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2007 Special Symposia
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Tuesday 9th October, 2007 at 7pm
Speaker: Richard Aitken Architect and Garden Historian
The University of Melbourne
TOPIC: Botanical Riches
Botanical Riches tells stories of botanical exploration, worldwide, from the dawn of time to the present. Presented by Richard Aitken, one of the State Library of Victoria's Creative Fellows, Botanical Riches showcases treasures held in the Library's rare printed collections.
The botanical riches of this lecture are twofold. The plants themselves provide riches almost without limit, spanning an astonishing physical, social, and cultural spectrum. From utility to ornament, their almost inexhaustible patrimony has clothed, fed, warmed, protected, and inspired humans since the dawn of time. The collective library of books documenting the exploration and appreciation of plants forms the second of the botanical riches. Like the plants they depict, this resource is an extensive one, and one that is richly evocative of cultural and social history. In many cultures the written word and graven image is inextricably linked to plants and plant products, so there seems a pleasing conjunction here between plants and their images. From papyrus scrolls of ancient Egypt, palm-leaf books of Asia, to the finest quality rag paper made of flax, is a record that is often inspirational and of great and sometimes, unintentional beauty.
Thursday 1st March, 2007
The Royal Society of Victoria's historic celebration of The Fourth International
Polar Year on 'International Polar Year Day'
The Society held the historic launch of its programme for The Fourth International Polar Year 2007-2008 on Thursday 1st March 2007, the official commencement date of The Fourth International Polar Year.
The President of The Society, Assoc.Prof. Bruce Livett welcomed The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, who officially opened the programme before a group special guests, Antarctic scientists and ANARE veterans, some of whom had participated in the previous Third International Polar Year (International Geophysical Year) 1957-58. A group of 'Young scientists', Year 11 boys and girls from Melbourne secondary schools also participated in the day long event.
The Guest of Honour was Dr. Phillip Law and a Tribute to Dr. Law was delivered by Dr. John Zillman, former Director of The Bureau of Meteorology and former President of The World Meteorological Organisation (the co-sponsors of the Fourth IPY).
The programme of speakers included Captain Bill McAuley, The Leader of The Society's IPY project, RSV-INTREPID; The President of The Australian Academy of Science, Professor Kurt Lambeck, The Director of Meteorology, Dr. Geoff Love and Dr. Larry Harrington, Antarctic Geologist.
Two members of The Society with Antarctic service with ANARE contributed to the programme. David Dodd, spoke on the unique history of the involvement of The Society in Polar Science since 1874 and particularly, its involvement and that of its Members, in all four International Polar Years - 1882-83, 1932-33, 1957-58 and 2007-08. Richard Lightfoot, compared the historic teleconferences with the Station Leaders of the three Australian Antarctic continental bases of Casey, Davis and Mawson and the Sub-Antarctic base at Macquarie Island, much to the delight of an enthralled audience, who participated in the question and answer sessions. Dr. Law was able to pass on his best wishes to all four Station Leaders for a safe and successful year.
The historic occasion was unique in two other aspects with The Society being pleased to host The Royal Australian Mint for their official release of the first of Australia's International Polar Year 'Polar Series' Coins (The $1 uncirculated IPY coin). The Mint’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Janine Murphy, in officially releasing the coin, thanked The Society for its initiative and support of the development of the Polar Series Coins. The subsequent release of a further three silver commemorative coins during 2008 and 2009, will complete this outstanding series, the first coins to be issued by the Mint with the words, "Australian Antarctic Territory". Dr. Law was presented with the first of a special limited series of the $1 uncirculated IPY coin in a presentation box.
The Society was also pleased to present to the Manager of the Theatre Royal, Hobart, Mr. Tim Munro, a rare copy of the historic playbill of the play, "South Polar Expedition or the Discoveries of Capts. Ross & Crozier", performed in the then named, Royal Victoria Theatre, Hobart on 3 May 1841. The Play was performed to celebrate the return of the Ross Expedition ships, HMS Erebus under Captain James Ross and the HMS Terror under Captain Crozier from their second (and last voyage) to the Antarctic continent. The play was performed before the Governor, Sir John Franklin, who was later to lose his life, together with Captain Crozier, in the ill-fated expedition in the Canadian Arctic in the 1850's during his quest to find the Northwest Passage. The copy of the Playbill, which had been 'lost' for 165 years, has been generously made available by the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, where it was recently found in their Gordon Brown Collection.
The Society's Official Launching of The Fourth International Polar Year, was a fitting occasion, made all the more significant by the fact that 50 years ago Australia's effort in the Third Polar Year (International Geophysical Year) 1957-58 was launched in The Society's building on 3 December 1956 in the presence of HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.
During the day long event a celebratory International Polar Year Cake was formally cut by Dr. Law against a backdrop of displays of historic Antarctic photographs, Polar tent and a Nansen sledge – a truly memorable and historic event.
Ms Camilla van Megen, E.O., Dr. Phillip Law and Assoc. Prof Bruce Livett
Prof. Graham Burrows closed the proceedings and thanked all participants and sponsors. He in particular expressed appreciation to Capt. Bill McAuley, Mr. David Dodd, Lt. Col. Richard Lightfoot, Ms Camilla van Megen and her staff for their tireless efforts which contributed to the success of the day.
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