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“I received a call on the weekend from Gloria Miller who gave me an update on Alex's condition. As you are aware, Alex was admitted to St Vincent's Private Hospital on 20th June 2001 to receive treatment to a badly infected right foot which had been causing him problems for some time.
Unfortunately the problem did not respond to the treatment and his leg became gangrenous. Late last Friday night an operation was performed to amputate Alex's leg just below the right knee.
Gloria told me that Alex was in his 'typical' positive frame of mind after the operation and was looking forward to the commencement of physiotherapy and re-habilitation which will start from today.
She also mentioned that he intended to attend the next AHA Meeting in Canberra next month.
He will be in St Vincents for approximately a fortnight and asked that he be given a few days rest before receiving any visitors.”
I’m sure everyone will join me in praying for Alex to complete a speedy recovery, and for strength for Gloria and their family. Until next time…. Les Marshall.
I must confess that there has so far been no real progress on this issue, although it has not gone away. Our sub-Committee hasn’t met on this issue, and I was hoping that we could do that at HUG. However, in the meantime, I thought I would copy the benefits and services provided for Members of the Institute of Engineers, Australia here for your interest, and preferably comment. They are as follows:
Of course, the IEAust. has something like 60,000 Members, and through sheer turnover is able to deliver these services. On a more realistic scale, is this what we need? Again, I think we also need a list of “fors and againsts” for becoming an Institute (or rejecting the idea). Please put your thinking caps on, and send your thoughts to the sub-Committee.
As we have alluded to in the
last couple of Newsletters, the next Association Meeting will be held
following the HYDSYS Users Group meeting in Canberra on 29th
August, 2001. It is proposed that it will
run from 5pm to 7pm, preceding the HUG Dinner. The agenda is still to be finalized. Anyone have
something to include? The Meeting will be a General Meeting and will include
reports from the Training and the Institution proposal sub-Committees. The
Conference sub-Committee will present the case to the meeting for having a
conference, gauge the response and canvas some ideas for a theme. Jim
Tilley has preliminary information regarding accommodation and venue.
Association Meeting
Scott Walker started working for the MSW&DB
Gauging branch in 1982. He then worked for Sydney Water Board and Hydrographic
Services. In 1992 he worked for AWTT which then became AWT Scientific Services
and soon after transferred to Ensight. Ensight was wound up and he then found
himself working for the Environmental Measurement Services of ES&T. Now
that’s gone too, and he will be working for the Sydney Water Corporation’s
Innovation & Environment division. Do you believe he still sits at the same
desk? Only the corporate logos on his shirt have changed.
What was your first job? I was a gardener at James Hardie fibrous cement
products plant. There is not a lot of gardening at a Fibro factory so I
spent most of my time trying to stop the process workers catching and
eating the carp alive from the fish ponds Why did you pick it? It was out-doorsey, close to home and you were
left to your own devices. What drew you to your
present position? My next door neighbour worked for Sydney Water
and told me about these positions in the Gauging Branch. “All they do is
get around in four-wheel drives, go boating and go fishing.” He said. What is the favourite
part of your current job? Getting around in four-wheel drives, going
boating and the fishing. What is the strangest
thing you have been asked to do? At work, it would be traversing an ocean outfall
sewer conduit with a video camera to film any abnormalities that might be
affecting the EPA monitoring point’s flow characteristics. And yes we found
some abnormalities. Pastimes and hobbies? Being an owner builder of a new house and
keeping the kids entertained is not a pastime but a permanent part time job
that I share with my wife. I seem to have precious little time for
hobbies, but I enjoy all codes of football: Sydney Swans, Parramatta Eels,
Merrylands Rugby and the Bowral Bandicoots under 8’s soccer. What are you reading? Why men
don’t listen and women don’t read maps By Allan & Barbara Pease This book is great: It actually explains why I
can’t find any thing in the refrigerator. In fact I use this book a lot.
Any quirks that annoy the hell out of my wife I refer to this book and
explain to her that it’s not my fault. I am just a victim of evolution. Favourite music? Elvis is still the King. Favourite website? Oztips.com.au. It gives a mug half a
chance. Where do you see our
industry in say 5 years from now? With AWT returning to Sydney Water and seeing
what has happened to other state run water authorities, I assume that more
work will head the way of the private sector. This is not necessarily a bad
thing. We should be raising the profile of the AHA and encouraging the more
scrupulous businesses to join and help maintain its ideals How can participation of
younger members be encouraged in our association? The last AHA meeting where NSW TAFE and OTEN
reps were invited to talk, it became apparent that the AHA needs numbers to
be considered an industry force. The AHA needs clout to lobby for a new
Certificate / Diploma within the industry.
For younger members, especially those without formal qualifications,
it is in their best interests to join so that this end may be achieved. Oh.
and lost of piss-ups. Hic. If you could achieve one
thing in your lifetime what would it be? I would love to work in Antarctica. Surely they
need Hydrographers there. Name three people you
would like to invite to dinner? Larry Fine, Moe and Curly Howard. Your favourite beverage? Free Beer Your ideal weekend
consists of ..... Friday afternoon, driving home from work, I
catch every green light. When I get home my wife remarks “You look tired”,
slips me an extra dry martini and insists I sit down in front of the TV and
relax while she prepares a 2 inch thick porter house steak for dinner.
After my second martini I notice that it’s very quiet around the house. I
learn that all of the kids have been bathed, fed and are in bed. After dinner we settle
down and watch Parramatta flog Brisbane at ANZ stadium 28-12. Saturday
morning the kids sleep in and I have to wake them so that we don’t miss my
eldest boy’s grandfinal, where he scores all 14 goals in the 14- 0
drubbing. Afterwards we celebrate at McDonalds where I find a severed
finger in one of the McHappy meals. To buy my silence I am offered a life
time supply of McHappy meals. Saturday afternoon sees me play the perfect
round of golf where I win side bet after side bet. My friends are obliged
to settle their wagers in the clubhouse after the game. Later I am hailed a
taxi and sent home. Upon my arrival home my wife remarks “You look tired”
and insists I have a kip before she takes me out to dinner. After the
weekend’s second steak dinner, a couple of drinkies and some dancing we
return home in time to discover an old episode of Parkinson interviewing
Elvis. Sunday morning I rise early with no sign of a hangover to be
helicoptered with a couple of friends into a hot trout fishing spot, where
we clean up. Upon my arrival home my wife remarks “You look tired”, and
insists we both slip into something more comfortable and retire early.
(Sorry Scott, we’re out of space, Ed.) How do you balance your work and private life? I
go home at night Your greatest asset? My family, they are truly the dearest thing to
me, they keep me happy. Your greatest liability? My family, to me, they are truly the dearest
things to keep happy. What is the worst thing
about your job? Cleaning the dags off the current meters whilst
performing a sewer gauging What is the best thing
about your job? Keeping abreast of the constant changes in
technology gives me something in common with the techno nerds of the world.
Four-wheel drives, outboards, power tools and secret fishing spots gives me
something to talk to the blokes about. Monitoring, managing and helping to
nurture the environment even in a small way is very fulfilling and helps me
keep in touch with my feminine side.
Chairman Alex
Miller ajmiller@hinet.net.au
Secretary Jim
Tilley Jim_Tilley@excite.com.au
Treasurer Max
Hayes gipps-hydro@i-o.net.au
Publicity Officer Les
Marshall hydrographer@dingoblue.net.au
Public Officer John
Skinner jskinner@ecowise.com.au
Committee Members John
Skinner jskinner@ecowise.com.au
Kieren
Bennetts kbennetts@ecowise.com.au
State-Territory-New Zealand Representatives:
New South Wales Jim
Tilley Jim_Tilley@excite.com.au
Queensland Ray
Alford Ray.Alford@dnr.qld.gov.au
Victoria Max
Hayes gipps-hydro@i-o.net.au
South Australia Mark
Harvey Harvey.Mark@saugov.sa.gov.au
Western Australia Mike
Whiting michael.whiting@watercorporation.com.au
Tasmania Stephen
Buckland stephen.buckland@hydro.com.au
Northern Territory David
Williams david.williams@nt.gov.au
A.C.T. Bill
Steen wjs@hydsys.com
New Zealand Martin
Doyle martn@tdc.govt.nz
Sub-Committees:
Institute of Australasian Hydrographers:
Co-ordinator Les
Marshall hydrographer@dingoblue.net.au
Scott
Walker Scott.Walker@awtpl.com.au
John
Skinner jskinner@ecowise.com.au
Next Hydrographic Conference:
Co-ordinator Jim
Tilley Jim_Tilley@excite.com.au
Graham
Armstrong graham.armstrong@awtpl.com.au
Bill
Steen wjs@hydsys.com
Training Committee
Co-ordinator Alex
Springall aspringall@dlwc.nsw.gov.au
Don Alexander Don.Alexander@dnr.qld.gov.au
Mark Harvey Harvey.Mark@saugov.sa.gov.au
Greg May greg.may@wrc.wa.gov.au
(Other
Members to be co-opted)
Postal Addresses:
Treasurer: Secretary: Publicity
Officer:
Max Hayes Jim
Tilley Les
Marshall
14 Kosciusco Street 5
Wilbung Road P.O. Box 200
TRARALGON ILLAWONG SNUG
VICTORIA 3844 N.S.W.
2234 TASMANIA
7054 (Ph. 03 6267 4515)
Web Site: http://hydrographers.50megs.com
Our Lucky Contributors.
As I mentioned in the Welcome, the lucky contributors to our July Newsletter are: Ray Alford, Juanita Amora, Bill Barratt, Colin Beard and Brent Bell.
If I haven’t heard from you by, say, 25th July, I’ll give you a hurry up!