statistical society of australia incorporated newsletter November, 2002 Number 101 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. NBH3503 issn 0314-6820 An interview with Frank Hansford-Miller To those who regularly attend the some lateral thinking. Indeed, at the As a tribute to Frank the Branch WA Branch of the SSAI meetings, dinners following the meetings, Executive felt that someone from the Frank Hansford-Miller is which Frank cannot attend due to local branch should interview him. As immediately recognizable as the none of the ladies in the executive felt his being located north of the end of person who almost always asks a brave enough, they asked me to question of the speaker. His question the train line in Perth, it is often interview Frank because I have known is usually spiced with some aspect of remarked upon about what form him since he tutored statistics part time his varied life and usually involves Frank was in that night! at Murdoch University in the 80’s. I was happy to oblige. The following are some of the facts gained from my interview with Frank on 23rd August 2002 at his house in Yanchep. Frank Hansford-Miller comes from a working class background. Born in London in 1916, he will turn 86 in November 2002. He was educated at Colfe’s Grammar School. In 1940 he volunteered for the Armed Forces and served six years in the war, seeing service in the Royal Artillery defending London against enemy aircraft. He entered University College London, to read mathematics, in 1946. His studies were interrupted in 1947- 1949 by a hospitalisation due to tuberculosis of the spine where three vertebrae were eaten away. He was not beaten; he fought back and graduated BSc, later entering King’s College in the University of London, at first full time and then part-time doing research for Frank Hansford-Miller his MSc and PhD. Frank met Phyllis, his wife to be, in London during the war. They had a In this issue happy relationship and were married Shaping the Statisticians of the Member Advantage .......................7 for 48 years. He misses her greatly and Future ............................................4 Branch Reports .............................8 his house in Yanchep is adorned with her paintings. Frank took up singing 55th Session of ISI .......................5 Conferences ................................16 after his wife’s death and two years ago was voted the best karaoke singer gone through a terrible century with in the Burswood International Cabaret Hitler and Stalin and are more aware Lounge. He has produced 3 CD’s and now. There’s no reason why the world 10 singles under his singing name of shouldn’t be a happy and prosperous PO Box 85, “Frisky Frank”. He is obviously proud place. of his activity and mentioned that he Ainslie ACT 2602 The statistician that Frank most admires has produced 50-60 books (on a Phone/Fax (02) 6249 8266 is Maurice Kendall. Indeed, in a recent diverse selection of subjects) not just on Email: [email protected] RSS News he wrote that he would like to statistics and related areas. Frank Society Web Page see a plaque commemorating Kendall, publishes his many works under just as the RSS dedicated a plaque http://www.statsoc.org.au ABCADO publishers, which he commemorating Fisher’s life. Frank also founded in 1966. spoke admiringly of David Cox. 1 Editors Frank proudly boasts that he is /2 1 When Frank turned 65, he and his wife Russian and /2 English since his Alice Richardson, School of Mathematics mother’s father was born in Russia emigrated to Australia where he was and Statistics, University of Canberra, and he believes this mix is what makes gladly accepted, being no burden to the PO Box 1, Canberra ACT 2616 Email: him think differently from others. He state. They came to Perth where his [email protected] has a wide range of interests including wife’s sister and family had settled Fax: (02) 6201 2683 religion, politics, geography, poetry earlier. He was introduced to Terry Eden Brinkley, Australian Bureau of and history. While colleagues found it Speed, Head of Mathematics at the Statistics, Locked Bag 10, Belconnen, better for their careers to concentrate University of Western Australia at the ACT 2616 on one thing, he claimed that was not time, who immediately recognized Email: [email protected] what he was like. Frank’s name from many published Phone: (02) 6252 6068 proceedings of the RSS, in which Frank’s introduction to statistics was at discussions of papers read to the RSS Correspondence University College, and he has always often included Frank’s contributions. Please direct all editorial correspondence been interested in politics. To him Consequently, Frank became a tutor at to Alice Richardson. statistics involves the whole of life and UWA, Murdoch University, and Curtin that’s what he likes about it. He was Disclaimer University. Frank coaxed Terry into elected as a Fellow of the Royal doing a marathon with him, and Frank The views of contributors to this Statistical Society while working in went on to do 7 marathons only retiring Newsletter should not be attributed to London and he is now a life member. the Statistical Society of Australia, Inc. when his wife died. Frank was the During this time in London, meetings World Champion Race Walker at the were held at the School of Hygiene and Subscriptions Brisbane World Masters Games in 1994. Tropical Medicine in Senate House. The Newsletter of the Statistical Society At the age of 69 he published a paper of Australia is supplied free to all Frank says that his interest in statistics on Australian Numbers in the journal members of the society. Any others stems from wanting to do something “Teaching Mathematics and Its wishing to subscribe to the Newsletter for the world and make it a better Applications”, Volume 6, pp8-12. This may do so at an annual cost of A$25.00 place. He feels that we have become for an issue of four numbers. paper is a tribute to his endeavour to too technical and should ask “How is assimilate into his adopted country this piece of research going to help Advertising and in it he notes the number 69 is in humanity?” His advice to young Advertising will be carried in the fact “69-any way up”. But if in fact one statisticians is to try to broaden their inverts the digits individually, 69 Newsletter on any matters which the interests, try to get in touch with the Editors feel are of interest to the members becomes 96. He wrote the article with world and not devote 100% of their of the Society. For details of advertising the idea in mind that Australia is energy to the mathematics side but to rates, etc. contact the Editors at the above known as “Down-Under” and, try to see what really is the end product addresses. jokingly, as being “Upside Down”. He to society of the new things they are aspires to this next milestone which is Printer doing. He says we need to adopt a reaching 96, despite medical setbacks, more unselfish approach and to think National Capital Printing but he may well do it in his own of others if we are to become better 22 Pirie Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609 inimitable way, and I am sure he will individuals in society. We can’t think of accept whatever God has in store. statistics outside of society; we need to DEADLINE FOR put statistics back in and make a When I left, Frank was in good spirits, NEXT ISSUE: bigger contribution of society. and I’d gleaned much more than I can write here. This is just a glimpse into 20 January 2003 Frank denies having any fears for the his long and varied life. current millennium. He trusts in the Lord and is a Christian. He said we’ve Brenton R. Clarke 2 SSAI Newsletter – November 2002 Editorial What did the Australian Science former Questacon exhibit. that if it’s big, if you can play with Festival bring to your area? Here Standing about 6 feet high, the it, then it attracts a crowd. What in Canberra there was a busy idea was to drop a golf ball in the other possibilities are there for programme of events in August top, watch it rattle past the posts statistics to be represented at including ActewAGL’s Amazing (50% chance of left and right at future exhibitions? ANSTO drew World of Science - an exhibition each post) and watch the binomial the crowds in with a display with displays from over 50 proportions settle into place at the entitled “A day in the life …”, organisations ranging from ACT bottom of the device. Every time describing everyday events and Workcover to the University of we walked past, there was a small products along with their reliance Canberra. crowd of children and adults, on radio isotopes. What about “A dropping balls and discussing the day in the life …” with a We strolled around looking for the results with ANU exhibitors on probabilistic or statistical bent? statistical aspects, and almost hand. Any other bright ideas? Think came away empty-handed. But in about it for next year, get in on the one corner the Physics Department This display was the only overtly act and as always, tell us all how it at the Australian National statistical one. But note that if it’s went! University had a quincunx on statistical it need not be boring - display. We were told it was a the quincunx seems to indicate Alice Richardson Correction Funding formulae for non WIN! government schools Announcing the first in a The final formula in my article in the last newsletter contained an series of statistical error, in the denominator.