSIRO's new Chairman workshop held The CSIRO's emerging involve ment in problems relevant to appointed human nutrition last month took another major step forward when the Division of Human Nutrition MrVictor Burgmann to take in Adelaide convened and hosted a national three day workshop on human nutrition research. over from Sir Robert Price A group of 31 scientists from 16 different research organisations Mr Victor Burgmann CBE, who has been a full time member from all States around Australia of the Executive since 1970, has been appointed Chairman of met to consider ongoing nutri CSI Ra for a 12 mo~th term. tional research, future priorities and methodological challenges. The appointment was made by the Governor-General and an The opening sessions, chaired by nounced by the Minister for Science, Senator J.J. Webster. the Chief of the Division, Dr 8.5. Mr Burgmann will take over from Sir Robert Price when he Hetzel, stressed the growing retires on 24 March. awareness of the fundamental role of dietary factors and nutritional 'His appointment has been for the 12-month period rather status in health and disease. than for the customary longer term because it would be inappro With increased research atten priate to make longer term appointments until the govern tion now being paid to this area, ment's Independent Committee of Inquiry has completed its methods of co-ordinating research reviews of the Organization: Senator Webster said. strategy and standardising data collection techniques were partl 'Mr Burgmann, as the fourth Chairman of CSIRO, has a cularlyemphasised. broad background of scientific experience in Australia and The Division plans to assist in overseas: he said. co-ordinating future nutrition re· 'He has been particularly involved in two fields which have search in Australia, and perhaps in holding similar workshops in brought many benefits to Austral ia and overseas countries. future years. 'One was the war time development of radar and then later The sound nutritional status of the development of Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) as a participants was secured with navigation aid for civil aviation. lunches of high fruit content and a convivial dinner (washed down Burgmann~CSIRO's 'The second field in which Mr Burgmann made a significant Mr Victor new Chairman with a little wine). contribution was that of the objective measurement of wool~ now an internationally accepted practice: Sir Robert retires from Or Keith Boardman top CSIRO post Sir Roben Price, Chairman of CSJRO since 1970, retires from the Organization on 24 March. During his 32 years with CSIRO, Sir Robert has been, in turn, a research scientist with the for the former Division of Industrial Chemistry, Chief of the former Division of Organic Chemistry, and a member of the Executive. His period as Chaitman has coincided with some of the most Executive severe financial restrictions in the public sector in recent years, and with a growing mood in Dl' Kcidl Boardman, a chief scien political circles for CSIRO to justify the money spent on its research. tist with the Division of Plant 'The most worrying single incident during the past seven years was the minerals crisis in 1975 lndustty, has been appointed to when the Government of the day decided to remove minerals rescarch from CSIRO: said Sir the Executive for a term of 12 Robert. months. Making the announcement, the 'However, onc of the major ganization.. Plant research Minister for Science, Senator J.J; changes which._ has accelerated in Sir Robert believes that CSIRO Sir Robert's research career as Webster, said Dr BOllrdmall would emphasis during the period has is one of the best-if not the an organic chemist began at the fiB a vacancy which had existed been the increasing contact with best~governrnental research orga University of Adelaide where he on the nine-member Executive for Dr Keith Boardman government and with the Minister nizations in the world, giving graduated in 1932. He was awar some time. in particular. enormous value to the country in ded a D.Phil. at Oxford in 1937. IDr Boardrnan joins the Execu 'This situation has arisen in part terms of the money and resources He joined the John lnnes Horti tive with a distinguished research US honour because of changing economiC cir put into it. cultural Institute in London that career in biochemistry. biophysics cumstances but n major factor has 'Nothing has given me greater year and began to develop his and plant sciences,' he said. Or Dal Swaine of the Division of been the progrcssiv~ development satisfaction while I have been interest in chemical aspects of Mineralogy has been admitted to from being responsible to a Mini chairman than the research plant research. Reappointment membership of the Society for ster nominated by the Prime Mini achievements ot' our scientists. After a four-year spell working Environmental Geochcmistry and ster to a Minister for Education 'The Organization has more on propellants and explosives for The Minister also announced Health. He is the first Australian and Science and latterly· a Minis than fulfilled its role in arcas as the Ministry of Supply during that Mr Victor jennings who has to receive this honour. ter whose exclusive interest has diverse as animal breeding, energy World War 11, Sir Robert returned been a part time member of the Dui has also been invited to be been science, research I the development of an to Australia in 1947 as a research the guest lecturer at the society's 'Naturally this has made greater Executive since 1974 would con aircraft landing systeml and con officer in the CSIR Division of tinuc his tcrm of office for a annual conference in June in demands on the Chairman as the servation of' native plant species', Industrial Chemistry. further three years. ColumbIa, Missouri. principal -spokesman for the Or- he said. Continued on page 2. and received the KBE in 1976 for services to science and govern Sir Robertretires ment. Aroyal occasion Continued from€ff~e I; Sir Robert was awarded a D.Se. OivisionslHead Office CSIR had alrea~.r made a !TIod by the University of Adelaide in In these days of accountability, cst begilming at<()'t>tuseful 1954 for his scientific work and Sir Robert believes that CSIRO's materials from and the H.G. Smith Memorial Medal scientists have a duty to inform Or Len Webb had. bee pointed of the Royal Australian Chemical the public about their work. to start the botanical side of a lnstitute in 1956. He was elected 'One of the responsibilities of survey of Australian plants. Sir a Fellow of the Australian Acad CSIRO as laid down by the Act is Robert (or Dr Pricc:as he was emy of Science in 1959. the dissemination of scientific'in then) joined Or Webb:otithe sur Sir Robert became Chief of the formation-and this means more vey, focusing his attention on the newly-created CS1RO Division of than publishing in journals. chemistry of plant alkaloids. Organic Chemistry in 1961 and 'However, the scientist must As the years went by, the survey was appointed a full-time Member speak responsibly and in his offi became more comprehensive by of the Executive in 1966 with cial capacity should confine him· involving many univ~~sity.·stud~ particular responsibility for the self to his area of, expertise. On cots until it reached national chemical Divisions and those con matters outside his specialised status as the Australian Phyto cerned with minerals research. knowledge, he should speak as a chemical Survey. Extracts from 'When I joined the Executive I private citizen and not as an all the plants examined were never expected to even be con officer of CS1RO'. subjected to pharmacological test sidered for the job of Chairman,' On the subject of Divisional/ ing and the survey itself has led Sir Robert recalls. Head Office relationships, Sir to the publication of many hun Nevertheless, he became Robert believes that some dif dreds of research papers. CSIRO's third Chairman in 1970 ferences are inevitable in a large organization. 'Concern about the growth and role of Head Office is nol a new phenomenon; he said. 1 As far back as 1951 in CSIROthere What friends and were records of this topic being an issue in the minus of Chiefs and even back in the la.te 1920s, colleagues wrote. •• in the early days of CS1R, there were often fairly strong "dis •...Sir Robert Price is to retire as the Chairman of the Executive of cussions" between Chiefs and the most significant scientific research organisation in Australia. their Divisions and Head Office.' 'Sir Robert has proved himself to be a great Australian. His 'The role of Head Office,' Sir contribution to the status ofscience research has been enortnous Robert added, 'has changed and as an individual scientist, Chiefofa Division of CSIRO j a member grown-if only because govern of the Executive and currently Chairman. Jle has obtained the mental needs require a central highest honour by his dedication to duty and to his profession. point of contact. 'Those achievements make him an outstanding man, and he is 'When my predecessor, Sir well supported by an equally outsta.nding wife, Lady Joyce Frederick White, moved Head Price. Office from Melbourne to Can 'Sir Robert combined his elevation with genuine humility, a berra in 1971, I, along with a fare quality of great men. number of my colleagues, thought 'It has been my privilege to work with him and be counted as a the move unnecessary. I am now friend.' 100 per cent convinced that Sir Senator J.J. Webster Frederiek was right', he said. Minister for Science Sir Robert is naturally reluc Parliament House tant to discuss the qualities nee Sir Robert and Lady Price relax outside Government House after Sir Canberra ded in his successor, but he holds Robert had received his knighthood from the Queen. strongly to the view that he Sir Robert. awarded the KBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, •...It was Jerry more than anyone else who put the study of the should be a scientist. was one af the Australians to receive a knighthood from the Queen at a Australian natural products on the international. map. He con~ l Any Chairman would be in a special ceremony at Government House, Canberra on 9 March He tributcd to organic chemistry in so many ways-not only by his difficult position if he were not a received the award for his service to science and government. own experimental work but by his fostering of, Australian scientist and had to rely on col publications, his leadership in the Royal Australian Chemical leagues for advice on scientific Institute, the Academy, and the International Union. He is a matters,' he said. great organic chemist, and a great man by any standard.' However, Sir Robert's reticence Professor Geoffrey Badger does not extend to mentioning his President own future pJans. He intends Australian Academy of Science Old hands retire moving to Melbourne to spend a littlc time each week at Albert ' ...Quite apart from the scientific and other talcnts which made Street pursuing a personal scicn~ fromNML him Chairman of the Organization, the most outstanding impres tific interest, collecting infor sion of Jerry Price gained over more than 30 years is his enor mation from the library, and a lot When Hazel Knight started work at the National Measurement Labora mous capacity for hard work. of time growing native plants on a tory in 1942 she was employed in the optical laboratory. Five years 'This impression was gained at first hand during 20 years of few hectares of land at Red Hill later she transferred to another position-that of welfare matron for the close association with him at the Division of Industrial Chemistry, on the Mornington Peninsula. laboratory. when we were jointly involved in many activities, including He and Lady Price-a botanist It was in this capacity that Hazel spent the next 30 years, becoming founding and editing chemical journals, and planning Ilnd run have been collecting seed for a widely known and appreciated for her kindness, wisdom and com ning an international scientific meeting. long time in readiness for their passion. Last month the staff of NML met to say goodbye to her and 'Hard work in his garden is the 5parc-time activity that he has post-eSIRO years. to wish her well in her retirement. most enjoyed, as I am sure it will be in his well-earned retirement.' The Director of NML, Dr F.J. Lehany, presented Hazel with a cheque Or Lloyd Rees towards her planned trip to the South Pacific and thanked her on Chief behalf of the staff for the long service she had given to her colleagues. Division of Chemical Physics, Melbourne Award Britain's Royal Astronomical Soc~ ' .•. Our working relationship began in a flurry of scrubbage and iety has awarded its prestigious lawyer vine in a rainforest near lnnisfail 32 years ago when Jerry Gold Medal to Mr John Bolton of arrived with a brand new copy of Henry's "Plant Alkaloids" the Division of Radiophysics at under his arm. Parkes. 'Jerry stimulated an exciting mix of chemists and biologists in The citation says that: the award a new kind of plant exploration and Henry was soon rewritten. is in recognition of John's out· 'It was a pleasant mix, too, and I remember many talkative standing contributions to both evenings at the Price household in Melbourne when we all deve radio and optical astonomy, parti loped visions of Australiana, including Jerry's interest in growing cularly for his studies of radio native plants...... ' sources in space. Or Len Webb The Minister for Science, Senator Rain Forest Ecology Section J.J. Wcbster, announcing the Long Pocl 213-1977 Happiness is havil1g~~our own camera... Everyone knows that in these days of stringenLeconomv measures it's hard to get equipment but rew participants at thaGSI RO photographers' conference could really believe that Tricia Smith,from the Division of 2 Mineral Chemistry in Melbourne didn't even have acamera. When her colleagues realised that Tricia really'/wa,~"lnsuch a plight they were filled with compassion and concern andtqQ!<.UP a collection to buy her one, There is considerable truth in tile rumour that Bob Marshall, Tony Culnane and John McAlpine organised the finances for this and that it was John MeAl pine who volunteered to rush round In Sydney's heat and make the purchase. It proved too difficult to find a suitable still camera so John settled for a movie one... it came in a bright blue plastic with the lens in red and 3 4 the handle in white so that it would be trUly distinctive. fdcia was presented with the camera by Or Dick Millington, an associate member of the Executive at the conference dinner. when he expressed regret that the economic situation had brought about such a plight. P.S. Tricia later assured her colleagues that although she had been without a camera for six months or so, her Division had now made funds available for the purchase of one. Picture: Tricia puts her new 'camera' to use by taking a picture of Dick Milllngton, 5 6 1. Dal Swaine (MR U carrying out a new line of research. 2. Conference dinners are to be enjoyed. That's the philosophy of John McAlpine (Land Use Research), Maurie Woodward (Land Resources Management) and Bob Marshall (Heed Office!' 3. Three cheers for CSIRO-or something. Jack Chamberlain (Printing Unit) expresses his feelings to Wat Hastie (Building Reseerch!. 4. Eric Smith (Animal Health}, one of CSIRO's most respected photographers. 5. Did you say pose for a picture? Howzis? Peter Lee (Building Research) and Ted Stephens lApplied Organic Chemistry) respond for Wel Hastle. 6. Neville Prosser and Paul Kightly (Chemical Technology) enjoy the company of one of CSIRO's few women photographers. Helen Niblett (Building Research!. Photographs: Wal Hastie Photographers meet-24 years after proposal Bad, in 1953 Mr Ken Prowse, the Regional Administrative Officer in Canberra, wrote to Head Office suggesting that a photographers' conference should be held. At this, he said, photo graphers could come together and discuss their mutual interests and their work. Ken also thought that a central pictorial library should be established at Black Mountain so that people in the Divisions located there requiring photographic material for various purposes Australian scientist need visit only one area. The library idea has never been photographers at the planning Sonargraphic Pty Ltd, who spoke featured on medal taken up but at least, 24 years stage of research projects so that on the different uses of audio later, Ken has seen the conference from the beginning the photo~ visual presentations in the media Dr Helen Newton Turner, a Her medal will be sculpted in idea come to fruition. Last grapher understood the team's re of film, video, slide tape and film CSIRO Honorary Research Fel Rome and mirltcd in Canberra. mond} about 40 of the Drganiza~ quirements. In so doing, he was strips and how such presentations low, and former member of There are to be 30 medals in the tion's photographers met at Mac then able to provide the research should be planned. the Genetics Research Labora series and they are available singly quarie University in Sydney and group with a good photographic Cinematography was covered by tories; has been invited by FAD to or in collections in gold, silver, for four days discussed many as coverage of the work. Mr Bill Constable of the Film and be an Australian representative on bronze gilt and bronze from FAO. pects of their work and their role This was followed up by the Television School in Sydney and their CERES medals. in CSIRO. his address was followed up with lively evening panel discussion: Ceres according to ancient The conference was organised an explanation of the role of j 'The relationship between photo Roman beliefs, was the goddess by Bob Marshell of the Head CSIRO's Film and Video Centre Office Training and Development grapher and research scientist'. In who taught manldnd how to work DEGREE the chair was Or Ken McCracken, by ABee Bugge. Its context Group with the assistance of a the land, plant seeds and produce The Council of the Victoria Instit Chief of Mineral Physics and the within the Central Communica syllabus committee that com tion Unit was outlined by the food. ute of CoJIeges has conferred an prised John McAlpine (Land Use panellists were Jack Middlehurst, Honorary Doctorntc of Applied (Food Research), John McAlpine, Unit's Manager, George Williams. As a goddess of agriculture she Research) a member of the Tech Other subjects included in the Science On Or Lloyd Rees, Chief (LUR), Eric Smith (Animal protected the crops and kept nical and Trade Staff Develop program were aerial photography of the Division of Chemical Health), and Harry GiIle'," people from need and want. ment Advisory Committee, Jack (Mr K. Wetton, South Australian Physics, Melbourne, in recogni~ (NML). Today she remains a symbol to Cavanagh (Land Use Research), Department of Lands), remote tion of his valuable services to the the world's hungry people as she John Card (Textile Industry), sensing (Andy Green, Division of community. Participants showed particular takes the face of humane and dis Tom Dagg (Animal Production) Mineral Physics), photumicrow Dr Rees has an international and Roy Osmotherly (Minerals interest in new techniques and graphy (Mr B. Schicht and Mr W. tinguished women of modern reputation as a distinguished Research Laboratory). this was especially evident during Loeb of Carl Zeis:s Pty Ltd), times on a series of medals issued scientist with the honour of being The event brought together a a session when Dc p. Hariharan colour processing and printing by FAO. onc of the few Australians to be group of people who share mutual from NML explained and demon (James Spence, Kodak). The women who have been come president of one of the strated the use of holography. interests but who for onc reason Considerable time was devoted invited to represent Ccres have all unions of the International Coun~ or another have seldom had the There was a similar response to the role of photography in been prepared to go on public cH of Scientific Unions. opportunity to meet, even on one when several audio visual present public relations. The importance record as sharing FAO's ideal of a In Australia itself, he has con campus, to discuss problems, and tributed a great deal to the aca~ ations were shown to demon of this was disC,.ussed by Dorothy world freed from hunger and exchange ideas on equipment or Braxton from the Central Com demie development of the Vic strate the way these could be used want, although not all are con other matters pertaining to their both as an aid for the research munication Unit, Maurie Wood toria Institute of Colleges. nected directly with food and job. scientist or in public relations ward, LRM, and Mr Ron Freer, agriculture. The conference was a Jive-in exercises. from Studio Commercial Pty Ltd, onc and evenings at Dunmore Sydney. Each woman whose portrait Two members of the Land Re Lang College provided the setting J RCI<. Chamberlain, Manager of appears on a medal has distin Award for onc organised panel discussion sources Management Comrnul1i~ the CSIRO Printing Unit in guished herself in some way in her IStowell', the historic building and many less formal ones. cations Group in Perth-graphic Melbourne, followed this section own field of endeavour and also where CSIRO's Tasmanian labora The importance of photography designer Maurie Woodward find of the program with a talk on has a reputation for personal tory is located, is set in attractive, to research was the topic for the photographer Bm van Al 213-1977 Chiefs·meet at forest· Research Changes at Dairy Research Mr Brian McKeown, who has been industry liaison officer at the Dairy Research Laboratory at the Highctt complex since 1971, has retired. Brian joined the Secretariat of CSIRO in 1964 after serving for many years in the Victorian· De partmcnt of Agriculture as per sonal assistant to the Director of Agriculture. While at Head Office he became Chiefs talk communication-from left: Dr R.J. Millington, associate member of the Executive, Mr J. Calaby. well known to most of th~ agri representing Wildlife Research, Dr A,E, Martin, Soiis, Dr R.W.R. Muncey, Buiiding Research, Dr D.F. Water·· cultural and biological oriented house, Entomology, Dr L.T. Evans, Plant Industry, Dr E.G. Hallsworth, Land Research Laboratories, Dr D,E, Divisions ofCSIRO. Weiss, Chemical Technology, Or B. Rawlings, Mechanical Engineering, Mr R,A. Perry. Land Resources Following the move of Head Brlan McKeown Management, Mr J.J. Basinski, Land Use Research, Mr Harry Black, Central Communicatioh Unit, Dr M.F,e. Office to Canberra Brian wished Day, Forest Research, Mr G.R. Willlams. Central Communication Unit, Mr J. Burdett, Head Office, and to remain in Melbourne for per Mr A.G. Brown, Forest Research, Photo: Alan Edward sonal reasons and in 1971 took up his position with Dairy Research where his long association with In brief CSIRO research to the value of The publication will be dis Newsletter' will be re~shaped to the dairy industry proved of great re~ more than $6 million a year is of tributed at management level meet the ~ommunication needs value. Or Don Martin, who recently direct benefit or relevance to the across the whole spectrum of outlined by the meeting. Dr He will still mainluin his con tired from his position as Officcr forest industries. forest industries. Barry Shinebcrg, publications edi nections with both the Dairy R€• in-charge of the Tasmanian Labo This was one fact revealed when tor of the Division of Forest search Laboratory and the indus ratory, has been presented with a rare award by the Royal Society 10 dliefs of Divisions whose re~ The three central Divisions in Research, will produce the publi try in his retirement as an Asso of Tasmania. search programs are relevant to this fidu, Chemical Technologyt cation. ciate Editor of the Australian Building Research and Forest Senior research staff from the Journal of Dairy Technology and The society has given him their the forest industries met in CauM Research, will produce the publi~ Divisions will meet in Melbourne as Secretary of the Australian medal in recognition of his 'pro berta recently to consider 1rteaM cation. Harry Black, Adviser! to discuss problems of common Dairy Products Standards Organi· longed research of high merit'. surcs for -improving communi Community Relations at Head interest in research for the forest :z;ation. It is only the sixth time the cation with the industries involM Office., will act as co-ordinator. production and forest technology Miss He1en Domom has been society has awarded the mdeal ved in this area. industries. appointed to DRL as information sint:e 1927. Aware that the best research 'CSIRO Forestry Research and liaison officer. Helen, a grad falls short of its target if it fails uate in Agricultural Science from to get through to those who can the University of Melbourne, has put it to use, the Chiefs were con recently completed studies for her Mr Basil Walby, Editor-in-ehief of cerned to strengthen communi~ Master's degree. CILES, has been elected President cation channels with the forest FarewellatDBR At a staff function to say good of the Imprint Society. prOduction, harvesting and pro bye to Brian the opportunity was The society, which includes cessing sectors of this important also. tal 213-1977 214##1977 A monthly publication for CSIRO staff April/May 1977 114 CSIRO supports establishment of ASTEC The Federal Government has announced that it will establish the Australian Science and Technology Council as a permanent and independent body. The announcement, made by the Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, in the House last month, has been welcomed by CSIRO. 'The formation of ASTEC is an important event in the provision of machinery to give the Government advice on science policy', said the Chairman, Mr Victor Burgmann. 'Wc will be anxious to help relation to the national well ASTEC accomplish its difficult being; task.' -the adequacy, effectiveness The Premier of the Cook Islands, Sir Albert Henry takes a look at the technology of solar energy applications CSIRO would continue to advise and overall balance of the at the Divisionof Mechanical Engineerin~..From left: Dr J.J,I In the past few weeks a number of Divisions have been visited by members of the Independent Committee of Inquiry on CSIRO. In addition, meetings have been held in the main cities where staff have had the opportunity to express to the Committee their views on a wide range of topics relevant to the Inquiry. In a sratement issued to staff attending the meetings, the Committee said it h~d bcen set 'a daunting task' in having to inquire into and report on an organization as large and diverse as CSIRO. The fact that the task had to research efforts directly or -Management problems ••• Listening to the Views of the Melbourne staff are (from left): be completed by ti,e end of July indirectly sponsored by the could business efficiency be Mr W.N. Hurst (Inquiry secretaryl. Sir CecH Looker. Professnr made the problem even more Government? further exercised for the A.J. Birch and Mr R.T. Madigan (the Inquiry Committee) and difficult. -Staff careers .•• what re~ benefit of research programs? Mr L.A. Wlgglns (Inquiry Investigator!. The main topics on which the commendations should be Committee sought staff opinions made to take account of a were confined to: probable future slow-growth Academy -The objectives of CSIRO •.. condition with an increasing could these be defined in demand for elasticity of work? rclation to long and short term How were the problems of membership community needs? changing interests and abilities Dr C.C. Heydc of the Division of -The overall Organization as with increased age to be met Mathematics and Statistics in onc institution or several for the benefit of both CSlRO Canberra was elected to Fellow rather independent units ..• and individuals? What con ship of the Australian Academy for example, separate authori ditions must be set if any of of Science at the Academy's ties might deal with minerals the following were to be annual meeting last month. and energy, rural industry, contemplated: early retire Dr Heyde's main research manufacturing industry, What ment, transfers to government interests lie in the field of were the arguments to justify or tertiary education, transfer probability theory. He has the present monolithic system? to industry or extension published widely in this and -Mission oriented work ... services, non-tenure appoint related areas and is known inter how far should CSIRO be ments? nationally for his work. concerned with background -Scientific programming ... Dr K. Norrish from the Division work and how far with direct what organisation could be of Soils, Adelaide was also problem-solving? How were provided to reconcile auto l elected to the: Fellowship. its activities in both areas to be nomy with relevance and His main contributions have desirably related to researches teamwork? What was the best Or Gordon Crewther, Chief of Protein Chemistry, discusses a point been in the field of physics and ioGovernment departments way to develop. programs as geosdences. seeIl froIll the viewpoin.t. o( with the Committee at the Melbourne meeting. (StjLte and Commonwealth), Photos: Eric Smith CARs, univhsities and other individual scientists? Would institutions? an extension of· the idea of -Advice on social, economic grouping Divisions 'provide and political objectives •.. further opportunities for Farewell to OBITUARY Or Paul Wild what mechanism should be set rationalisation, peer assessment up to ensure that such advice and taskforce programs? appointed to and assessment was auto -Finance .•. was it desirable Chief at matically fed into scientific to increase CSIRO direct Mr EJ.Moore Executive programs? financing by means such as -Staff and research relations 1) levies, e.g. on industry after Griffith Mr F.J. Moore, Senior Technical Dr Paul Wild, Chief of the Division and other institutions ... the example of the RI RF? Officer in the CSlRO Division of of Radiophysies, has been in particular was it desirable, 2) a greater effort to direct Dr Henry Barrs has been Environmental Mechanics, Can~ appointed an associate member and if so what mechanisms work towards patents and appointed Acting Chief of the berra, has died. of the Executive for a period of were required, to enable partial lic~nces? 3) an extended Division of Irrigation Research Fred's technical experience, 12 months. or total staff transfers from system of contract R&D in for 12 months following the mainly in instrumentation, Recognised as one of the world's or to tertiary institutions, and volving two-way exchanges retirement of the Chief, Mr Eric spanned 40 years, beginning in leading solar physicists, Dr Wild the conduct of joint research with industry or Government Hoare. England and continuing on his has been on the Division's staff programs? In other words, departments? How were benew A farewell function for Mr arrival in Australia in 1951. since 1947. He first joined CSIRO was it possible and desirable fits of CSIRO worl< to be Hoare was held at the station at He joined the Division of Plant to work on problems in radio to integrate further the assessed? the barbecue area, a scene of Industry in 1962 as a technical astronomy, especially the suo, many social gatherings over the assistant moving to Environmental and from 1966-71 was Director 19 years Mr Hoare was head of Mechanics in 1971. of tH!': Division's solar radio the Division. His CSIRO colleagues will miss observatory. About 160 members of the his great technical skills, and his staff and friends were there to good fellowship and dry wit. wish Mr Hoare well in his He is survived by his wife, retirement. Visitors included the Dorothy, and two daughters and Chairman, Mr Victor Burgmann. a son. Cloud modellers meet at Epping A small number of specialists whom four were invited from who are involved in cloud overseas, attended full-time but modelling attended a workshop additional specialists were present at the Division of Cloud Physics at certain sessions. at Epping. The object of the For the first two weeks the exercise was to improve com participants discussed the subject Dr Wild was appointed Chief Cloud experts at Epping - (from left); Dr T.S. Stein,r, NZ munication between experts in in depth. The overseas visitors of the Division in 1971. In recent Meteorological Service; Dr C.E. Coulman and Or M.J. Manton, Cloud theoretical and numerical simu then spent a week visiting other years he has been closely Physics; Associate Professor w.e. Cotton, Colorado State University; lation of clouds on computers and related establishments in Australia associated with the development Professor B.R. Morton, Monash University; Or M.J. Miller, Imperial observational scientists who and returned to Epping to prepare of Interscan. College, London University; Mr J. Warner, Chief, Cloud Physics; specialise in measurement of the a report on the recommendations While Dr Wild is on the Or T.L. Clarf<, Atmospheric Environment Service, Canada; Or S.R. real atmosphere. which stemmed from the work Executive, Mr H.C. Minnett will Ryan, Cloud Physics. A core of 11 delegates, of shop. act as Chief of the Divisjon. 2 214-1977 CSIRO loses Adelaide school gets SA's first well-known personality Belmont Red calf One of CSIRO's best known women petsonalities has retired The pride ofUrrbrae after 26 years with the Organiza The first llelmont Red calf to be born in South Australia is tion. She is Miss May Guthridge who doing well, to the delight of students at Adelaide's Utl'brae first joined Head Office when it Agricultural High School. was located at 314 Albert Street The school is believed to be the only one in Australia with in Melbourne. a Belmont Red, a cattle breed developed by CSIRO for beef For a number of years May production in hot, dry areas. was in charge of Executive Ser vices and later joined the Central Behind d,e birth of the bull Or johnson, in a further gesture, Communication Unit as an calf is a story of youthful offered the school the cow's first administrative officer. enthusiasm, backed up by the female calf, and when the bull At a staff function, the Sec generosity of two Australian was born, extended the loan. retary, Mr L.G. WilSOll, paid a companies and an enterprising The big pastoral company, trihute to May for her long ser pal"t~time grazier. Dalgetys, solved the problem of vice to the Organization which, It began last year when Urrbr.ae lack of a bull in Adelaide with he said, had possibly never been teacher Mr lan Wilson decided his the offer of a free artificial fully and publicly recognised. students should have an African insemination service. Dalgetys or Asian cow for comparative owns Australia's largest Belmollt studies with the school's British Red herd. FORESTRY EXPERTS INVADE breeds. Dr Johnson originally bought Onc of Mr Wilson's students his small herd after hearing that CANBERRA ment which jointly sponsored the recalled seeing CSIRO's illustrated 18 years of development had gone Consultation with FAO. science strip 'The Researchers' in into the Belmont Red breed. Alan Brown, Christel Palmberg The new Chairman of CSIRO, a Sunday newspaper featuring '[ thought that instead of just and a team of helpers at the Mr Victor Burgmann, extended a the Belmont Red breed, so Mr raising a few beef cattle, I would Division of Forest Research are welcome on behalf of the Organi Wilson decided to try to obtain try something new/ he said. stl1l recovering after organising zation. May Guthridge one. IAlthough it was bred for the the invasion of Canberra by 200 Now that the rush of the The Belmont Red is not a pure tropics, CSIRO said the aelmont scientists from more than 50 Consultation is over, the Division African breed, but a cross Red might go well in dry southern countries. of Forest Research is organising a between Hereford, Shorthorn and areas, like the Riverina and the Alan and Christel were Cluiirman fitting farewell to Christel Africander breed. Under tropicaL MalIee region of Victoria and and Secretary respectively for the Palmberg who returns to her CSIRO staff or hot, dry conditions it shows South Australia.' 3rd World Consultation on Forest native Finland soon. Christd is superior weight gain, higher Or Johnson is delighted with Tree Breeding held at the Park a former FAO staff member who fertilIty and better tick and his unusual herd, since sweHed Royal, Canberra for the inter has been with the Division since for solar parasite resistance to British beef by the addition of four more national scientists. 1974. breeds. cows. Including the Adelaide Discussions centred on the With its increasing international energy team links Forest Research will sadly Mr Wilson contacted CSIRO's calf, his seven cows have produced latest research into breeding of l Tropical Cattle Research Centre six calves - four heifers and two forest trees, including moves to miss her multilingual and Membership of the eight-man Vic in Rockhamptoo, only to find the buBs. conserve the genetic resources of administrative talents. torian Solar Energy Research annual sale of Belmont Reds had He says the cows have main a number of important forest Committee announced last month includes Wal Read, leader of the been held the day before. tained condition, despite the trees. Solar Energy Utilisation Group at However, he was put in contact rigors of calving, and despite a Australia's own tree, the Appealing scientists the,Division of Mechanical Engin very dry summer which has seen eucalypt, came in for close time~, w:h~n with Dr Warren Johosoo, a It is a sign of the eering. attention, ;,and was recognised as Victorian surgeon who had bought British breeds in the area lose research· 'institutions turniO,··'the Roger Morse, Director of the condition. one of the world's most important three cows and a bull at the salc, public for fundsl says INew Solar Energy Studies will act as and taken them to his small 'The Belmont Red appears to forest trees. Scientist'. expert adviser to the Committee. property at Broadford, north of have inherited the placid tempera Discussions at the Consultation A recent appeal by Sir Monty The Committee will review solar Melbourne. ment of African cattle and they're were translated simultaneously Finniston on behalf of the Royal energy research in Australia, Dr Johnson gcnerously loaned easy to handle,' Or Johnson said. into Spanish, French and English. Institution which wants % advise the Victorian Government one of his cows to the school, 'I'd now like to see how they The head of FAO's Forestry million, was followed by an on ways to support promising research, maintain liaison with with a bonus - it was pregnant. would go in the Mallee or Department, Dr Kenneth King, appeal a week later for '4 million other relevant Australian commit Riverina, which would be a better opened the meeting and the Elders-GM solved another problem by the University of Newcastle tees, publicise possible solar when the company offered free test of their qualities. As far as I Minister for Science, Senator J.}. upon Tyne. Newcastle wants the energy applications and inform transport for the cow from know l nobody has tried them in Webster, welcomed delegates on mo ncy for 'teaching and research the public of realistic contribu Victoria to Urrbrae. those areas.' behalf of the Australian Govern- in biomedical engineering'. tion possible from solar energy. CSIRO personnel receive honours Sir William Vines Mr Victor Burgmann Mr Ken Prowse I The Chairman of CSIAO, Mr Victor Burgmann, a part-time member of the Executive, Mr Burgmann was made a Commander of the British Empire in recognition of his service Sir William Vines, and the ACT Regional Administrative Officer, Mr Ken ProwsB, were to science, Sir William was created a Knight Bachelor for distinguished service to primary among the 62 people who last month received honours from the Governor General, Sir industry, and Mr Prowse was awarded the MBE for service to CSIRO. John I A smog chamber installation which, it is hoped, will help solve some of the problems associated with Sydney's smog, has been officially opened at the Mineral Research Laboratories, North Ryde. The ceremony was performed by the NSW Minister for Planning and Environment, Mr Paul Landa. Joint hosts for dIe occasion metres in volume, mounted on an were Mr TOIlY Brndshaw, Chief elevated platform where they can of the Division of Process be exposed to sunlight through Technology, and Mr Eric Coffey, out the day. Director of the NSW State Thc walls are made of tenon Pollution Control Commission. film. Unlike glass, tbis is The installation was built with transparent to ultraviolet light, funds provided by the Commission an ~ssential factor in forming and will be used in a joint photochemical smog. program of research into the Air containing different con formation of photochemical smog. centrations of hydrocarbons and Chris Byrne from the MRL workshop gets B view of the opening of the new smog chamber trom the Known as the Sydney Oxidant other pollutants is drawn into elevated platform. On the dais below (from left) are the NSW Minister for Planning and Environment, Study, this is an undertaking the chambers before dawn and Mr Paul Landa, the Chi.f of Process Technology, Mr Tony Bradshaw, tha Director of the NSW State involving the spec, CSIRO, and the formation of smog is Pollution Control Commission, Mr Eric Coffey, and Dr MaLlrice Mulcahey, also from Process Technology. Sydney and Macquarie Univer monitored throughout the day by sities. a range of instruments in the Smog is caused by the action of laboratory below. ultraviolet light on a mixture of By using one of the chambers atmospheric hydrocarbons and as a control unit and changing oxides of nitrogen, but many the concentrations of pollutants details of this highly complex in the other, the research tcam Science Minister sees interaction arc unknown. can build up a picture of the The aims of the study are to particular hydrocarbons which identify all the· compounds that contribute most to smog forma~ Applied Geomechanics labs act as precursors to photo~ !ion. chemical smog, discover the At the same time, Mr Harvey origins of those that are most Davies of the Divisio n of The Minister for Science, Senator lished in 1958, and the first visit new work on surface and under Computing Research, is setting up active in the process, and J.]. Webster, last month visited the Chairman had made to a ground coal mining projects in investigate the meteorological a mathematical model of the the Division of Applied Geome~ Division outside Canbel'1'a in his Queensland and l";Iew South Wales. reactions in the chambers. This conditions that arc conducive to chal1ic~, at SY:f'1,(}aI,y'i~toda~,.He new capacity. Senator Webster inspected some its formation. will "-he1lj'· toelUetdate·Stimc··'of was accompanied by his Private Senator Webster was briefed on of the Division's facilities and it should then be possible for the finer points of the photo Secretary, Mr L. Williams, and the the Division's research by the discussed projects with members the spec to minimise photo chemical mechanism. Chairman of CSIRO, Mr Victor Chief, Dr G.D. Aitchison, who of staff. He saw the new chemical smog by setting new Burgmann. outlined projects being done on Quantimet Image Analysis System standards to regulate emissions both civil and mining engineering that is being used to study tbe of these precursors. It was the first time that It problems. influence of structural features CSIRO's work in this study is Minister for Science had visited The Minister was brought up-to of soils and rocks on their to investigate the role pla.yed by These the Division since it was estab~ date on some of the Division's rnechar,ical behaviour. hydrocarbons in the generation He also saw a shear strength of Sydney's smog. test made on a coal sample from The research team consists of changing onc of the NSW coal mines and Dr Martin Smith and Mr Peter watched one of the first proving Nelson from the Division of tests being carried out to evaluate Process Technology, and Or Frank times the new largewscale loading frame Whitficld from the Division of being built in the Division's rock Food Research. An aluminium barge once owned mechal1lcs laboratory. by the Division of Fisheries and Dr Smith and Mr Nelson ace This machine can apply loads OcenDography at Cronulla has members of their Division's been put to a new usc...its travels of up. to 600 tuones in both Atmospheric Chemistry Section, around Port Hacking each week vertical and horizontal directions led by Dr Maurice Mulcahy. This end carrying icccream for Bay to test equivalent material models Section is concerned with re visitors. of earthen structures such as search into the causes and The barge is now being used by underground mines and tunnels. behaviour of urban and industrial a local businessman, Mr T. Lynch, The models can be built up to a air pollution. who runs the floating ice cream size of 3m X 3m X 1m. With the help of specialised parlour as a sideline to his marine During a working lunch the salvage work. techniques developed by Dr Keith opportunity was taken to show The new business is flourishing Murray in the Division of Food under the title of the Ding~A-Ling Senator Webster displa.ys descri Research, well over 100 hydro~ Ice Cream Company, a far cry bing research projects and some carbons have been identified in from the time when the barge was of the neW rock stress cells and samples of Sydney's air. The used for fisheries research. extensometers developed by the smog chamber will be used to Division. These have been find out how active each of these patented and are now being hydrocarbons is in forming manufactured in Australia. photochemical smog. At the end of his visit, the The installation consists of two Report 'from Minister talked to the staff about identical chambers, each 20 cubic some of the challenges at present Hansard facing CSIRO, Senator Webstcr-It is a fairly Stargazer short paper because of what I Follow-up A stargazing enthusiast has believe to be the excellent admini Thirteen secretaries from Mel bought 30 copies of the Perkes stration and management of the bourne Divisions have visited CSIRO. They have their affairs poster from the Parkes CILES as a foHow-up to their in excellent shape and I think the recent seminar conducted by the Visitors' Centre, not to set up general outline of variations as an opposition salesman but makes questions on the financial Head Office Training Group at to use as wallpaper in his aspect quite short.-Quote from Chemical Technology. home. Minister of Sdcnce :o;peaking in The visit was to familiarise the the Senate on CSIRO's estimates. Senator Webster discusses work on ground support research with group with the information (Hansard), the project leader, DI' Peter Fuller (left). functions and resources of CILES. 4 214-1977 Staff train for emergencies 'Oh. doctor, I'm in t-rouble, My bean beats mucb too much At a certain kind of touch ... ' Fire fighting instruction About 40 people, representative of most of the Melbourne based Divisions, have attended a practical fire fighting training course organised for the Technical and Trades Staff Training Pro gram in association with MeI~ bourne's Metropolitan Fire Board. Participants spent half a day learning how to combat fires during fire fighting so that in the event of an emergency they would be better able to handle the situation. ., Four sessions were held at this course and more arc being planned for additional staff later this year. Ray Hirschfield lIeft! of the Printing Unit and Graham Craw ford, Applied Geomechanics, find fire fighting is wet business. Sue Davidson (above) was one of the staff of the Division of Animal Health who attended a demonstration and talk on emergency first aid given by Mr Charlie Bamford (right) from the Division of Chemical Technology. A film, 'New Pulse of Life', was shown, together with the unveiling of 'Recording Resusie Anne'. a lifelike model for teaching cardio pulmonary resuscitation. The session was the first of a series of SUCll demonstrations to be held in CSI RO. They will be attend.d by a number of visitors and the Organization's safety officers in Melbourne. The function was organised by Mr Geoff Watson, Division of Textile Industry, Geelong, who is convenor of the Technical and Trades Staff Development Committee in Victoria. Photo: Eric Smith Duncan Constable {left}, from Mineral Chemistry, David Wignall, Applied Geomechanics, and Jim Reid, Mechanical Engineering. learn how to manage a fire hose. Severed finger, severed hand? What to do in an emergency In the event of an accident which severs a. finger, hand or part Narayen staffto the rescue of an arm, bleeding from the severed end can be stopped by gentle pressure bandage. Tourniquets, if applied, should be The Cunningham Laboratory has 30 minutes the truck was ready Rover unit chose to fly around released half~hourly. The machine causing the damage should received a letter from a Queens to leave, followed by a Land the corncr to be faced with n be instantly turned off and the severed part or parrs removed. hmd grazier, Mr David Jenkinson, Rover towing a tanker trailer. truck reversing rapidly. Some They should then be either placed in a plastic bag or wrapped in appreciation of the efforts of Hawkwood is about 20 km unusual manoeuvres took place and sealed so that the bag or wrapping is watertight. No the staff of the remote Narayen away on a not very good road as the men retired to a safer attempt should be made to clean up the severed parts before field station who recendy went and normally takes about 25 to distancc. wrapping them. The wrapped parts should thell be placed in (0 the rescue of his property. 30 minutes by car. On this The Mundubbera Fire Brigade a containcr of cold water which could have the addition of The property was Hawkwood, occasion the truck did it in 20 arrived soon after and the staff a few small blocks of ice. about 470 km north-west of minutes, even though loaded with took Over the role of water NOTE: Water in contact with the severed parts will be Brisbane and the first sign of 250 gallons of water. carriers. For the next two hours absorbed by the part and further damage it. Note also that trouble came when the Narayen The passengers' comment~ on they pumped and carted from the packing in ice will so lower the temperature that it will do staff rcceiveet a call from the the driver's ability were rather nearby river some 3 000 gallons further damage. Cold water alone, at about 4°C will preserve Mundubbera Fire Brigade re pointed as well as unprintable. of water, while the brigade the severed part for well over twelve hours and enable the questing assistance with a fire. The next sequence of events damped down the ashes. patient and part to be transported to your nearest hospital There had been an explosion rather resembled, in retrospect, a After the Bl'igade left, the for consjJcration for replacement surgery by a microsurgery in the station lighting plant Mack Sennett farcc, according to Narayen men stayed on, at their team. Those injuries that arc sharply severed do best, those resulting in a ~laze covering the a 'Coresearch' report. The staff request, to finish off any Chat that have been squashed in a press do less well and those that engine room and adjacent work roared into the station, around spots' and enjoyed 11 welcome have ueen pulled off or avulsed do least well. However, no shop. an outbuilding and stopped dead cup of tea provided by the matter how badly the severed parts appear to be injured the Most of the station staff were a.bout 3111 from a petrol tank property owners. decision as to replacement should be made by the doctors in following their usual Sunday which happened to be burning Damage was confined to the the hospital. morning pursuits when the call very well. The property owner engine room and workshop - in for help came through. Lawn yelled for them to get out as he fact they were destroyed. The Prepared by, DR EARL R. OWEN, mOwers and gardening tools were expected the tank to blow Ilny house, howeverI the main worry, Head, Microsurgery Unit dropped as they responded to the second! suffered no damage. Prince of Wales Hospital, SOS. They did - from forward gear It provided Narayen staff with Sydney. Needless to say, the fire fighting to reverse in one swift crunching some excellent fire drill f a few Courtesy: NML Newslettcr. tank was not on the truck but movement. Unfortunately how tense moments and, in hindsight, hanging ready on its hoist. Within ever, at that moment, the Land a few laughs. 214-1977 5 CSIRO BENEVOLENT FUNDS HEALTHY Although the expenditure for each of CSIROls fOUf Benevolent Funds rose this year, financial figures indicate that each of the Funds has adequate assets. These details were revealed in the combined report of the Funds released last month. The Brisbane Fund was the only one where expenditure exceeded income. As far as the Funds arc aware there are not likely to be any further disbursements needed for the victims of either the Brisbane floods or the Darwin cyclone. At the annual meeting held in Canberra the financial situation was reviewed and it was agreed that as the combined assets were over $50,000 there should be no increase in contribution rates 10 cents a fortnight. The first building of the new National Measurement Laboratory at Lindfield In Sydney has been handed All Funds are now able to interchange assets in the event of any over to CSIRO. It is the main workshop building and staff have now begun moving aVer from their substantial expchditure arising. former location at their laboratory at Sydney University. Some of the staff present at the time of the handing over were (from left): W.R.G. Kemp. J. Coles, A. SinaniBn, D. PrendergBst, W. D'Br;Bn. Membership R. MacfBrlBne. IBII NML>. FrBnk Whilly, (HO), G. WildmBn (NML> and Ken Baker (HO). Contributor figures have increased during the year and the annual report says it is pleasing to note that the NSW Fund now has 80 per cent of the staff in that State as contributors. Brisbane has 69 per cent, Canberra 63 per ccnt and the Southern Parkes Visitors' Centre Senators Fund, which embraces the other areas, has 66 per ccnt. The Chairmen of the different Funds paid a tribute in their annual report to Mr Ray Vincy who retired last year from the attracts cro"rds visit Head position as Assistant Secretary (Finance and Supplies). Ray was materially responsible for the establishment of the Southern Office ... Fund and encouraged the formation of the Canberra and Brisbane The Parkes Visitors' Centre a full view of its interior. Head Office has been host to the ones. recorded its largest attendance in The drivers of the 140 cars Standing Committee on Science 'He maintained an interest in the activities and development of one day at Easter when nearly which were part of the rally were and Environment. The visitors in the Funds over the years and whenever possible he attended the 1400 people visited the telescope invited to park their cars around cluded Senaror D.S. Jessop (S.A.), annual meetings of Chairmen. His successor, Mr Howard Crozier, is and centre. the telescope instead of using (Chairman), and Senators N.T. continuing this interest,' says the report. Information Officer, Les Fel the normal park, an action that Bonner (Qld). M.A. Colston (Qld), The report also paid a tribute to the Chairman and Executive of lows, arranged with the promotors was also appreciated. J.I. Melzer (Vie.), J.A. Mulvihill CSIRO itself for its continued assistance and encourage~~nt. of .the Antique Car Il,ally to HU?c:lreds 5?r_.~,()':1ri~_ts~~1~,~_,:A~y, (NSW), M. Townley (Tas.), and spend several hams at the t B 214-1977 Staff say farewell to former Chairman In the weeks preceding his In a marc reverant fashion, Sir retirement, Sir Rabert Price Robert was given a fairly old and visited a number of CSIRO rare pub lication, 'Queensland laboratories around Australia Flora'l a book which he greatly where at a variety of informal appreciated. social occasions he was able to In Sydney, the Chairman had say goodbye to colleagues and the opportunity to say farewell to people closely associated with the the staff when he visited a num Organization. ber of Divisions, and colleagues In their turn, staff paid their again took the opportunity to tributes to the Chairman and wish him a pleasant retirement. wished both him and Lady Price The Sydney Chiefs and Officers a happy retirement. in-Charge of Units and their wives The brewell visit to Adelaide attended a dinner at the Division by Sir Robert catalysed a success~ of Food Research given in Sir ful and enjoyable 'get together' Robert's honour. Among the among the Adelaide CSIRO staff. guests were several old colleagues In the midst of the more formal including Dr J.R. Vickcry and Dr occasions being organised across Arthur Briggs. Australia for Sir Robert, the Host for the dinner was Mr Adelaide contingent opted for a Michacl Tracey, the present Chief rather different function. of Food Research. In the true spirit of the 'Wine The Chief of Chemical Physics, State the Cellars at the local Dr L10yd Rees, organised the Stonyfell Winery Estate, only a Melbourne farewell from the few miles from Adelaide, were Chiefs. This took the form of a chosen as the venue. lunch time barbecue where guests The meal consisted of chicken included Sir lan Warlt, Mr Lewis barbecued on charcoals and salads Lewis and Professor J.M. Swan. ('strictly fingers'), washed down The good wishes of the Chiefs Only six men have held the position of Chairman oICSIR!CSIRO and three of them ara in this historic with an assortment of selected was .formally conveyed to Sir photograph taken in Canberra. Sharing a joke with tha Chlaf of the Division of Entomology, Or D.F. Stonyfell wines. The motto, Robert by Dr C.H.B. Pricstley, Waterhouse Ifar left} are (from left) Sir fredarick White, Sir Robert Prica and Mr Victor Burgmann. 'eat, drink and be merry' truly Chairman of the Environmental Photo: Pater Hay applied and a casual, informal Physics Laboratories. atmosphere prevailed. to Sir Robert. The book, one Sir Robert was able to mingle of a limited edition, like the and chat with CSIRO staff ftom Queensland gift, WIlS of special all Adelaide Divisions, including interest to Sir Robert who has several retired staff members, and a 'particular love of Australian with other guests. flora. This gathering of Adelaide The party was a~trictly informal CSIRO Divisions on a social basis was in itself a rare event, sur" evening. Because of the sudden drop in Canberra's temperatures, prising for such a small city. but it was transferred from the out judging by the success of the doors of the Ginninderra Field evening, it is hoped that it will Station to the Division of Forest be the first of many such Research. The same casual functions in the future. Regional Administrative Officer, Ken Prowse, calls In an informal mood at the staff party in Canberra, arrangements stood, however, and for three cheers for the retiring Chairman, Sir Sir Robert calls for three cheers for CSIRO as it Degree Robere Price, at an ACT staff function held at Forest moves into its second 50 years of achievement. the only brief moments of In Brisbane members of the Research. furmality came when the Can~ Queensland State Committee and berra RAG, Ken Prowse, called a group of close friends dran}<. for three cheers for Sir Robert his health and wished him weIJ say their goodbyes to Sir Robert and Lady Price. in the years ahead. Chiefs' party and Lady Price during the course Making one of his final During the evening the Chairman of a party organised to mark the speeches to the staff, Sir Robert of the State Committee, Professor At one of the last functions, start of the second 50 years of spoke about some of the Norman Lahey, presented Sir the Executive, Secretariat and the achievement of CSIRO. challenges he fclt lay ahead for Robert with an honorary degree Chiefs and their wives, as well as Among the guests were the the Organization and his convic~ and a special 'medal' struck for a few close friends of the Organi Minister for Science, Senator tien that CSIRO would meet the occasion. zation, paid their tributes to Sir Webster, a former Chairman, Sir them. The degree was that of Robert at a dinner party in Frederick White, and the incoming In a different vein, he also Baccalaureate of Australian Sci Canberra hosted by Dr D.F. Chairman. Mr Victor Burgmann acknowledged the strength of the three of the Organization's six social clubs throughout the ence, Technology, Administration, Waterhouse. At the Perth function, (after the Research aod Development, en The staff of the Canberra Chairmen. speeches were over), Denis Hurle Organization. He felt they were titling Sir Robel'( to a new set Divisions, Head Office and the An extreme1y beautiful work of LRM, devoted a little attention responsible for much of the of intriguing initials to add to RAG, as well as some former 'The Australian Flower Paintings to Christine Daniel, LRM mag. goodwill and friendship that his KBE, D.Phil, D.Sc. members of the staff, chose to of Ferdinand Bauer' was presented card operator. existed within CSIRO. Charles Butt (Mineralogy), Maurie Woodward (Land Resources Man· agement) and Russell Hudson (MineralogyI wait for the punch line of a story told by Sir Robert at the 'Sundowner' the WA Labs turned an to say farewell to the Chairman. The retiring Chairman meets the retiring oldest The experts pass their opinion on some of the local CSIRO inhabitant. When Sir Robart mada his last produce at Stoneyfell Wlnery in South Australia official visit to the Division of Animal Health in during Sir Robert's last visit to Adelaide. From left: The 'mob' from En Melbourne he took the opportunity to congratulate Sir Robert, Or John Possingham, Chief, Horticul tomology enjoying Jeff Forey on his 49% years of service with the tural Research, Or Wa/die Forrest, Director of the themselves at the Can Organization. Jeff retired from CSIRD last month. Wine Research Institute, and Dr Arnold Martin, berra party-(from It is beliavad that Eric Smith (who took this picture) Chief, Soils. left) Andy Moore, probably now holds the honour of being the longest Photographers: Eric Smith, John Coppj~ Bill Maureen Gallaway I serving member of the staff. Eric joined CSIR in van Akan, Ross McKenzie. Geoff Foster and 1931. Juleen Cavanaugh. 214-1977 Si,ofo,·um Learner's chair The human figure shown in the ontvlambaar; German: e'~tzllnd CSIRO logo design is based directly upon a bar. bronze statue made by the great All right, then, does the word I wish to add the suggested logo Australian artist Arthur Murch 'flammable', or something like it for CSIRO to those which have und is part of a memorial plaque appear in those languages? already been submitted and erected on a wall within one of Answer: No. published in recent editions of the older buildings of the Division What about our own diction ICoresearch'. of Human Nutrition. aries? The Shorter Oxford English To me this logo embodies in a The plaque honours the memory Dictionary gives: flammable = can simple way the meaning of of the late Thorburn Brailsford be set on fire; inflammable = CSIRO. Robertson, Chief of the original easily set on fire. CSIR Animal Nutrition Labora~ The Random House Dictionary tory, Adelaide, South Australia. of the Enblish Language gives: I trust that the incorporation of flammable = inflammable (11), the small statuette within a logo from the Latin f1ammare to set design will show no disrespect to on firej inflammable, from the this great man. Latin inflammare to inflame. Now, I'm not normally of a flammable disposition, but by crikey this muckin' abart with New furniture to replace that suitable learner's rig complete The letters occupy the entire the language really makes me destroyed in the great fire of with safety harness as illustra area of Australia, symbolising the breathe fire, and I think some 26 September 1975 was ted in the accompanying manner in which its research people are going to get their recently purchased when the photograph. Within a few effects all aspects of Australian fingers burnt. rebuilt laboratory of the hours of using the rig Rob life in laboratories spread over all Hervey Bagot Division of Textile Physics was had progressed sufficiently to Australian States and territories. Division of Mineral Chemistry, reoccupied, do without the rear View To this logo can be added in Port Melbourne. It included an office chair mirror. an appropriate way, the name of fitted with casters and alloc8 R The rig will shortly be each individual Division or Unit. ted to one Rob Rottenbury. available for anyone who is Not being familiar with this experiencing difficulty with Dcborah H. Sporrer and more right type of roving chair Rob's this type of vehicle. One of Wheat Research Unit first attempt to mount It was its advantages is that no North Ryde words •.• less than successful. instructor Is required, a His colleagues accordingly considerable saving in these CSIRO's veteran photographer devised and constructed a days of restricted ceilings. Eric Smith has long had an interest A member of staff in Adelaide in the correct use of the English who prefers to remain anonymous language. In a precise note, he (but who nevertheless submitted has drawn our attention to the his name to the editor) has sent The right word wrong use of a word in the last the folloWing a sugges- issue of 'Coresearch'. In a page tion for a: IRO. These days (so we are exhorted) 2 story we described the award Safety notes In his,ex the various the right word to use is ~i~ento.~r }ohn.~()lton ·th$.·~'~ig:n'''- of the aspects' ·ut he --SlLyS: 'flammable'-. Candidly," I-don't Division of Radiophysics by the It will't'le noted that Safety Nates carefully avoids the 'naming' -The figure" holding the torch think this is very telligent at all, Royal Astronomical Society as of laboratories when reporting various incidents, the reason represents sdiefltific aspiration and I hope the word never gets being' ~prestigious'. for which is obvious. However, precedent must be broken, and and the quest for knowledge, corporated. intoiegal standards. Erie gave us the dictionary the following relates to the Division of Chemical Technology. -The hand among the stars Unfortunately, though, the meaning of the word ,.... Like many other laboratories, problems were being represents the outer reaches of incidence of the word seems to 'practising jugglingor legerdemain, encountered with the disappearance of, or unlawful modifica CSIRO's study of our universe. be creasing. sorcery, magic, conjuring'. Since tions to, electrical extension and other flexible leads. -The sphere is obviously the earth We are told that there is a the award was a high honour for The Division has had manufactured a flexible three core with its atmosphere shown as powerful case for the corporation the recipient, we can only admit cable with an outer covering of bright orange with a green hatching. of this word into the English that our choice of words was stripe. The letters CSIRO are embossed at 10 cm intervals. -The stylised drawing of Australia language: namely, that migrants inappropriate. -Ed. Plugs and sockets have a transparent outer cover and the is useful in that it reminds other and other persons with foreign wiring to the terminals is clearly visible. The plugs and countries of our participation in mother tongue could get the sockets are sealed to the cable outer covering with a suitable research. wrong ideas if told that something adhesive. -The letters CSIRO have already is inflammable. ...and phrases Leads can be inspected Visibly .for good connection to become a well recognised symbol Hold it then! What is the word, terminals, removal of the plugs or sockets is difficult, and in their oWn right and should in some of those other languages, the bright colour reduces tripping hazards. be used as they have been in for the concept of catching fire W.S. Gilbert would have been The cable is the same price as ordinary grey flex, but has the past. They may be a little easily? appreciative, if not envious, of to be purchased in larger quantities. too large in this design and Let's see - French: infJam certain gems in onc of the latest Consequently, the Division is offering reels of 100 m to other perhaps letters with more mablelj Italian: infiammabilel!; circulars from Head Office to Divisions. character should be chosen. Spanish: inflamable! i Dutch: Chiefs. If you are interested, a sample lead is available for inspection 11 am writing to let you know from the Head Office Safety Officer. of the arrangements which the Executive is making to deal with J.W. Hallam situations, predictable and un Safety Officer predictable, which may arise in Scienceat wo,k the next year ...' This transcends even the ac complishments of the Modern game of Head Office musical Major General who, skilled as he chairs described in the latter 'Coresearch' was in matters animalculus (not part of the circular. 'Bc careful 'Coresearch' Is produced to mention the differential cal to be guided by this Golden by the Central Communica culus) never purported to deal Rule: stick close to your desks and never go to sea and you tion Unit for CSIRO staff. with the unpredictable. It is also circulated to some may be ruler of the Queen's But later in the circular wc arc people outside the Organ disillusioned: 'Since the outcome Navee...(chorus) stick close to ization who have a pro of the Inquiry cannot be foreseen, your desks and never go to sea fessional interest in CSIRO it is not possible, at this stage, to and you may be ruler of the activities. contemplate arrangements which Queen's Navee. Members are invited to con tribute or send suggestions may be required to deal with the Substitute 'laboratory' for 'sea' for articles. The deadline outcome'. and I fear that the latter quote is for material is normally the suitable for inscription 011 the Why not? The House of Peers first day of the month pre~ throughout the war did nothing Head Office portals, ceding publication. ill particular ... but did it very (And, in case the Lord High Material and queries should well. And there is no possible Executioner has a little list, I be sent to the Editor, probable shadow of doubt, no sign myself.) Box 225, Dickson, A.C.T. possible doubt whatever that they G.R. Dolby 2602, Te!. 4B 4476 'Really, Doe, it's not true what they say about all of us in Staff are doing it very well, as demon Cunningham Laboratory Editor. Dorothy Braxton Section. Hold itl Down periscope I Dive, Dive, Dive!' strated by the description of the St Lucia, Brisbane 214-1977 215##1977 A monthly publication for CSIRO staff June/July 1977 115 Staff may operate own medioal fund CSIRO staff may establish their own medical and hospital insurance fund. Last month rept'esentatives of the Staff Associations, Benevolent Funds and Credit Societies met to discuss such a proposal with representatives from the Common wealth Department of Health. Should the proposal be imple Brisbane, who has made a study With the cooperation of the mented, a medical scheme could of other health schemes which Health Department, a more dctai· be established by early next yew.'. have been started by staff associa led study will be made of similar From the meeting, held in Can tions of other organisations. staff-operated schemes. Mr David Aochford at work on one of the charts related to the mer· berra, a working party was set up 'We would need to havc about A number of problems such as chant ship program. to undertake a feasibility study. 1000 members before the idea what would happen when mem~ The convenor of .this is Mc How~ could get off the ground,' Mr bers of the staff retired or re aed Crozier, Laboratories Co Crozier said. 'The scheme would signed from CSIRO would have be open to members and their to be looked llt, Mr Crozier said. New Chiefappointed operative Limited. 'If wc decide to go ahead with Other members arc Dr Graham families and we would operate Mr David Rochford, the mlln who· initiated Australia's merchant ship Brown, CSIRO Officers' Associa a full range of medical and hos the plan, we would probably en scientific program, has been appointed Chief of the Division of Fisheries tionj Dc David Goodchild, Chair pital benefits. deavour to get financial backing and OceanoblTaphy. man of the Joint Benevolent 'We would hope to be able to from a bank. It could be an He will succeed Dc K. Radway¥A1len who will retire from CSIRO Funds Committeci Mr Bill Bas offer discount rates for the ser~ attra~tive proposition for them, ncxtmonth. king, .. CSIRO· Cooperative Credit vices and have a ·schenie which with the fund eventitaHY'>-becom Society; Dr Don Marron, QueenS'" would be fuHy reciprocal with ing a multi-million dollar business.' In 1966 he began the merchant waters through which they are passing. land Benevolent Fund i Mc Trevor other schemes.' Staff who would like to make ship program which has involved Clarkc, NSW Laboratories Credit The first step the working party further inquiries about the pro vessels working in the Tasman Regular samples arc taken to as Union Ltd.; Mr John Warwick, plans is to conduct the feasibility posal or submit ideas should write and Coral Seas taking part in an certain the salinity of the waters. representing the Executive; and study which will show whether to Mr Crozier at Head Office. unusual scientific project. The 11 years (to date) accumu· Mr Ian Farrer, Laboratories Co~ enough of the staff would be Letters to the Editor of 'Co The vessels are fitted with equip lation of monthly temperature operative Ltd and the I-lead Office interested and whether the pro research! on the subject would ment which gives a continuous and salinity charts arc of great accountant. posal would be via.ble. also be welcomed. record of the temperature of the value to biologists, oceanographers The idea of CSIRO staff having and meteorologists for they pro their own medical insurance vide an environmental frame of scheme is not entirely new.. In reference against which water 1962 the then accountant of th~ 'Illsthe firstoial/problems for a man to findout movements, fish distribution and Canberra Regional Administrative weather phenomena may be inter Officc, Mr Ted Peterscn, sub what kind ofwork he isto do in this universe' preted. Mr Rochford was also involved mitted a formal proposal to thc Thomas Carlyle-Inaugural address, in the Indian Ocean Expedition Secretary. Edinburgh. 2 April 1866. The then 'Secretary, Mr Guy B. (1959-65) in which the research Gresford, reached the conclusion, ships of 13 nations were working. however, that it was not practical Out of this expedition came the to pursue the matter any further. Oceanographic Atlas of the Indian The present proposition was put Ocean. Mr Rochford was respons forward by Or Don Morron of ible for the chemical aspects of ;"the Atlas Sell-out The Brisbane AAG has a Journalist supply of CSIRO films which people in Oueensland may borrow. for Forest The Regional Administrative Officer, Mr David Thomas, re· cently sent a copy of 'The Research Birth of the Red Kangaroo' to the State school at Burke~ One of the best known members town. of the Central Communication It was returned with thanks Unit, Miss Wendy Parsons, has and the usual comments about decided that Division fields look its interest and high quality. greener than those of I-lead Office About 220 people saw it. and has left the Unit to take up a The part of the report that position as science journalist for came back with the film that the Division of Forest Research in caught the attention of the Canberra. RAO was the section describ~ Wendy has spent the last five ing 'type of audience'. and a half years in the Unit work Instead of the usual they ex~ ing in its Media Section. peeted ILe.grades V and Vii Wendy is the second journalist Coping with the limited resources available under the staff ceilings not only has people working longer hours, the report said: The whole to be appointed to such a position but many are having to turn their hands to doing things that usually support staff would do for them. In town. in the Divisions, the first being Perth, for example, the Divisional Editor at Land Resources Management, Malcolm Howes, now believes that CSIRO does its best but sel Mr Stmtrt Maxwcll-Wright in the happiness is not having to do your own typing. dom 'does Dna of its films get Division of Building Research. Photographer Bill van Aken recently walked into Malcolm's office and found him struggling to overcome such a coverage. Stuart was also originally a the intricacies of an IBM electric tYpewriter. member of the CCU. Watch your PEQ it could First woman in CSIRO help the energy crisis to Mr Ron Ballantyne of the Division of Building Research at Highett, has calculated that the average Australian family of four uses up 280 giglljoules of the country's cnergy resources each year. This is cquivalent to the cnergy stored in 10 tonnes of black coal or to the energy needed to kecp a single bar radiator burning 12 hours a day, seven days a wcek, for four years. 'Such a level of energy usage is Mr Ballantyne hopes that summer shade but to allow often unnecessary', said Mr 'Coresearch' readers will not only in winter sun; Ballantyne. work out their PEQs for their ~ensure that your next car 'However, it isn't nec{!ssary for own satisfaction, but will also has good petrol economy (not people to reduce their energy send him the completed form worse than 10 litres/lOO km consumption dramatically. They'd and the supplementary question or 28 mpg) and avoid lead be doing the world a service by naire so that he can assess the footed ddving; maintaining th<::il' present energy statistics. -walk or use a bicycle when usage or keeping any annual ~ver possible; increase to a minimum ~if you cannot walk or cycle prcfcrauly below two PCl' cent.' to work, travel there by public Ilf this were done, especially transport or shared private with petroleum products, it would transport; and take political be a worthwhile contribution to action for better public tran~ energy conservation.' sport services if they are Mr Ballantyne believes that the inadequate; Or K. Rachel Makinson who has been a senior principal research scien public as a whole is unaware of -worl< a 'Shared car roster tist at the Division of Textile Physics in Sydney has been reclassified as just how much energy it con with friends for recreation and a chief research scientist. This is the first time that any woman in sumes, and he has therefore socialising; CSIRO has achieved this distinction. embarked on an lenergy-awareness ~minimise motorised recrea Rachel first joined CSIRO in 1944 as an assistant research officer. On several occasions she has been Acting Chief of the Division and campaign'. tion, much of which also was a part-time Counsellor of the Interim ASTEC. He has devised a means of abuses our environment. calculating personal energy quo tients (PEQ) ~ the amount of energy that people buy during the year. Marine ASEAN visitor Mr Ran Ballantyne Anyone who would like to work Mr H.R. Dharsono, Sccretary the campus. In the morning, they General of the Association of were welcomed by Mr TOIlY Brad his/her 'per:mnal energy quotient' Biochemistry If the result of the calculations south cast Asian nations (ASEAN) shaw, Deputy Director of the for the year can do so by getting a make you feel a little guilty, then has visited Australia at the invi Minerals Research Laboratories, form from Mr Ballantync at the Mr Ballantyne suggests a few Unit tation of the Commonwealth and were taken to sce projects Division. steps that you might take to Government. concerned with energy (flash To work out your energy use reduce your PEQ: disbanded Some of CSIRO's Divisions were pyrOlysis of coa!) , iron ore, you need only your household included in his itinerary. electrostatic precipitation and air -use a clothes line instead of CSIRO',s Marine Biochemistry Mr Dharsono, who has had a dis pollution measurement. electricity, gas, fuel bills for a a clothes dryer whenever Unit," which has been located at tinguished military and diplomatic After lunch, Mr Dharsonoand year, and a good idea of how possible, the University of Sydney, has carecr in Indonesia, was appoin~ his party met Mr Jaek Kcfford of your working day and recreation -use only {.'old water in the been disbanded. tcd the first Sccrctary~General of the Division of Food Research. time arc spent. The,Officcr-in-Charge, Dr G.r. ASEAN in June 1976. washing machine (wash '" in Australia is spending $5 million Humphrey, has accepted a position On his tour of the CSIRO cam In 1975 the average Austl'alian fectious items by hand); on projects for ASEAN, mainly as a Research Associate in the pus at North Rydc he was accom PEQ was about 70 gigajoules. - insulate your home, especi in the food research area. School of Biological Sciences at panicd by Mr Ali of the Foreign This is similar to that in some ally the c:eilings; fit awnings the University of Sydney. He re~ Trade Office of the ASEAN Mr Dharsono was shown nvo European countries and about over all windows exposed to mains a CSIRO officer. Secretariat, and Mr A. Gyngcll projects in which hc expressed half that in the United States. direct sunlight in summer; The other professional staff of the Commonwealth Depart interest-oIlcan post-harvc:"t hand The PEQ figure for India is about alternatively, train deciduous have transferred to the Division ment of Foreign Affair:". ling of tropical fruits and a second three gigajoules. trees or creepers to provide of I"ishcrics anJ Oceanography. The visitors spent a full day on on vegetable protein. 'Freedom to speak'-scientists view Dr Fred MOl'Icy is a man with a While he is transferring his rc ago I wrote that women should of research too highly popu in grazing management research is strong conviction that CSIRO search activities, the 59-year-old be given responsibilities com lated, the Unitcd States has impressive and in 1970 he was scientists should always enjoy the scientist is unlikely to gIve up his mensurate with their abilities. changed a similar view and is awarded the medal of the Aust freedom to speak their own long habit of expressing his view 'I also believe that CSIRO now once more appreciating the ralian Institute of Agricultural minds. point. should employ more married importance of this work.' Science for his work. In fact, he goes so far as to say 'I feci strongly about the im women in part-time positions, if Staff relations... 'I have a Looldng back, he feels he has that the Organization's scientists pottance of science in agriculture they cannot work full-time, to strong conviction that thcre owed much to Sir Otto Frankel, a have a responsibility ,to express in partkular but in the community should be more consultation former Chief of the Division, and their views, both within the as a whole as well,' Fred said right down the line because to Sir Ian Clunies Ross, a former Orgnnizntion and Witllin the com before his departure from there is a wealth of talent in Chairman. munity. Canberra. CSIRO at all levels. [know this " first met Sir Ian when I was Over the years Fred has worked 'Science should not he pre is not easy to achieve but those working for the NSW Department in CSIRO he has practised what tentious about its achievements, talcnts should he tapped by the of Agriculture at Trangie. He he preached. I-lis name has apM but neither" should it be, apolo Executive and Chiefs in their came to visit us and I drove him peared ovcr Ictters to newspapers getic for whatit is doing.' decision-making. round the place in a sulky. and other publications, and he has Equally he believes very strongly 'At the same time the people 'He expressed an interest in my expressed his views at staff meet~ that science should not be dis down the line must appreciate work and later when J transferred ings and to the Executive when he torted for political reasons. He that it's the Executive which to CSIRO and was overseas he felt strongly on issues. aLso reacts when he feels the has to carry the responsibility if kept in touch with me by corres Last month Fred announced whole truth has not been pre~ things go wrong and that it must pondence. This always meant a that he would be leaving his Divi 5cnted or has been vamped, con bcable to exercise its rights.' lot to me.' sion of Plant Industry and trans~ sciously or otherwise,to serve . The planting of pine forest.'i Over the ycars I'red ha:-; made a ferring to the University of the ends of particular groups. on mountain country...'I I"m a number of overseas trips to work Melbourne as a Senior Research Over the years Fl'ed has built bush walker and skier and I on various projects, some of Fellow in Epidemiology. up what he calls his 'I'ile of Dis Dr Fred Morlev deplore the use of mountain which have bccn funded by aid His work there will be con content,' a collection of letters country for the planting of agencies. cerned mainly with the manage he has had published in various take advantage of the talents pines in the high country when This led to his interest in for ment of grazing animals in rcla publications. they could offer. If need be the there is lower and. more aeces~ eign languages and he has a rcad M tion to pastures and disease, very Some of the issues on wh teh he system could he altered to allow siblc terrain available for them.' ing knowledge of several of them. largely a continuation of his has put pen to paper have been: two part-timers to be held A widower for some time, Fred present work. against onc full-time position.' Career recently made It double decision. He will also he teaching both . The failure of employing bodies . The importance of agric\I1turaI Fred has had a distinguished Not only would he tackle a new undergraduate and some post to take women on to their staffs science to the country... 'while career and will be missed in his positlon but last month he also graduate students. at appropriate levels... '15 years Australia believes this is an area Division. His list of achievements remarried. 215-1977 Farewell to Phil Rawlinson Changeover Queen honours at Division of Computing CSIRO staff Research Dr Alall Walsh, one of CSIRO's His work hus been widely Dr Godfrey Lance who hns been most distinguished scicnth.ts, WIlS acclaimed overseas and has head of onc of the world's larger created a Knight Bachelor by the been recognised by many computing facilities since 1963, Queen last month in her silver societies. last month stood down from his jubilee honours list. Other CSIRO staff to receive position as Chief of thc Division Sir Alan retired from the Divi honours from the Queen were: of Computing Reseal·ch. sion of Chemical Physics in Jan Officer of the Order of the I-lis place has been tal Four prominent CSIRO agricul introduction of myxomatosis. In awarded to Dr R.C. RQssiter of tural scientists have been hon recent years he has been concer the Division of Land Resources oured by the Australian Institute ned with the control of dingoes Management in Perth. of Agricultural Science. The and feral pigs. Dr Rossiter's award was made Federal President of the Institute, Mr J.K. Taylor of Adelaide, a for his research 011 subterranean Mr Norman Halse, has announced former Chief of the Division of clover and its effect on the fer con~ the award of Fellowships for Soils in CSIRO. He has made sub tility of ewes. tributions to agriculture and the stantial contributions to soit sur His work on the ecology and profession. vey work in Australia both in the physiology of sub~clover has made The recipients include: field and later as an administrator. an outstanding contribution to the understanding of this most Mr Peter Butler, Senior Assis Mr D.C. Wark who was until tant Secretary ar Head Office in recently principal research officer important pasturc legume. He is recognised as a world authority Canberra.. Mr Butler has been a. in the CSIRO Division of Plant on Mediterranean pastures, the senior member of the CSIRO Industry in Canberra. He is recog citation said. secretariat since 1951 with specific nised as Australia's foremost to~ responsibilities for research in the bacco breeder and has received agricultural and biological world acclaim for breeding disease During the 12-month period for which he has been appointed Chair~ sciences. resistant varieties. His resistant Slide value man, Mr Victor Burgmann (right) is spending part of his time learning Mr B.V. Fcnncssy, CSIRO Divi Hnes are used in tobacco breeding 'A picture may be worth a thous mora about the work of different Divisions. Sydney's rain didn't deter sion of Wildlife Research, Can programs in Europ(~, North Amer and words but a slide isn't worth him from looking at Intorscan equipment at the Division of Radio berra. Ma' Fennessy is well known ica and Africa. a syllable if it doesn't say any physics with Or R .X. McGe8 and Or Dennis Cooper (centre) last month. for his work on the biological Onc of the Institute's two Medals thing or says too much.' control of rabbits particularly the of Agricultural Science has been AV Cam-mu nications Picture: John Masterson 215-1977 Si,ofo,um He's a1978 Let sleeping logos lie 1851, has been the title of the Illusory or .illustrious? The The English language-again Churchill federated States of Australia: the second sensc for lprcstigious' has Mc C. Chan, Plant Industry, has S slands for Sciclltific which as authoritativc support and is so Inflammable or flammable? submitted his suggestion for a your readers will know means per commonly current that opposit~ After reading Mr Hervey Bagot's Fellow CSlRO logo, the last that will be taining to Science: the I is for ion seems to me to be Canute· views on the use of the word accepted at this particular time. Industrial and that means per like in character. After all, we inflammable or flammable (Co taining to Industry (a crafty manage to live with many other research No. 214), I feel I should expedient adopted here): the R is changes and even reversals of put the following questions to for Research or the act of search meaning, the latter well exempli him: ing etc.; and the 0 Ohl reader, fied by the curious survival of llet' Has he evcr given a thought to means Organization, Le., an in its archaic mcaning in the onc the fact that it is not always the organised structure or body. phrase 'let or hindrancc'. foreign tongue that is giving the To savc further confusion and, A.W. Charles troublc, but the English language dare I suggcst, further space in Science Branch, itself? your popular paper I submit the Head Office Has he ever realised that every magic logo- time the prefix 'in' is uscd in the following words it means 'not'. Having had a sneak preview of To name a few-inapt, incompet Alan Charles' logomachic letter, ent, incommunicative, inexper The Editor wishes to thank all ** ience, incoherent, inhuman, in~ I bring to his attention*the fact the readers who sent in their and hope wc may be able to leave that King Canute was considered compatible, insane, incapable, ideas-their efforts will now be it at that. an enlightened monarch; indeed, incomplete. discussed by the appropriate Fulbert, Bishop of Chartres (of Perhaps it is easier to undcr~ David Thomas Mr Bob Galllt people. Regional Administrative Officer, sainted memory) wrote to him: stand now why foreigners and Brisbane 'Wc were amazed at your wisdom people with English as their and equally at your piety" mothcr tongue, makc mistakes Mr Boh Ga.ult of the Division of I find the current preoccupation Not so Alan Charles who, it when inflammable comes around? Plant Industry's Mierobiology with logos a little disturbing. I seems, has yet to experience the M. Scholtz Group in Canberra has becn suggest***that it might be more day when tides, Iikc worms and Division of Entomology named as onc of 67 Churchill A matter of prestige rewarding if staff tried to make language purists, turn-with or Long Pocket Laboratories, Fellows for 1978. our research effort more mean As onc who also tries to thread a without the assistance of the Indooroopilly Bob, who has been with the ingful to Australia, rather than way through the narrow channel lcgerpied of prestigious royal Division for eight years, will wasting time in designing a trendy between the Scylla of precision personages. spend 14 weeks in New Zealand, logo which no doubt will be and the Charybdis of pedantry, Imprimatur Award Canada and the United States. replaced in a few years by an even may I suggest that you capitu (name supplied) Hc will gather first-hand know~ trendier onc. lated too readily (Siroforum No. Mr Norman Branson of the Divi ledgc in thosc countries of For· mc, and I am sure a large 214) in respect of the modern sion of Protein Chemistry, Mel~ developmcnts and trend's in the number of Australians, the letters meaning of 'prcstigious'. bournc, has been awarded the use of root nodule bacteria in CSIRO say all that they need to. While it is clear that the Latin IUustrious though King Canure prize for studies in public admini oculants with the aim of improving lt appears that not only Roman root and the original meaning of may ***have been, he was not stration at thc Royal Melbourne nitrogen fixation by legume crops Centurions spend most of their 'prestigc' and its adjective lpres immunc from illusion. As thc Institute of Technology. in Australian agriculture. time being renamed and replan tigious' related to the illusion of Greeks said, 'Even Homer nod ncd and never doing any real the magic maker, of four auth ded'. My case rests. fighting. orities available to me (Shorter A.W. Charles M.H. Jones Oxford English Dictionary, Ran MiIieral Chemistry dom Hou se. Dictionary of.the Memorial fund for scientist English Language, Webster'sThird When David George Morris, 32, don models and their computer lnternational Dictionary, Fowler's died in Canberra last month from programming. Modern English.jJsage, .2nded.), Much has been written about a C§IROball cancer, his mother, Mrs G. A great raconteur and balladcer, Organization~in none denies ·.~he. cunent.-meaning logo for***the fact Brumby, requested that instead of Dave also wrotc poetry and short of prestige and _only the first the letters to the Editor on this in/Melbourne sending flowers, Davc's friends stories. His delightful 'Doleful subject must far outweigh any allows the original meaning as cur might like to contribute to a can other subject, judging by. the rent usage. The annual ball of CSIRO In Mel cer research fund. amount of space devoted to them The position is less clear with bourne will be held at the Camber t The money, about $300 so far, on the back page of each issue. lprestigious , Random House well Civic Centre Melbourne on will probahly go to help the ACT I am no artist, so feci out of it gives only 'illustrious'. Webstcr Friday 5 August. Cancer Research Fund establish a cur~ when it comes to designing a logo also considers this to be the The Peter Williams Orchestra radio thcrapy unit in Canberra. but thought your readers may like rent meaning and classes 'iUusory' will be featured. The cost will be Even though he was so young to see a design wc have been using as archaic. The Shorter OED $28 a double aU inclusive. Dave had packed a great deal of for a number of years~on our gives only 'illusory'. Fowler does Melbourne staff interested living and a wide range of expcr letterheads, forms, sign above the not mention the adjective, but it should contact their Divisional ience into thosc years. door, newspaper advertJsenlents, would be curious if hc supported Representative or Social Club. He joined the Land Evaluation -the logo is well known to Bris~ the view that the adjective can be Interstate staff arc most welcome Group of the Division in 1969 bane people. usc~ only in a sense he con~ and should contact the tieket and initially spent two wet sea Most think it means Colonial siders not to be current for its secretary, Vi Kingham at the sons at Kathcrine working on Sugar Refinery or State Govern~ parental noun. RAO Melbourne for tickets. grain-sorghum field experiments. ment Insurance Officc but it's On returning to Canberra in still well I(nown~the C stands for 1971 he showed an aptitude for David Morris Commonwealth, which, since computer programming which he Dan', a story for children of a was encouraged to develop. pigeon who finds his true love Appointment Between 1972 and 1976 Dave (Ho-millg), is illustrated with a Mr A.V. llradshaw, Chief of the made a significant contribution to battery of eomplcx psychedelic Division of Process Technology, the development of crop simula~ line drawings. Sydney, has been appointed Honorary Professor in the Depart ment of Metallurgy at the Uni~ versity of Newcastle. The appoint ment is for two years in the first Safety notes instance. Emission control-a trap for the unwary 'C(lresearch' New vehicles are now fitted with emission controls to reduce 'Coresearch' is produced atmospheric contamination. Part of this system is the provision by the Centra! Communica· of a non-venting petrol filler cap. Tile vent pipe from the petrol tion Unit for CSIRO staff. tank leads to a carbon filter and then to either the carburettor or air inlet filter assembly. It is also circulated to some During a recent field trip where the shade temperature was in people outside the Organ" o ization who have a pro excess of 40 C, the petrol tank of a station wagon was filled to capacity. On resuming the journey t the driver noticed a strong fessional interest In CSIRO activities. smell of petrol. Investigation showed that petrol had filled the Members are invited to con· carbon canister to overflowing and was also escaping from the tribute or send suggestions intake spout of the air filter. 0 for articles. The deadline A rise of 40 C will increase the volume of 50 litres of petrol by over half a litre. for material is normally the Manufacturers are now warning against this hazard. first day 0 f the month pre· ceding publication. Do NOT fill patrol tank to capacity by slow top-up, only fill Material and queries should at automatic fastest rate until first cut off. be sent to the Ed Itor, This should leave sufficient air space in the petrol tank to cope Box 225, Dickson, A.C.T. with possible fuel expansion. Remember that the driving range 2602, Tel. 48 4476 is reduced. Editor. Dorothy Braxton J.W. Hallam Safety Officer 215-1977 216##1977 A monthly publication for CSIRO staff August 1977 116 UN to stage mi\ior science conference in 1979 A major United Nations confer ence is in preparation for 1979 on the subject of Science and Technology for Development. Australia, as a country with both interest and experience in the application of scientific re~ search to development,~ is ex pected to be an active participant in the conference. The Chineso delegation visited Culgoor. where Keliln Sherlden (right) of the Division of Redlophysics The role of science and tech explained the radio heliographic contour plotting equipment to Professors Tsien San-Chiang and Wang nology in national and inter Shou·Wu of the Chinese delegation. With them were Chin Kwong, a Chinese student from the University of national social and economic Sydney, Dr Harry Minnett, Chief of the DivisIon, and Steve Smerd. Jenny Dixon was operating the computer development will be examined by telepr inter. the United Nations, with special lan Gardon emphasis being given to ways of overcoming difficulties in the 12 months, as Executive Officer application of science to develop~ for the Australian Government mentproblems. preparations. Chinese~delegation Ian, who is normally with the Australia's preparations for the External Relations Section, Head conference will include wide con Office, took up his new position sultation with government and on 18 July. non-government bodies. A Secre CSIRO is alsbrepresehted'-oh tariat has been established for the Steering Committee for the this purpose in the Department of Australian preparations for the atCS.-,labs Foreign Affairs. conference. The Organization is Four distinguished Chinese scientists have been visiting Australia to conclude discussions con Following a request from the likely to play a substantial part in Department, the Executive agreed preparing case studies illustrating cerning a bilateral science agreement between the Chinese Academy of Science and the Aust to provide a CSIRO officer! Mr the application. of research to ralian Academy of Science. )an Gordon, on secondment for development in Australia. The leader of the delegation was Professor Tsien San-Chiang, a nuclear physicist and Deputy Secretary General of the Academia Sinica. Other members of the group Chemistry, Radiophysics, Wildlife Sri Lankan at lUR were Professor Wang Shou~Wu, Research and the Solar Energy physicist, Deputy Director of Studies Unit. Editor the Institute of Semi-conductors, Professor Tung Ti-Chou, biologist, retires one of the most distinguished elderly scientific statesmen in Miss Margarct Walkom, who has China, Professor Wang Ying~Lai, ucen a senior member of the biochemist, Vice Chairman of Editorial and Publications Service the Institute of Biochemistry for many years, retired last month and internationally known for his because of ill health. work on insulin, and Mr Tsicn Margaret joined CSIRO in 1948 Hao, interpreter. after service with the ABC. She The Chinese were returning a has had a long association with visit which was earlier made to the production of the Organiza their country by a delegation tion's Annual Report and other from the Australian Academy. Or CSIRO publications. L10yd Evans, Chief of the Division of Plant Industry, was a member of that group. Queen's Above: Bill White gives Chandra Jayasuria some assistance with some The scientists visited Head Office of her cartographic work in the drafting room at Land Use Research. where they were welcomed by the Chairman, Mr V.0. Burgmann. When Chandra Jayasuria cvcnt- 1971. honours ually returns to her home country, Chandra joined CSIRO and The Chinese expressed particular In honour of her Silver Jubilee, Sri Lanka, she will take with under the direction of Bill White, interest in the way the CSIRO the Queen has awarded Silver her sophisticated cartographic cartographer at the Division, has 'popularised' its research results Jubilee Medals to a number of skills that she has acquired during learned the newest cartographic to industry and the farming com Australians. Among the CSIRO her five years as dru.fting ussist~ methods and techniques as well as munity and asked questions about personalities who received them ant and later drafting officer at the theory. The latter she has the coordination of research be were Sir WiIliam Vines, Exec the Division of Land Use Re· studied at home after worldng tween Divisions. utive, Dr D.F. Waterhouse, search in Canberra. hours. While they Were in Australia Chief, Entomology, Mr J. de P. Chandra came to Canberra in Gill is very proud of her accom- the delegation visited a number of Professors Wang Ying-Lai and Beresford, Land Resources Man 1972 with her husband who had plishments and feels that Chandra CSIRO laboratories including Tung Ti·Chou visited the Division agement, Mr S.M. Brisbane, received a scholarship under the has developed ineo an excellent those of the Divisions of Animal of Plent Industry where they dis Tribophysics; Miss L.C. Lllwrence, Calumbo Plan to study at the cartographer. reduction, Chemical Physics, cussed the work of the Division Head Office; Mr R. McInnes, Australian National University. She has helped him with several Computing Research, Entomol with the Chief, Or L10yd Evens. Entomology; Miss Gladys Munro, She has an Arts Degree in Geo~ maps, the most recent being the ogy, Environmental Mechanics, and talked with members of the CILES; Mr L,J. Phillips, Tropical graphy from the University of Sri South Australian Ecological Sur National Measurement Labora~ storage protein, molecular gen Crops and Pastures; Mr J.H. Lanka and was a tutor there in vey Maps. tory, Plant Industry, Protein etIcs and nitrogen fixation groups. Watson, Textile Industry. NSW lake is habitat for wildlife The sight of a canoe-seemingly self-propelled-moving close in to an island on Lake Cowal in New South Wales must have sometimes made a numbeL' of casual visitors stop fo,' an intrigued second glance. Unless they knew what its common once you know presence signified, few would where and when to look for rcalise that the island was them,' Wim explained. home to a colony of breeding Several papers have already birds and that the canoe w;.\s been publisheJ by Wim on the part of the equipment associa behaviour of various birds at ted with a study of the wild~ the lake including the pelican, life of the lake. darter and spoonbill and he is If they looked carefully they now completing a technical might well sec a man in the memorandum entitled 'Status, water gently gliding it along. Habitat and Food of Verte This would be Mr Wim brates at Lake Cowal, NSW', Wim Vestjens observing birds from under a River gum. Vestjens, a zoologist from the This describes six habitats at Division of Wildlife Research the lake, lists plants col 'The snakes in turn arc in Canberra, who has been lected and provides informa~ preyed upon by various birds, studying the behaviour of tion on occurrence, breeding, among them the white ibis, birds on the lake for the last food and parasites of the whistling l Distinguished/soientist retires SIROTEM FOR USSR After red tapc galore, inter pecring (VNIIG) in Moscow and national telegrams antI a strike, hopes to conduct field trials of After more than 30 years service, the Mineral Research Laboratories SIROTEM at Tbilisi, in the Dr C.H. B. Priestley has retired. finally managed to pack thcir Caucasus. Dr Priestley was foundation staff member, Jock Buselli of Jock will return to Australia Chief of the Division of Atmos~ Minerals Physics off to Russia, next month and hopes to bring a pheric Physics and since 1973 has says a report in 'Minfo'. Russian scientist back to work been Chairman of the Environ Jock has tal<.en with him his with him for three months on an mental Physics Research Labora wife, a working technical know exchange visit. tories. ledge of the language and A farewell function to mark SIROTEM, a mineral exploration the occasion was attended by tool based on a transient electro~ more than 100 of bis friends, magnetic technique developed by Wordy including past and present mem the Russians. bers of the Division of Instruments made by the USSR Atmospheric Physics. arc available and often used in study Australia but MRL's version is Among those who spoke of more sophisticated and much It can't be said that our scientists the contribution Dr Priesdey has lighter. Jock can pack it in two are necessarily short of simple made to Australian and inter suitcases and it weighs just 44 kg. words to describe their work. national meteorology were the Commercial production of We hear the authors of an early Chairman, Mr V.D. Burgmann, Dr SIROTEM should start soon. draft of a paper going through GiblJs, Director of Meteorology in The BuscHi's are to spend' three the system at the Mineral Re Australia: Mr H..H. Clarl{, Offit'er Picture: The Chairman, Mr V.D. Burgmann say5 goodbye to Or months ill Leningrad where Jock search Laboratories at North in~Charge of the ANMRCi and and Mrs Priestley. is working at the Institute for Ryde have come up with a classic two former members of the Div Methods and Technology of Pros adjectival phrase which allegedly ision of Atmospheric Physics, Dr 11 Campaign planter chair, a novel sion of Cloud Physics was made pectiog (VITR). reads: 'the six variable central F.A. Berson and Mr E.L. Deacon. by Ernestine Hill and a photo· by Dr Brian Tuc!<.er, the present He will visit the Institute for composite design iron ore pellet A presentation in the form of graphic anthology [rOln the Divi- Chief of Atmospheric Physics. Geophysical Methods of Pros· induracion study.' 216-1977 Dr Frank Bradley up in Internal auditors the air about his work get new charter What happens to wind as it strikes a hill? To find the answer to thllt question Or Frank Brlldley The 12 members of CSIRO's prograll1S. Intemal Audit Group mer in The Secretary. Mr L.G. WiIson of the Division of Environmental Mechllnics, Cllnberra, has been climbing 100 m up a Telecom Canberra last month for di!> and the First Assistant Secretary tower on top of Black Mountain-a 250 m high hill in Cllnberrll which has six CSIRO Divisions cussions on their new charter. (Administration)l Mr Iloward at its foot. This was the first time all the Crozier. also discussed aspects of According to Frank, the behaviour of wind over uniform flat surfaces can be predicted, thanks members had been together for the Group's work with the mem to pioneering work by CSIRO's former Division of Meteorological Physics. However, there is some time-in their daily work bers during their meeting. they are scattered in various Under the revised arrangements, very little detailed information about wind flow over irregular terrain involving slopes and hills. locations across the country. the Internal Audit Group js now Such information is important 'We climb the tower by a series The ultimate aim is to compare The Group was mainly con· required to report annually to the in studies of wind erosion from of 16 m ladders and usc a hoist to experiment with theory so that cerned with discussions on the Executive. exposed hills and sand dunes, diS'" haul up some of the instruments,' the effects of hills can be predic~ implications that the charter I n future more emphasis will be would have on their work. persal of air pollution in a hilly he said. ted from their geometry. placed on problem solving during During the course of their talks, environment, and topographicallyM 'We tie others around our waists audit inspections. There will be thc Chairman, Mr Victor Burg generated wind anomalies which or carry them in haversacks, in less formal reporting but in mann, spoke to them about the affect aircraft operations at some our pockets, or even between our creased informal discussion be Story: Barbara Hardey charter and the Group's func tween the auditor and the group airfields. teeth I From the tower we talk It can also assist in the assessM to the caravan using wallde~talkies. Picture: Greg Hellth tions, responsibilities and or section involved. meut of sites for wind power IWhile I've worked on towers generation and provide gustiness before in Australia and America, data needed fOl' the design of the I must admit that I was a little associated propellers and towers. apprehensive the first time I Though not the micromctcoro climbed this one. We arc used to logises ideal site, Black Mountain it now though and concentrate on has several useful features for this the work to be done,' Funk said. experiment. It presents a uniform wide face High level problems and a steep slope to the prevailing A few unforeseen problems, north-west wind, it is conven~ however, have had to be solved. icntly close to the Division's Because of unexpectedly high laboratory, and it has a ready~ winds, some of the more sensitive made tower high enough to be instruments have blown to pieces. above immediate surface effects. 'Everything has to be tied to the Cooperation tower so that it won't blow away, Telecom was very co~operative cvcn if it is only being put down in granting permission to use the for a moment,' Frank said. tower and provided riggers to In the beginning there were mca~ install the booms on which electronic difficulties too i inter suring instruments are fastened so ferem:e from the high-powered that they are clear of the tower. TV transmitters had to be Cup anemometers are used to guarded against or suppressed. If measure the wind speed while an instrument goes wrong it is more complex fast response always the one at the ~ighest Mr Gabrlel Martlch, the Chief Internal Audltnr (right), photographed during an Informal discussion with anemometers measure turbulence; level. members of the group and, from left, Mr Howard Crozier, Mr Gratton Wilson and Mr Victor Burgmann. in~ Anemometers have also been The measurements must be stalled on a 23 m mast at the foot made as soon as possible as the of Black Mountain to monitor the tower is soon to be dismantled. wind before it encounters the The new communications tower slope. now under construction is unsuit~ instru~ New laboratory in SA Scientific All the signals from these able for an experiment of this ments are fed to recording equip· kind as its size and solid con~ ·ment in one of the Division's struction would distort the wind. mobile laboratories, parked at the Frank believes that the experi~ CSIRO base of the tower. for exchange With the help of a technical ment will provide valuable data The South Australian branch of Mr I.F. McNeil, will remain its ~uch officer, John Sryao, Frank Brad on the way in which hills the Materials Research Labora Officer~in-Charge u ntH h is re tut~ ley climbs the tower two or three modify the wind velocity, tories of the Department of tirement next year. times a day to attend to the bulence intensity and shearing Defence has been transferred to At the time of going to press, with Brazil instruments-weather permitting. stress. CSIRO. details of the laboratory's new The anemometers are at various The results will also provide The transfer will become effec name and program had not been Dr N.K. Boardman, a member of levels from 16 to 100 ID and are full·scale reference data for simi~ tive as from 1 September. finalised. the Executive, will visit Brazil reached by puJling them in along lar studies on model hills in the The laboratory is located at The Laboratory's current work this month in response to an invi· the booms on a trolley or by Division's wind tunnel, where Woodville North, Adelaide. Its includes research in metnllurgy tation from the Organization for using swinging booms. conditions can be varied readily. present branch superintendent, and electra-photography us well Research into Agriculture and as consulting and standards ser Cattle Breeding (EMBRAI'A). vice to Government departments and industry. The purpose of the visit is to These projects are currently develop closer collaboration being examined with a view to between the two countries in their integration with research in agricultural research. a number of Divisions. Earlier th is year the President of EMBRAPA. Dr Jose Cabral, and its Executivc Director, DI' Almiro Blumenschein, wcre· in Australia to become acquainted Bottoms up! with current scientific research and to discuss with CSIRO and pos~ During his recent overseas travels, other interested people the J im Goodspccd of the Division of sibility of further cooperation Land Use Research visited a in fields of mutual interest. sewage reclamation pilot plant at For many years CSIRO has had Pretoria used to demonstrate close contacts with research sdenM water reclamation processes. tists in Brazil and has welcomed the opportunity for further col Aftcr watching with keen in laboration on an informal basis. tcrest the progress of the matcrial from lraw input' to 'processed Areas of interest to both Organi influent,' he was invited to drink zations include thc introduction a glass of the final product, being and breeding of legumes, nitro~ assured that Australians showed gen fixation, animal breeding, quite a high survival rate from the management of grazing systems, test. land resources surveys, and tro pical fruit tree crops. A can of beer was then adminh.... tered, presumably to be blamed In addition to collaborativc re~ for any ensuing ill effects. There search, it is envisaged that there were none.-Land Use Research will be opportunities for scien A bird's eye view of Canberra: Or Frank Bradley adjusts an anemometer on the Black Mountain tower. Newslctter. tists to make exchange visits. 216-1977 Minister visits Deniliquin CSIRO fun run An outline of the research activities being undertaken in the rangclands of western New South Wales was provided for the Minister for Science, Senator J.J. Webster, when he visited the Riverina Laboratory at Deniliquin recently. The Minister, who was undertaking his fit'st visit to the laboratoty, part of the Division of Land Resources Management, was accompanied by his Senior Private Secretary, Mr L. Williams, and a member of the Executive, Dr K. Boardman. Because of the widely dispersed These studies arc aimed at search staff during an informal nature of the field programs cur developing improved management lunch held in the laboratory gar rently in progress, some located practices so that the vegetation dens where many discussions took SOO-800 km from DenHiquin, resource in these communities, place. much of the research had to be many of which are extremely reviewed with the assistance of an fragile when heavily grazed, is not Before leaving Deniliquin audio-visual display, designed cs· depleted to the point where re~ Senator Webster and his party pecially [or such purposes. damation is virtually impossible, visited the Falkiner Memorial or at least, uneconomic. Field Station where he inspected Senator Webster was briefcJ 011 Part of this work also involves the laboratory's research activities Miss Veronica Rogers' experi the potential use of remote sen· by the Officer-in-Charge, Dr AlIall mental lucerne stands. He was sing techniques to monitor trends Wilson, and other scientists at particularly interested in the new in range condition. One such DClliliquin who described parti~ variety 'Falkiner', bred as a root· approach being explored is the cular aspects in morc detail. rot resistant vuriety for heavYI possible use of imagery obtained Much of the discussion centred poorly-drained soils, but which is from LANDSAT satellites. on the results obtained to date now also showing some degree of The Minister took the oppor from major research programs in resistance to the Spotted Alfalfa tunity of personally meeting re~ volving multidisciplinary teams of Aphid. scientists. One important team project at the laboratory, for example, is concerned primarily with studying Summer language school the problem of woody shrub Rosemary Bell, (abovel an experimental officer at the Division of species which have increased In January, the Australian Nat the cost 0 f appropriate text Entomology in Canberra sprinted 6 km round the saddle of Black dramatically in the poplar box ional University and the Can books. Mountain last mnnth to take the honours in the ACT CSIRO Fun Run. woodlands since the advent of berra College of Advanced Edu~ Emolments close on 18 Novem Rosemary, who has since won the NSW women's open long distance sheep grazing. There are 60,000 ber 1977. For further infor race (5000 km) led home e field of 48 participants from the Canberra km2 in western NSW and 90,000 cation, in conjunction with the mation on the courses and accom RAG and local Dlv.isions, considerably helping her team from Ento km2 in Queensland that are Centre for Continuing Education, wiII again be holding a summer modation. and enrolment forms, mology to wIn the handsome cup made and donated by Colln Hazelton, affected or highly susceptible. program of intensive language please contact Jane Stott, Con Environmental Mechanics. The Minister was told that the courses. ference Officer, Centre for Con The Fun Run was a successful event, clearly enjoyed by those parti reasons for the shrub invasion are The following languages will be tinuing Education, ANU, PO Box cipants still able to stand at the finish. It will be staged against next complex, but are thought to stern offered: Bahasa Indonesia, 4, Canberra CitYl 2601, or phone year. Already the RAO team has issued a challenge to Head Office primarily from the upsetting of Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Chinese Canberra 49 4556. to enter a team in 1978. thegrass/shrub balance by sheep (eJementary and intermediate) grazing. and Spanish (elementary and Other important projects out intermediate). 'Minfo' ceases lined to the Minister included No previous knowledge of the Senators at LUn those relating to the assessment languages is required (except for production of range condition in various the intermediate levels in Chinese The Mineral Research Laboratories vegetation types including salt- and Spanish). have ceased production of their bush, bluebush, mulga and All six courses will run from lively newsletter, 'Minfo'. rosewood-belar communities Tuesday, 3 January to Friday, For the last six and a half years being undertaken by Mr Gracme 27 January. The tuition feesl 'Minfo' has provided an informal Tupper, Mr Bill Mulham and Mr which are tax deductible, are means of communication among David Tongway. $270 for each course, and include the MRL sites during their for~ mative years. Now, according to its Editor, Jenny North, in a farewell edi~ Amatter of words torial, 'Minfo' will cease pub lication because it has no fur On receiving the first award of merit for public speaking from ther role to play at present. Australian Rostrum, an association of 5 000 men, Myra Roper The newsletter will be missed stressed her belief in the importance of using language accurately by many people who have en and economically. By way of illustration she told the following joyed reading it and who used it story: as a means of keeping up 'with 'The Lord's Prayer has 56 words, the Ten Commandments who's doing what, where and have 287 words, the United States Declaration of Indepen· when' in the labs. dence has 300 words, and the European Common Marl 'Coresearch' It's yippee time! 'Coresearch' is produced by the Central Communica The indexed tax scales from 1 July 1977 have increased the tion Unit fnr CSIRO staff. total fortnightly CSIRO take home pay by abuut $105.000. It is also circulated to some people outside the Organ~ DO YOU NEED YOUR SHARE RIGHT NOW? ization who have a pro fessional interest in CSI RD WILL YOU WASTE IT? activities. Members are invited to con OR tribute or send suggestions for articles. The deadline MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU? for material is normaTIy the first day of the month pre· Invest the difference in your credit society by au tomatic fort ceding publication. nightly deductions from salary at interest rate 9 per cent. Material and queries should Despite economic strlngencies, the new hlgh·security laboratory at the be sent to the Editor, Division of Exotic Bugs and Wogs was opened this week. Temperatures See your DAO today, or ring: o Box 225. Dick,on. A.C.T. are controlled to within a.l C of ambient, and a wide range of humidi Canberra Society 484580 2602, Tel. 48 4476 ties is available. Special perforated metal walls provide one-way laminar Melbnurne Society 419133 Editor. DDrothy Braxton air flow into the laboratory, preventing potential threats to the human Sydney Society 211 3400 race from escaping, 216-1977 217##1977 A monthly publication for CSIRO staff September/October 1977 117 Co-operation with industry stepped up Future cooperation betw"een Australian industry and CSIRO was discussed at a meeting held at Head Office last month between representatives of the Organization and the Australian Industrial Research Group. In the past, CSIRO and industry have worked to gether on numerous collaborative ventures, but these have tended to be on the basis of CSIRO dealing with a single firm which was involved with a specific project. Now, as a result of this meeting, The Group has always recognised there aI'C lllcely to be more formal the importance of Government discussions on matters such aSI policies in the industrial sector · the transmission of CSIRO's and in recent years has spent an technology to industry increasing amount of time dealing · ways of getting more infor with the issues involved in the mation on CSIRO's research formation of policies directed to programs to industry so that wards making Rand D in secon industry knows the fields in dary industry more effective. which the Organization is Joint meeting working The idea of the joint meeting · research associations came abou t following discussions The Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, took time out while attending a conference of Second · ways in which industry research between Dr L.W. navies, Chief might be supported by the Scientist with Amalgamated Wire~ Division Officers at Head Office tn look at the display boards from the Brisbane Show. Government less (Australasia) Lrd,andDrH.W. The boards were brought to Canberra after the show where they aroused the interest of many · possible use of State Committees Warner, of the CSIRO Executive. staff and visitors, including members of the Australian Industrial Research Group meeting at to formulate communication Thl?Y found both parties-the with industry Head Office and the Chiefs who were also at Head Office for their annual meeting. AIRG and CSIRO-were con~ · further methods of obtaining Brisbane Show story pages 4 and 5. Photograph: Peter Hay industry's views on national research needs. The Australian Industrial Re~ Delay search Group is a body comprising The publication of this issue Russian women visit Australia about 50 senior industrial research of Coresearch has been un managers of the larger industrial avoidably delayed because of tcrest in stfllctural geology led to organisations in Australia. They editorial problems in Canberra Under the Australia/USSR Science Rudi Horwitz, who had only Exchange program, two women stimulating discussion with Rudi first met in 1964 to consider how and power restrictions at the recently returned from a visit to geologists, Dr Antonia Novikova the Ukraine under the same ex~ Horwitz on the structure and they might inject better quality Printing Unit. and competence into the and Dr Svetlana Sidorenko re·· change program, and Dick Morris development of the belt of Pro~ management of their research cently ~l'ent eight weeks in then took the visitors to see the terozoic rocks that divides the departments. cerned about the fall-off of Australia. western part of the Archaean two Archacan Blocks. Over the years, it has focused Government funds for industrial Both are from the Geological Pilbara Block and the Hamersley Geologists first, Dr Novikova its attention on four major areas: research development. Both felt Institute of the USSR Academy iron province. and Dr Sidorenko both showed Novi~ Aust~ · improvement of research that the two organisations should of Sciences in Moscow I Or Black shales exposed in the iron keen interest in the way management in industry discuss matters of mutual interest kava being a specialist in Pre ore mine at Mt Tom Price were of ralians Jived, in Australian art and · relations with the Federal Rnd cooperate to identify means cambrian tectonics and Dr Sil.lo~ particular interest to Or Sido~ culture and in the contents of Government of closer collaboration. rcnko in organic materials in renko, while Dr Novikova's in~ Australian shops. · interaction with universities and Visitors to the conference, in Precambrian sedimentary and other educators cluding the Minister for Science, metamorphic rocks. · fostering understanding of the Senator ].]. Webster, Dr G,N. Their program in AuscL'alia was need for industrial research. Continued on page 6 arranged by Professor Rutland of (he University of Adelaide and began with an excursion to Cen Report of Committee of Inquiry tabled tral Australia with BMR and university geologists. The report of the independent inquiry into CSIRO was tabled After visits W Canberra, Mel~ by the Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser. in the House of bourne and AdoIaide they spent Representatives on 6 October. four weel 217-1977 Budget allows CSIRO 'modest Draughtsman retires expansion'- Minister The 1977178 Budget provision of $134 048 000 for the operations of the CSIRO would enable the Organization to press ahead with scientific research progl'ams vital to Australia, the Minister for Science, Senator 1,1. Webster, said in his comments on the Budget figures, He said the figure represented 'The Government also recognises ment possibilities. an increase of $13,198,004 or that in recent years the redeploy 'Lowering staff ceilings reduces 10.9 per cent over last year's ment of resources within CSIRO the degree of flexibility CSIRO appropriation from Consolidated has been made particularly diffi would otherwise have in selecting Revenue. cult by the inability of Rural those research activities which Redeployment of staff had Research Funds to meet the rising should be expanded. I he said. meant CSIRO could obtain a cost of research. 'In formUlating the present Bud modest expansion of activity in 'Therefore it has been necessary get it has been necessary for the high priority research areas such for CSIRO to redeploy some staff Government to pay particular as energy and biological control. out of the Rural Industry Re attention to this, and it is essential 'This is despite a reduction of search activity. for these problems to be clearly 78 in CSIRO's staff ceiling,' 'This is a problem which the borne in mind in the future. Senator Webster said. Government has recognised and 'For only by so doing can we $5,745,000 of the increase has taken into account in its preserve the valuable investment resulted from: decision following the report of this country has in scientific When EH Emanuel joined the drawing office of the Division of Physics · changed funding arrangements the Industl'ies Assistance Cam· manpower and attempt to maioM in 1958, his first job was a drawing of equipment for handling liquid of CSIRO's sheep and wool mission into the funding of rural tain the high degree of resource helium. The picture shows EIi (left) discussing his last drawing before research program as from 1 research.' flexibility necessary to- initiate his retirement last month with fellow members of NML drawing office January 1978-$4.4m Senator Webster said there were and expand research in areas of staff. Believe it or not, it was of equipment for handling liquid helium! • transfer of funding of the practical limits to staff redeploy- national importance.' With Eli are his colleagues Ran Riches, Shirley Williams, Carl Sona Kimberley Research Station and Ross Macrac from the Department of National Resources to CSIRO as from 1 July 1977-$O.6m · CSIRO's assuming responsibility New information officer for the Materials Research Lab Speaker scheme The Division of Environmental oratory in South Australia from Mechanics in Canberra has the Department of Defence as from 1 September 1977 appointed Jean H. Weber Irlghtl $O.74m. to continue as Editorial and Information 'The balance provides $7,453,004 Officer. She replaces Mr Ed for inescapable rises in salaries CSIRO's speaker scheme, which The scheme began last year Highly who has transferred to the when Harry Black (Adviser, Com but makes nO provision to offset began as a jubilee activity, is to j Division of Entomology. inflationary increases in other be continued indefinitely. munity Relations) from the Cen tral Communication Unit visited Jean received her M.Sc. degree operating costs,' he said. The project has recently been a number of Divisions in Sydney, in Plant Ecology from the 'This meanS CSIRO has to exer evaluated and is seen by the Melbourne Brisbane and Adelaide University of Maryland in 1970 cise economies wherever possible Organization as a voluntary effort l to discover the support for the and worked at the California to maintain its existing level of which is paying dividends for idea of establishing a speaker Academy of Sciences in San research activities. both CSIRO and the community. project. Francisco before migrating to There was enough enthusiasm Australia in 1974. for the idea to launch it and since For the past two and a half then it has been operating suc years she has worked at the cessfully in the Melbourne, Syd Building Research farewells Australian Institute of Marine ney and Brisbane regions. Panels of volunteer speakers Science in Townsville, North have now been formed in Can Queensland. ceramics expert berra and Adelaide and if the scheme is supported in other areas, The man who has probably done and worked with ACl before it will be taken on in those more than anyone else for the joining the Division in 1962. regions as well. Geoscience Language ceramics industry in Australia, Elijah initiated and supervised The Advisory Council and the Mr Elijah Tauber, has retired after many worthwhile contributions Executive have both given their Unit formed contribution more than 15 years distinguished to AustraHa1s ceramics industries, endorsement of it and already service with the Division of These have included the intro there has been an enthusiastic An independent group, the ruel Members of the staff of the P4 Building Research in Melbourne. duction of basalt ceramics, the reception from the community Geoscience Unit, has been estab Laboratory near Bogor are find Elijah, who was born in Poland. utilisation of previously, unused organisations involved. lished within the Minerals Re ing they are m.aking an unexpec raw materials, and the develop graduated with a degree in cera In each region a contact officer search Laboratories at North ted contribution to the Indonesian mic engineering from the College ment of a patented process for coordinates the scheme. arranging Ryde, NSW. _ language, Bahasa Indonesia. of Ceramics in Paris in 1947. glazing concrete. speakers to match requests from It is to be concerned with In 1950 he went to Israel where His work on local raw materials community groups and shielding exploration, assessment and utili Some time ago a linguistic com he established that country's first (clays, silica sands, zircon and speakers from excessive demands. sation of fossil fuels. mittee was set up with the aim of ceramics research institute in the pyrophyllite) has reduced Aust Officers engaged on panel acti Dr G.H. Taylor has been appoin co-ordinating Bahasa Indonesia port city of Haifa. ralia's reliance on foreign tech vities are considered to be on ted Officer-in-Charge of the. Unit. with Bahasia Malaysia into one He came to Australia in 1951 nology, research and expertise. official duty and have the normal A number of staffofthe Division language. compensation coverage. If speakM of Mineralogy presently located at Many of the technical terms ers are at distant engagements North Hyde have been trans have not yet been standardised, from their home or laboratory to ferred the Unit l along with the even in Bahasa Indonesia, an area expenses may be met by the CSIRO staff working at the Baas which has created some problems Division subject to the prior Becking Geobiological Laboratory for CSIRO's personnel working approval of the Chief. in Canberra. there Spcal{cr information kits have been compiled and interim lecture Efforts are being made to help slides and captions are availnble overcome this with the Organi for speakers so that they have Solar Energy zation's people making their input background information to use wherever practical. before talking to their audiences Index on their own subject. A new quarterly publication, The regional contact officers arc: 'Australian Solar Energy Index'j Caretaker Canuerra-Mr Harry Black, Co· is being issued by the CILES ordinater, Head Office; Mel Information Service. departs bourne-Mr Clyde Garrow, Man The first issue will include all l 'The tiger of Taranna • Albert ager. Information Services, CILES; papers mentioned in the Boxall, retired from the Tas Sydney-Mr Ono Adderley, Senior 'Australian Solar Energy Data manian Regional Station last Infonnation Officer, RAO i BrisM Base 1952-76' together with the month. Caretaker-gardener since bane-Mr Dave Thomas, Regional 1970, Albert will be rcmembeted Administrative Officer, RAO. first instalment of updated material from 1977. for his delightful turns of phrase CSIRO solar energy papers as and many improbable tales. Expert with axe and crosscut, well as those from other Medallist bullock and horse, chain saw and Australian research institutions Dr Keith Norrish from the Divi bulldozer. Albie will be remem· are indexed. sion of Soils has been awarded bered for his absolute reliability. From 1978 onwards the data Mr Tauber !left) talks with Mr lan Langlands, a former Chief of the the Prescott Medal for 1977 for warmth of personality and good Division of Building Research, during a farewell party held at the Divi outstanding contributions to base will be updated on a current humour. (Forest Research News Sheet.) sion recently. Australia.n soil science. awareness basis. 3 217-1977 RESOURCES POOLED FORiiBRISBANE SHOW Twenty-seven of CSIRO's 37 Divisions, the Brisbane RAO and the Central Communication Unit have completed onc of the Organization's biggest public relations excrcises~they pooled resources to participate in the Royal National Association Exhibition, commonly known to Brisbane people as the 'Ekka', It is believed that this was the first time so many units of the Organization had taken part in one particular exercise of this kind, Speaking during People's Day when about 100 000 people passed through the turnstiles, the State Governor, Sir James Ramsay, said that the show was a shop window on Queensland and a panorama of the Queensland way of life. The way CSIRO has contributed to that panorama Wll$ depicted in its displays, in the back up mater ial that was available to the thousands of people who visited the stand, and by members of the staff who answered countless hundreds of questions. The stand itself was designed to interest the general public in the Organization, but much of it was aimed at primary and secondary school children, the idea being to give them the opportunity to dis~ cover for themselves what CSIRO was doing for Queensland in parti cular, Australia in general. In the 10 days that the show was staged, about 800000 visited Mr David Thomas, RAO Brisbane, shows the Queensland Premier, The bold blue colours of CSIRO's stand at the BrIsbane Show attracted the Ekka grounds. Trying to csti~ Mr J BJelke~Petersen ,the Landsat poster of the Brisbane area. immediate attention in the John Reid Hall. mate how many called into the CSIRO stand was almost impos offices is likely to be requested, Murphy did the lion's share with sible but a conservative estimate especially in the areas where assistance from other members would be 20000, special skills are needed. of the RAO and the Brisbane Many thousands more would As it worked out, LRM'sgraphic Divisions. have passed by it and given it at dcsigner, Muuric Woodward, was There were also a number of least a casual glance. made available to be responsible inter~state people willing to help. Among the visitors were the for the overall design of the These included Bob Couper and Premier of Queensland, Mr J. stand and the creation of the in~ ]im Creffield from Building Re~ Bjclke·Petersen, and his wife, dividual display boards. search who did a star turn with both of whom took a particular The boards themselves were their collection of live termites, interest in the displays and constructed by Ted Haynes at the keeping many hundreds· of both materinl that was on hand. Meat Research Labs at Cannon children and adults .fascinated for A presentation copy of 'Surprise Hill· Wllilc···· KCi(h· Sy'ihm'nl1s··' The Division of Fisheries and commercial species of prawns as laboratories for experimental OceanographY'5 new laboratory welI as good quality sea water. studies of prawns. A field station for the detailed study of prawns One of the features of the has been set up at Karumba on has been opened at Cleveland, building is a sea water system the Norman River. near Brisbane. which allows clean offshore sea During the opening ceremony, The $2.1 million laboratory is water to bc' piped to the various the Minister for Science, Senator the headquarters for CSIRO's laboratories and aquariums. J.J. Webster, spoke of the irn w Tropical Prawn Research Project. The Northeastern Regional Lab porrancc of the prawn industry The aim of the project is to study oratory operates both as a base not only to Queensland but to the ecology, behaviour and phy for field studies in the Gulf and as Australia, siology of commercial species of prawns, This research will provide CSIRO scientists with the information needed to advise Federal and State management authorities on such matters as the maximum amount of prawns that can be fished in a given year, the effects of fishing pressure and other interferences by man, and the causes of natural fluctuations in prawn catches. The laboratory is sited next to the Moreton Bay waters which contain almost all the important The Northeastern Regional Laboratory at Cleveland, Qld. Dr Bill Dell, Offlcer-in-Charge of the neW laboratory. 5 217-1977 Staff around ..... farewell Ken ProW81 Some months ago a group of people in Canberra pondered the question...how did CSIRO fare well Ken Prowse, Canberra's Regional Administrative Officer, who had announced his intention of retiring on 30 September after 44 years service? How did the Organization adequately express its appreciation for all that Ken had done for CSIRO throughout his long career? No one seemed to be able to Moon Cafe, the second business new laboratory, the organisation measure up Ken's contribution in Civic. From its upstairs baleony of financial expenditure, the re anyway. Over the years he had Ken and his brother uscd to shoot cruitment of a base grade clerk, helped so many people in so rabbits down from what was later the extrication of a scientist from many ways he had become a to become the national capital's some difficult situation. legend around the place. main shopping area. When Ken tackled something he It was ironical that in any other From the beginning Ken loved did it properly. If he was arran circumstances it would have been Canberra and he watched the ging the opening of a new buildi.ng to Ken that people would have city grow with a pride in it that and protocol called for the gone for a solution to just such a has never diminished. National Anthem to be played, problem, for often he has been Just out of short pants when he you knew the exact time the first RAO 'old hands' have a farewell drink with Ken-from left: Geoff faced with a similar quandary. started work, Ken was quick to bar would be played. Boswell, Bill Moore, Don Thomson, Rogs Thomas, Ken, Pat Jonesr In the cnd, there was no one learn. the ways of the Council. (-le And when it came to something Tony Culnane and Frank Sebesta. Photographs: Peter Hay answer. There were farewell soon discovered that the support like arranging the details of the parties. farewell gifts, messages staff, of which he was a part, evacuation of the staff from Major with the AIF. He served a sequel for Ken to list the tales wishing both Ken and his wife, existed to help the scientists. Un Darwin after Cyclone Tracy, few with the 2/4 Australian Pioneer he can tell about his colleagues. Trix, good luck for their re tit the close of business on 30 people could have done it with Battalion at Darwin, Moratai, Colourful versions of some of tirement. September 1977 that was the greater dedication to helping his Labuan and Sarawak and on them were told at a stafffunction The greatest compliment that maxim by which Ken worked. colleagues than did Ken. cessation of hostilities was appoin~ at Forestry House when more could have been paid to Ken un He learned about the 'system', Part of the secret of Ken's suc ted President of the War Crimes than 300 people gathered to say doubtedly came from the depth that it should be considered a cess of course, has been his use Court at Labuan. their personal farewells to him of sincerity which was expressed guide rather than an immovable of 'the old chum's act,l He didn't But some of Ken's friends were and Trix, by everyone who wished the force and that there were ways exactly invent it, but it would be killed or injured and there was The Chairman, Mr Victor Burg couple well. through it rather than round it. true to say that he has long been lasting compassion for their fami manu, formally thanked Ken on Ken first joined CSIR as a mes Throughout his career, which a disciple of it and on countless lies. Ever since the war ended, that occasion for all that he had senger boy with the Division of was to culminate in his role as the occasions he was able to use it in Ken has been involved in Legacy, done for CSIRO and recounted Economic Botany at the tender Regional Administrative Officer way' to benefit CSIRO and tbe not to mention other community some of the many tales that have age of 16. in Canberra, Ken insisted on staff. activities. grown up about him before asking He had come to live in Canberra sound administrative procedures. Many of his 'contacts' were It would take a book to recount him to accept the NeCD wall in 1927 with his parents who be He ap plied these to whatever built up during his wartime career the stories that arc told about hanging of Canberra that was a came the proprietors of t~le Blue he tackled, be it the opening of a when he rose to the rank of Ken in CSIRO...it would need gift from the staff around the country. The picture, processed in Perth from an original photograph taken by Jack Cavanagh of Land Use Research, will hang on the wall of the billiard room Ken is planning to incorporate in his new home at Tumut. Other gifts included a handbag for Trix and a well-filled wallet. The party brought out a lot of old friends...girls who had been technical assistants in the thirties when Ken just joined the Council, others who had been his sec retaries over the years and a lot of his old mates who could recall the young Prowse of 40 years ago. When the new Prowse home is completed, traffic along the high way bctween Tumut and Canberra is likely to be much heavier as old friends keep up old friendships. There will be trout in the nearby streams, a billiard table for The RAOs get together with their retiring Ken has a word with an old colleague, The Chairman, Mr Victor Burgmann lIeft) serious competition in that sport colleague: (from left) Tony Culnane. who Mrs Phyllis Nichol,on, at the Forestry and former Chairman, Sir Robert Price, and there will be leisurely hours l has taken over from Ken In an acting House farewell. talk with Ken et the staff farewell. In the to talk about the 'old times . Ken capacity, Trevor Clark (Sydney). Ken, Jack background is the wall hanging presented to has also promised a well~stocked Brophy (WA), Alan Patterson (Melbourne) Ken. fridge for his visitors. and David Thomas (8rrsbane). Co-operation with industry.... Looking to the future, he said, mentl considering the great tech Dr David Solomon I Chief of the Continued from page 1 if CSIRO and the AlRG were to nological advances of the 20th Division of Applied Organic further develop the case for io Chemistry outlined some of the Evans from the Department of gnrd to the industrial research century. creaseJ industrial research and Inflation, said Senator Webster constraints the CSIRO system Productivity, mCltlbers of the problems which both CSIRO and 1 development in Australia, it would had caused rapid escalation of the AIRG and senior officers from the AIRG were engaged upon. largely on improved and more be nec~ssary to give full con cost of scientific labor-which had CSIRO were welcomed by the In the past in a time of expan placed on a Chief in responding to sideration to the possible future doubled in the period 1971-76. Chairman, Mr Victor Burgmann. ding resources, it was appropriate an industry initiative, and Dr Paul of Australian industries. But inflation would not be beaten The conference, entitled 'Inter that many long-term activities The role of Rand D would necd unless productivity was increased. Wild, an associate member of the actions between CSIRO and could be initiated. CSIRO Executive, spoke on the existing to -be carefully designed in a way Greater productivity hinged indu stry in research and develop believed then-and continued to which was consistent with trends and future mechanhims which mcne, offered a unique oppor believe-that much of the longer efficient techniques developed by in industry. might be employed to facilitate tunity for the participants to term work would eventually be continuing industrial research and The continual improvements of interaction between CSIRO and examine matters relevant to deter relevant to Australian industry. innovation. procedures for allocation of funds industry. mining the nations needs in 'But in the present situation,' Senator Webster added that was also important so that re research, Mr Burgmanl1 said. Mr BUl'gmann said, 'we recognise private industry must also be en Committee sources which might in future Commenting on research that we cannot eVen consider couraged to take advantage of A small committee comprising starting a new program without become available were directed to results of public-funded research. Dr Wild and two other CSIRO prioritiesl he said that both CSIRO and induscry research curtailing or redeploying resources areas of greatest promise. 'The gap between scientific result members yet to be decided, Dr budgets had been hit by financial from other programs. In his opening addl'css, the and industrial application is too Peter Richards, President of the stringencies in recent years. Minister said that industry should wide.' AIRG. and two other AIRG mem 'Within CSIRO the Executive be encouraged to undertake more During the conference, the parti bers yet to be decided, was set In the situation of static (or and Chiefs arc making strenuous research and development. cipants looked at five case studies up during the conference to look even declining) financial resource efforts to ensure existing research It was odd that a significant involving CSIRO and industry col at areas of possible collaboration it was obvious that greater selec resources are deployed as effec number of people were sceptical laboration to see how these had which the two bodies felt they tivity hnd to be exercised in re- tively as possible.' of the value of research invest- worked in practice. should discuss further. 6 217-1977 Remote field stations get Ministerial visit In the last month or so, the Minister for Science, Senator J.J. Wcb.ter, has continued his pro gram of visiting CSIRO establishments to become familiar with their research programs. Included in recent itineraries have been visits to staff working in the Pilbara and to the remote field stations at KununUlTa and Katherine. He was accompanied by members of his staff and Dr John Nicolson from the Science Branch of Head Office. In the Pilbara, the Minister was I-Iammersley Iron by providing KRS is also one of the major able to see CSIRO research being advice and help in the selection of areas for CSIRO's research into applied to industry and improv fruit trees to be planted in the grain legumes for both human and ing the quality of life. Pilbara, fresh fruit being livestock feed and the Minister Several Divisions have been expensive commodity to was shown some of this work. aiding industry and horticulture transport. At Katherine, the Minister's in this area. At Dampier the Minister saw party was jo in cd by Mr Les At Paraburdoo, Dr Robin Batter horticultural plots where tree McFarlane, a member of the ham of the Division of Chemical species that might be suitable N.T. Legislative Assembly, Mr Engineering explained the Divi for the area were being grown. John TiIleYI Chairman of the sion's two collaborative research The Chief of the Division of Katherine Research Station At Kimberley Research Station Or Angela Done and Mr Russell programs with the iron orc Tropical Crops and Pastures, Advisory Committee and Mc Muchow show Senator Webster one of the experimental plots of kenaf. industry·crushing and grinding, Dr E.F. Henzell, joined the Arthur Garrard, a member of the and process control and optimiza Minister for his visit to both Committee and Manager of tion. Kunullurra where the Kimberley Manbulloo Station, where the Similarly, the Division of Research Station is located, and Division of Tropical Crops and Process Technology has helped to the Katherine Research Pastures is carrying on research Hammersely Iron solve the Station, south of Darwin. programs. serious problem of production After a discussion concerning At the experimental grazing losses due to 'catastrophic the marketing and transport diff~ plots at ManbulIoo the Minister disintegrat~ spalling', the explosive iculties of the Kununurra area. saw how studies were being made ion of pellets during the drying the Minister was taken on a bus based on fOUf species of stylo stage. tour of experimental plots of sown as pasture in typical, sparse, The Division's research is now grain sorghum. grain legume crops open woodland. aimed at understanding the major and kenaf, crops with which the Grown with native grasses the factors which affect the develop Kimberley Research Station stylos can produce stable pasture ment of good pellet quality. (KRS) is currently concerned. mixtures which could sustain During the visit to the Pilbara The Minister was told that onc good animal production. Mr Wilf Ewers of the Division of way of meeting the world IS The best plots had shown that Mineralogy explained the geology increasing paper requirements the carrying capacity of the of the area and the Division's was to grow highly productive country could be increased eight work in aiding the search for crops specifically for paper pulp times and the growth rate of further deposits of iron ore. production. Kenaf was one crop each beast could be doubled. Another CSIRO project in the tbat 'showed promise-and research Because an "econoinic """ herd of Senator "VV,ebster; Or Bi1lWinter, Officer·ln-Charge, I Pastures have in recent weeks in 1964, has been made a Fellow David Corl 217-1977 Si,ofolum Distinguished scientist bows out recognised. To aid adoption of Staff ceilings this attitudc, Head Office might announce that future approvals of I-Jow many others share my disgust equipment will in no way dcpend at the silent acquiescence of the on past high levels of spending by upper ranks of CSIRO, not to the requesting Division or Section. mention staff associations, with As onc too old for salt-mining the latest staff reductions? and too young to retire, I sign The latest 'surgery', to trim It myself fixed percentage of 'fat' off all I. de Spair Divisions regardless of their recent (name supplied) economies, and of Australia's soc ial and economic needs, threatens the welfare and independence of Tall tales science in this country even morc than did past suggestions of re and true.••. structuring CSIRO. There would appear to be some For apparently the present substance in the allegation's made operation is to be conducted in the article IShortchanging the blindly according to doctorinairc Short' which appeared in the rules without even the most Library Column of HO News' superficial examination of indivi letter No. 42. dual, Divisional circumstances and On the same day of issue, the without any discernible sense of RAO Canberra distributed a note policies or priorities. on the new Pay Advice envelopes Dr Eric French reminisces with a former associate, Sir McFarlane Burnett at one of the farewell functions in Granted that an upper limit which illu!>1:l'ated the layout and his honour. must be set to expenditure by details of content. One of the CSIRO, should. wc not be arguing items was IHeight Allowance' An Honorary Membership of the like hell that research and in M but did not indica.te if it was for Australian Veterinary Association novation provide.' the one means tall or small people. has been bestowed on Or Eric Biography of Obituary which might conceivably restore T .B. (name supplied) French who has retired from some health to Australian industry the Division of Animal Health, and that therefore expenditure on Would you believe that the refer~ Melbourne. former The death has occurred after a research should have very high ence to height means staff who The honor is conferred upon lengthy illness of Jim Robinson priority? may be up a pole or a tree? eminent persons as a token of of the RAO, Canberra. respect for their contributions to Chairman ]im joined Head Offiee in 1970 But aside from that, why should and later transferred to the a blanket ruling dictate that major the veterinary profession but is Science rarely given-since 1928 the Regional Office where he was economies must be via staff written responsible for· the issue of Com reductions? Arc science adminis Association has appointed 10 A biography of Sir Ign Clunies monwealth registl"ationplates, trators incompetent to judge the Honorary Members, and only one appointment Ross, Chairman of CSIRO from and as customs officer fm' the least harmful ways to economise? is still surviving. Dr ] .L. Farrands has been appoioM Dr French joined the Division 1949 to 1959, wili be published Canbena region. Through this The human mind is the one in M ted Secretary, Department of in November by the Australian service· Jim became well known dispensible item in research. Our in 1959 to establish the first Science as from 10 October. Academy of Science. throughout Austnma:'forh~squiet recent fascination with, not just Virology Section in Australia to An experienced scientist and Written by his son Anthony I a and unassuming persohality equipment but, the latest model study virus diseases of livestock. administrator, Dr Farrands has lecturer in history at the UniM coupled with a willingness to assist of the newest equipment is a dis He was appointed Assistant Chief been Head of the Defence ScienGe versity . of Strathclyde. Glasgow, whenever it waspossible. tortion of essentiality. in 1968. and Technology Organisation for He has acted as consultant and Scotland, it will be issued in. the The esteem in which (~COhomJse, held . ,was dcm6nstrated·,py, IfCSIRO ·must 'ns is thcr-ast 's,ix yearst adviser tbVetcrlnarian's'from '~ll jourtta:h·'Rcco-rds oftheAu....tralian the reasonable, why can we not adopt His activities in governmental sections of the profession and has Academy of Science', Volume 3, g(merous donations made by staff the policy of retaining staff, or science over 30 years havc been as played a major role in the training No. 3/4. and friends to ·send ]im and his even adding to them selectively, an individual research worker l a of personnel to establish other Included in the journal is the wife on an all expenses paid but cut expenditure by postM director of one of the largest re~ virology units throughout Flinders Lecture given by Dr holiday. Unfortunately ]im did poning schedules for replacement search establishments in this Australia. C.H.B. Priestley, Chairman, not recover sufficiently to enable of, and adding to, equipment. It country and as a scientific adviscr Dr French made many contri Environmental Physics Research him to make the trip. Ansett would be salutary to take the to successive governments on butions to the First Edition of the Laboratories, entitled 'On Winds Airlines of Australia had provided time to explore more imaginatively scientific and technical matters. Manual for Diagnosis of Exotic and Currents'. There is also a bio two tickets to any location of the potentialities of the equip He has participated in many Diseases of Animals and was COM graphical memoir of Lord Casey their choice, and the thanks of ment we already have. extra-governmental scicntific editor of the second edition. He by Sir Frederick White, another the RAO staff go to them for this After all, the newer model often activities. has served on various committees former CSIRO Chairman. offer. only exchanges one set ofartifacts Dr Farrands succeeds the late concerning animal viruses and It may be purchased for $5.00 for another which is still to be Sir Hugh Ennor. exotic diseases of livestock. at the Academy of Science, Can berra, or orders with payment may be sent to: Football results The Australian Academy of Science, PO Box 783, Canberra CSIRO Sydney soundly defeated Science at work CSIRO Canberra in the annual(/) City, ACT. rugby league challenge for the F .S. Cox Trophy in Sydney on 10 September. Polish scientist According to vague reports it was a bone-breaking, muscle bruising game with sore bodies is Pye and sore heads on Sunday morM Fellow ning. Final score: 13-5. Dr Piotr Kowalik, Associate Pro fessor of the Institute of Hydro 'Coresearch' technics, Technical University, Gdansk, Poland, is spending six 'Coresearch' is produced months with the Division of by the Central Communica Environmental Mechanics under tion Unit for CSIRO staff. the Division's Pye Fellowship It is also circulated to some scheme. people outside the Organ Or Kowalik is a soil physicist ization who have a pro whose recent work involves the fessional interest in CSIRO mathematical modelling of the activities. flow of water in soil-plant Members are invited to con atmospheric systems in field tribute or send suggestions conditions. for articles. The deadline He obtained his Ph.D. at the for material is normally the Technical University, Gdansk, in first day of the month pre 1972, having completed an Inter ceding publication. national Course of Soil Science at Material and queries should the University of Wageningen, be sent to the Editor, Netherlands, during 1968-69. Box 225, Dickson, A.C.T. He worked at the Institute of 2602, To!. 48 4476 Water Management (JeW) in Editor: Dorothy Braxton Wageningen during 1973 and was Assistant Editor: Barbara a Visiting Professor at the Uni Hartley Courtesy: Punch versity of Firenzc, Italy. in 1976. 8 217-1977 218##1977 A monthly publication for CSIRO staff November/December 1977 118 NewLabto AidPoultry Research The Division of Animal Health's new laboratory, the Specific Padlogen Free (SPF) Poultry Unit, was officially opened in October by the Member for Mallee, Mr Peter Fisher, repres enting the Minister for Science, Senator J.J. Webster. The Unit is located at the Division's Maribyrnong Field Station in Victoria. In the official paxty along with The Unit is the result of a colla Mr Fisher were the Chairman, Mr borative effort between CSIRO, Victor Burgmannj Dr Jeff Fair~ the poultry industry and the brother, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Department of Helping the Chairman, Mr Victor Burgmann! try on one of the multibird isolator gloves for size are (tram Australian Olicken Meat Federa Construction. It will play an tion; Dr Aliclc Lascelles, Chief of important role in disease control left) Sue Davidson, Jane Wallace and Wendy Tenner. Empty isolators were on display for guests to inspect. the Division of Animal Hea.1dl l in Australia's poultry industry. There are a total of 36 multibird isolators, each accommodating 12 to 15 laying hens and one or two roosters. Dr Len. Uoyd, Officer-in-Charge Staff has no direct contact with the birds except through the gloves which are permanently fixed to the The new laboratory is a poultry of the Unit; and MrBill Snowdon, gloveports of the Isolators. disease research centre and is Section Leader, Virology, of the designed to house specific pathoR Division. introduced by wide-scale vaccin gen free poultry, that is, poultry ation of commercial flocks. which are bred in conditions that As a first step towards minimi keep them free from a wide range sing this risk, all poultry vaccincs of microorganisms capable of manufactured and used in New producing poultry diseases. New Chief South Wales from 1 January 1978 CSIROiHealth specific pathogen free poultry must be produced from SPF Or W.J. Peacock has been appoin flock~ .are essential for studying poultry only. ted Oticf of the Division of Plant diseases .of birds and for pro The Unit will build up a. national Industry for a period of six years, duci~g vaccines against poultry reserve of SPIi' poultry. develop Fund?'survey following the completion of Dr diseases. tests which will be required to L.T. Evans' term as Chief in Poultry diseases cost the industry maintain the pathogen-free status At a meeting held on 19 October the working party set up to under Januaxy. an estimated $38 million in pro of SPF flocks, and use its flocks take a feasibility study into a CSIRO staff medical and hospital insur· Dr Evans will return to full~time duction losses each year. to study diseases of birds. anee fund decided to defer making a firm recommendation until early research in the Division. Many of the virus vaccines used Fertile eggs will be available in the new year. to counter poultry diseases are to vaccine producers and research produced by growing the viruses laboratories for the establishment Mr Howard Crozier, convener, the results of a survey conducted in fertile eggs. of additIonal SPF flocks. said the decision was made in to assess the feasibility of the However, a number of poultry view of possible changes in proposal among staff members. diseases are transmitted through The Specific Pathogen Free existing health fund premium Of the 290 questionnaires dis the eg~ and if a vaccine Wl're Poultry Unit (below) was built rates. tributed, responses were received produced from infected eggs there at a total cost of $930 000 of Two members of the working from 110 persons. Virtually all would be a grave risk of an un which $195 000 was contributed party, Dr David Goodchild and indicated that they would be wanted disease actually being bV the poultry industry. Or Graham Drown, reported on interested if premiums were tcn per cent below those of other funds. Half of those who res ponded said they would not be interested if premiums were dis' counted by five per cent. Comments from those who completed the questionnaire in dicated that staff would want Or Peacock equivalent health coverage, porta A world authority on cellular bility from one health scheme to genetics, Dr Peacock will be onc another, optical coverage, conven of the youngest scientists to head ient quick repayments, and guar a CSIRO Division. antee of financial backing. Mr Crozier said that in order for In 1958 he graduated from tbe University of Sydney with a B.Sc. a health fund to be rcgistered in Botany and gained a Ph.D. in with the Department of Health it cellular genetics from the same would need to have the required university in 1962. finance. Before joining CSIRO in 1965, A more detailed survey may be he spent three years at the Uni taken dHlt would include onc versity of Oregon, USA. entire staff association and at Dr Peacock currently heads a least one laboratory. research group in the Division A sub-committee had looked which has made important dis· into similar types of funds. The Queensland Teachers' Union covcrics about the chemical com Hcalth Fund demonstrated that it position and organisation of chromosomes in higher life forms. is feasible to operate a 110n Last year he was elected to the subsidised health fund at attractive Australian Academy of Science. prcmium ratcs. FLIES ARE HER FORTE When Zenta Liepa accepted a position at the Division of Entomology in Catjberra 27 years ago, she didn't know how well she was going to become acquainted with that Australian sllmmer time nuisance-fliesl While most of us would just as soon not sce a fly, Zcnta has spent hundreds of hours in the field collccting them and she thinks that they are 'beautiful'. Under a microscope some of thcm arc indeed very beautiful. Zcnta's introduction to flies Zenta has published a catalogue 'I can take my time and collect began in 1950 when she joineJ of Or Paramonov's publications selectively, searching for habitats CSIRO. and type species, and is junior that look particularly interesting. A political emigrant, she arrived author of a section of the Oriental 'Whenever I stay.at a motel the in Canberra from Latvia in 1947 Catalogue. first thing that I look at arc the and worked under Government She is now working with Or night lights, flumesccnt ones are contract at Lawley House, a Don Colless at the Division. particularly good, to scc if there Government hostel. She was especially pleased the are any unusual specimens attrac Dr Charles Gerrard (right), Acting Chief 01 the Division of Applied 'Since ( was Latvian, someone first time a species was named tcd to light. Geomechanics, presents Or and Mrs Aitchison with a farewell gift. suggested that when I finished my after her, in recognition of the 'There arc still many places I two-year contract, I might like work that she had done. would like to go to collect,' said working with Dc 5.1. Paramanov, In her spare time Zenta retur Zcnta, 'Kangaroo Island, Western a Russian entomologist at CSIROj ned to school and now has an Tasmania, and parts of Western to help him with his 'English.' Arts degree, majoring in Political Australia. They didn't realise that at the Science and Australian History. 'Even hcre in the ACT I found a Chief Retires time Latvians and RussIans were very interesting specimen last ·Flies arc still her main interest week on Black Mountain, within a not on the best of terms,' smiled Dr G.D. Aitchison, Chicf of the sian's research in soil mechanics Zenta, 'but he was a Ukrainian and and armed with nets, killing short walking distance of the Division of Applied Geomech in rclation to civil engineering was bottles and petal packs (con laboratory. On Mount Ainslie wc got along splendidly.' anies, has retired from CSIRO on extended to include rock mech tainers with small pieces of I recently made the first col She has seen the Division's medical grounds. anics studies for both the civil tissue for the protection of the lection of the male of a species collection of the Order Diptera ami mining engineering industries, specimens), Zenta often takes a that had not been collected in the [)r Aitchison joined the Division (Flies) grow from a few thousand the Division was renamed the busman's holiday and spends ACT since 1947. of Soils in 1943 to work on soil to over 80 000 specimens. Division of App.lied Geomechanics. In the SO~ she and Or Paramonov houl'sofherown time in the field. IThere is still much to be done.' stabilisation for airfield construc travelled throughout NSW col tion. Later he did soil mechanics In 1973, at the request of tbe lecting specimens on onc-day field research in relation to building Executive, he undcrtool< a review trips. She has looked for flies in foundations and road construction. of the g(~omeclnnics aspects of every Australian State except coastal and offshore engineering. Western Australia, even the Simp In 1958 he was appointed first During his retirement he inten&:: son Desert, Lord Howe Island and Offieer-in-Charge of an independ to continue, on a personal basis, Norfolk Island. ent Soil Mechanics Section of his interests in environmental and 'In the Simpson Desert we CSIRO, having established a coa..<;tal and offshore geomcchanies. would begin collecting at 6 am world-wide rcputation for research A farewell barbecue IUllcheon and finish at midnight. I still on the engincering properties of was held at the Division in October rememher very well the leeches unsaturated soils. and Or Aitchisoll was presented at Lake Echam on the Atherton In 1967 Or Aitchison became with R slide projector by the staff. Tableland and the results of my the first Chief of the Division of A formal farewell dinner was held encounter with a stinging tree in Soil Mechanics. When the Divi- in November. the Lamington· National Pade,' said Zen ta, Fieldwork tal A new series of six booklets on The third annual joint meeting soiI science and related subjects between the Executive and rc~ produced by the Division of prescntatives of staff associations Soils will help the home gardener. WRS held at I-lead Office on 31 The series has been written in October. response to a growing number of Matters disclIssed at the meeting enquiries from students, gardeners, included the report of the Com home builders and others for mittee of Inquiry into CSIRO, information about soils in general safety, grievance appeals, flexible and about soil in their own area working hours, careers opportuni in particular. ties for Clerical Assistants, staff The booklets cover principles in ceilings, the Commonwealth soil science, lhc role of earth Employees (Employment Proviso worms in improving soil, com ions) Act 1977, and the estab~ posting techniques, plant nutrition Iishment of a CSIRO joint con and trouble-shooting in the home sultative committee. garden. The Executiv{' outlined a pas The first two booklets titled sibk formal framework for dealing 'Soils· -An Outline of their Pro with general grievance appeals perties and Management' and within the Organization and 'Soil· Austrnlia's Greatest Re~ sought formally the views of the s.ource' are now available from a~so('iation~ on thi~ framework. Cl LES Or thl' Australian Govcrn~ A joint worl 218-1977 DavidiRivett Medal Pre- Retirement Nominations and applications arc invited ti'om members of the CSIRO Planning research staff for the awm-d of the David Rivett Meda1. The award was instituted by the for research carried out over the Seminar CSIRO Officers' Association in pflst 10 years and is based upon Why plan for retirement? What is 1964 to honour the memory of published work. A substantial part the best way to invest my money? the late Sir David Rivett, Chairw of the work must have been perfor What should I consider if moving man of CSIR from 1946 to 1949. med while the canJiuatc was an co a new area after retiring? What It is offered every two years for officer of CS1RO. am I entitled to? outstanding n~sca.t'ch by members Each candidate must submit to The Head Office Training Group of CSIRO staff under the age of the General Secretary t CSIRO in Canbcrra organised a Pre 40 on 1 January. Officers' Association, 9 Queens Retiremcnt Planning Seminar for The 19'18 award is to be made Road, Melbourne 3004, before 30 CSIRO staff :md their spouses in in the field of biological sciences March, the following documents: order to help answer some of these . a statement of not more than questions. 100 words setting out in general There was an enthusiastic res terms the nature of the candid~ ponse to the three consecutive Transfer ate's work Friday afternoon sessions held at n list of his papers published the Division of Forest Rescarch The South Australian branch of since 1967, or to be published during Novcmber. Looking at the CSIRO exhibit at the National Press Club, Canberra, the Materials Research Labora before the award Topics discussed included super are Mr Lyndsay Neilson, Director of Planning with the Geelong Regional tol'ies of the Department of copies of these papers. annuation, entitlements, social Comml!lsion, Mr Bob Smyth, senior project officer with the National Defence which was transferred to A committee appointed by the security 1 investments, taxation, Capital Development Commission, and Miss Paullne Calver of the NSW CSIRO on 1 September, has Council of the Association will travel, estate probate, wills and fisheries Department. Photo: Jack Cavanagh become part of the Division of select from among these candid personal health. Tribophysics. ates (and from other officers of TOllY Culnanc, Acting Regional A small group within the labora CSIRO at its discretion) a list of Administrative Officer in Can tory will be attached to the Nat not more than 10 candidates for berra, said the seminar was in ional Measurement Laboratory. examination for the award. tended to act as a model for URPIS FIVE similar scminars that will be held The Fifth Australian Conference on Urban and Regional Information for staff throughout Australia. Systems (VU-PIS FIVE) was held at the National Press Club in Canberra The video-taped speeches will be from 9-11 November. available for distribution. Chief Ministervisits lab A social was held after the final The conference provided an The opening address was given session for the 120 people who opportunity to review and assess by Dr Diek Millinh'1:on, ~lssociatc attended. the significant developments that member of the Executive. He have becn taking.place within stressed the im ponancc of co~ Austl'alia over recent· years in the operation and communication be~ use of geographically based infor tween agencies involved with mation technolDgy in planning geographically-based information and administration. systems and the need for national The 180 people attending in guidelines, standard classification, cluded representatives of Com and identification of common ffic)J1wealth, State and Local sets of data required in planning. Govemment departments and Sections included papers on re authorities, private planners and sources planning and administra consultants, and academics from a tiOll, social infrastructure, local wide variety of disciplines and government, utilities, lands institutions. administration, computers, remote sensing and surveying and Doreen Thiedeman (Soils) talks mapping. with Ross Walker from.the Coun~ An exhibit el"ltitled 'Aids for eil for Ageing. Planners' was prepared for the conference by five CSIRO Divi sions-Building Research, Com Staff of the Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures were host to the puting Research, Applied Geo- Hon. Mr P.K. Kenilorea, MLA (centre), Chief Minister of the Solomon mechanics, Land Resources Islands, when he visited the Samford Pasture Research Station near Management and Land Use Brisbane. Research. Or Ted Henzell, Chief of the Division, welcomed Mr Kenilorea and outlined the activities of the Division prior to making a tour of the A series of eight display panels Station. allowed for a simultaneous com In the glasshouses, Or Bob Bray (left) explained the processes involved parison of various technigucs and in plant collection, introduction, quarantine and testing before new approaches being developed for cultivars can be released commercially or material selected for further land and other rcsoun:e allocation breeding. within CSIRO. Accompanying Mr Kenilorea was interested to hear that the Division has the largest each display was a handout which collection of tropical forage plants in the world. Discussion centred on provided a summary of research ways in which research findings were translated into a form that could activity. be used by farmers and graziers. Much of the organising of the Or Harry Stobbs (right) demonstrated the importance of good pasture confel"cncc and coordination of management in the tropics to the structure and quality of the pasture. the exhibit was done within the Where pastures can be maintained as a low dense sward and the dally Chatting before one of the seminars are Mrs Ken McLaehlan, Ray Division of La.nd Use Research by grazing time extended, milk production can be increased dramatically. Brewer (Soils), Jim Sleeman (Soils) and Ken McLachlan (Plant Industryl. John Wells. The Division of Mechanical Engineering has been studying ways of cooling workers in hot enVironments. Smoke is usually added to the cool air during tests of mancoolers so that air flow can be monitored easily. ·• , The tests were even more successful than expected and the cooler appears to have entirely eliminated the Golng... gOing... gone. problem of wilting workers. 218-1977 THE NEWS IN BRIEF The Cunningham Laboratory Rod Berry (left) was recently 'Bulletin' has rcached its 100th farewelled at Cooper Laboratory edition and is to be retired to and Field Station, Lawes, Old. A make way for a new fortnightly colourful character, Rod will go news sheet to cover the whole of back to training stock-horses after the Division of Tropical Crops ami spending his time at Cooper Pastures, plus staff of other wrestling with the problems Divisions at the Cunningham and of kenaf pollination and seed Davies Laboratories. collecting. Any suggestions for a title would be welcomed. The pri7-C for the suggestion chosen will be a year's free subscription to the news sheet. At the Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures' Cooper Laboratory, Lawes, Qld, Mike Foalc prepared defences for the glasshouse, rain shelter and experimental plots against competitors who might drop in from the World Para chuting Championships that were conducted just half a mile away. The following holidays will be observed in CSIRO in all States and Territories. Sue Hanmore, Sir Robert Price's secretary for several years, stands beside Monday 26 December 1977 his portrait which was recently unveiled at Head Office. The artist, Tucsday 27 December 1977 Graeme Inson, is a leading Sydney portrait painter who also painted the Wednesday 28 December 1977 portrait of Sir Frederick White, CSIRO Chairman from 1959 to 1970. Monday 2 January 1978 Photo: Peter Hay In South Australia, Wednesday 28 December 1977 will also be a holiday for ob:'icrvancc of Pro clamation Day. Horticultural Congress For the first time the Inter The formal program is divided national Horticultural Congress into eight sections: is to be held in Australia. The · IntenJisciplinary The CS IRO Annual Safety Report Congress, the XXth, will be · Postharvcst Horticulture for 1976-77, a comprehensive staged at the University of Sydney · Citrus survey of lost-time injuries and a from 15-23 August. · Viticulture summary of the existing and pro The Organising Committee has · Temperate Fruits posed safety programs, is avail made the formal call for papers · Sub·Tropical and Tropical Fruits able from all CSIRO libraries. and for registration of delegates. · Vegetables The last date for receipt of papers · Ornamental and Amenity Horti is 1 February and for registration culture 1 April. An additional fee is The first two sections will deal Visitors Centre charged for late registrations. with the full range of horticultural There is no restriction on who crops. The visitors centre at the Kimber The sectional programs will tun ley Research Station, Kununurra, can attend the Congress, but regis tration is on a full-time basis only concurrently. They will be attrac is being complctely revamped tive to professional, practising and The Divisions of Radiophysics and Cloud Physics sponsored Pat Sykes with new displays,-.an audiol and costs $A80 for each delegate or $A40 for students. Accom amateur horticulturists as well as (left) and John Conus, both from Radiophysics, In the 1977 Outward visual show and new handout technologists and scientists. Bound Hawkesbury Canoe Classic for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of material. panying persons can obtain assoc iate registration for $A2S. Full dctails are available from: NSW, Each year some 8·10 000 tour· The Secretary, XXth International At their first attempt at canoe racing, they paddled the 40 km In ists visit KRS to learn something At least 1500 delegates are Horticultural Congress, 157 Liver about 4~ hours to win their Canadian Canoe section-and were second about CS1RO and research on the expected to attend, the majority pool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Ord. overall. coming from overseas. Australia. Hmmm In a recent edition of the 'Age', a Canberra head office of a Public Service branch sought a Clerical Assistant Grade 3 in the following tCflllS: 'Qualifications. Because of the group's increasing commitment to on Iinc data entry via peripheral interactive equipment, to the computeri:'icd financial systcm, the ability to type would be an advantage.' And the ability to Jecipher an esscntial. 'Coresearch' 'Coresearch' is produced by the Central Communica tion Unit for CSIRO staff. It is also circulated to some people outside the Organ ization who have a pro fessional interest in CSIRO activities. Members are invited to con tribute or send suggestions for articles. The deadline for material is normally the first day of the month pre ceding publication. Material and queries should be sent to the Editor, Box 225, Dickson, A.C.T. 2602, Tel. 48 4476 Editor: Dorothy Braxton Assistant Editor: Barbara Now that we're organised ....• what the hell do we do? lan Lowe Hortley 218-1977Western Australia. publicly those who undertook this inquiry. They spent a great Two field excursions . Recounted deal of timB on it. This is a very worthwhile report. The Govern~ for most of this time, one to the ment is examining it. I hope we will be able to announce a Eastern Goldfields and one to the decision in relation to it shortly: Pilbara. At the time of Coresearch going to press, no information was Jack I-Iallbcrgshowcd the vis~ available on when the Government was likely to announce its ieers something of thegreenstone decision. belts of the Eastern Goldfields, All Divisions have now been provided with copies of the report. the gold and nickel minIng areas Russian geologists, Or Antonla Novikova, (left) and Or Svetlana Sido· and his study arca near Leonoru. renko relax at an Australian bush picnic-complete with Vegemite. NML 'funnel' They won the Jubilee Awards is not Alan Bell, Brian Lee, Ian McDonald and Maurie Woodward have been granted the CSIRO Jubilee Study Awards. appreciated The Executive established the CSIRO Study Awards this year to provide opportunities for staff to gain overseas training and experience not available to them in Australia. Regular readers of the NML Newsletter might have gained the to They are open all non-research staff over the age of 18 who show promise of future achievements and impression over recent months those whose achievements are already substantial. that members of the staff are not The number of awards will be limited to four each year. in love with the 'objets d'art' that they will have to put up with at their new laboratory at Brad field Park. A!an Bell is a Technical Officer at Davis for a month. Land Use Research five years and then will go to the with the Division of Applied Maurie Woodward is a Senior [ater. In 1974 he joined LRM. Smithsonian Institute in One such 'objet' which has been dubbed 'the funnel' is not uni Organic Chemistry in Draftsman at the Division of In the United States Maurie Washington, D.C. He will aiso versally admired. Melbourne. He has been with Land Resources Management, will study techniques in the VISIt the Encyclopedia CSIRO for 10 years, for the last Perth. He started working for visual communication field. Britannica Educational Corporat In the latest issue of the NML Newsletter one correspondent three years being involved in coal For two months he will be at ion in Chicago. Emphasis will be CSIRO in 1955 with the Division suggests that since the Federal research. on working experience with of Soils in Canberra' before the Department of Instructional Government is soliciting dona For six months Alan will study transferring to the Division of Media, Utah State University, production teams. tions of worh:s ofart for its official techniques used in coal C'OllM buildings, 'the funnel' should be version in Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A. despatched to Canberra forthwith. A Scientific Services Officer 'Such an unselfish gesture would with Head Office in Canberra, bring its own rewards,' he writes. Brian Lee joined CSIRO in 1969. 'We wouldn't have to look at the Brian was a science writer for hloody thingI' 'Rural Research' for several years and now writes for 'ReDs'. It usually takes me more than He will evaluate and study new three weeks to prepare a good ideas and techniques in science impromptu speech. journalism. For three months -Mark Twain Brian will write for 'New Scientist', a weekly popular ------, science magazine in Britain. He P4 complex then plans to talk with editors, writers and production staff of semi-technical science periodicals to be opened in the U.K., Canada and the The official opening of the P4 United States. laboratory at Ciawi near Ian .McDonald is the Divisional Bogor in Indonesia is being Secretary at the Division of f planned for the third week in Alan Bell will study coal con Food Research, Sydney. He lan McDonald, Food Research, who will go to the UK and USA. : March 1978. By then 43 version techniques in the USA. started as a base grade clerk with I buildings at the complex will ~ have been completed. These the RAO, Sydney, in 1959. [n laboratories~ 1964 he became n trainee linclude various a ,~,?nf~r~~c.~ ce~t~e,.a~~ri~rar~.__; Divisional Administrative· Officer I ,'