Later History of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales

9 Pages·1994·0.47 MB·English

by  Ronald Strahan

Later History of
the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales
Ronald Strahan, FRZS
The Australian Museum
In the first art of this overview (Strahan RELATIONS WITH TARONGA ZOO
1992), I dealt with events between 1852 and
When the Taronga Zoological Park Trust
1912. In brief, the attempt to form a zoological
was established in 1912, it comprised seven
society in 1852 failed, but the major proponents
- Dr George Bennett, the Rev. George Turner, members, five of whom were Councillors of
the Society. This proportion diminished as the
Charles Moore, Arthur Holroyd and Henry
Trust increased in size and the founding
Parkes - surfaced again in 1861 as founders
members retired or died. Nevertheless, there
of the Acclimatization Society of New South
was a convention that the Society could
Wales. This body declined to near extinction
nominate a member for at least one position
and, in 1879, Walter Bradley proposed the
on the Trust. The first of these was A. F.
establishment of a new acclimatization body,
Bassett Hull, one of the most active members
the New South Wales Zoological Society. The
of Council, nominated in 1926. He was
Society built a zoo in Moore Park and managed
followed by Aubrey Halloran in 1929 and
it from 1881 to 1916, when the animal
Professor W. J. Dakin in 1936.
collection and staff were transferred to the
government-appointed Taronga Zoological In 1941, in a quite remarkable manner,
Park Trust. In practical terms, the Society Hull resigned from the Trust on the condition
relinquished management of the zoo in 1912, that he be replaced by E. J. L. Hallstrom.
when its Director, Albert Le Souef, was made Hallstrom had made many gifts to the Society
Secretary to the Trust and Director of the and the Zoo and it is indicative of his influence
Taronga project. that he was able, with the concurrence of the
Society, to get onto the Board in this manner.
It must be emphasized that, initially, the
He later became President of the Trust and
Society had almost nothing to do with zoology.
Director of the Zoo.
Apart from Bennett (who was 80 when the
Moore Park Zoo was established), there were
I joined the Trust in 1966 as a nominee of the
no naturalists on the Council of the Society
Council: indeed, I was brought onto Council
until the election of 1910. Then, in what
with this is mind. In 1967, I succeeded
seems to have been a last-minute attempt to
Hallstrom as Director. When my position on
give scientific respectability to the governing
the Trust became vacant, Frank Talbot (then
body, all but four of the sitting Councillors
Director of the Australian Museum) was
were dumped and, of the 15 new Councillors,
nominated as my replacement. He later
five were professional zoologists: Charles
became Chairman of the Zoological Parks
Hedley (conchologist); Alan McCullough
Board, the governing body that succeeded the
(ichthyologist); W. J. Rainbow and W. W.
Trust. Since Talbot left, in 1982, there has
Froggatt (entomologist) and T. Harvey
been no zoologist on the Board (except for
Johnson (parasitologist). Also elected was a
Jack Giles in 1988189). Interestingly, however
well-respected amateur ornithologist, A. F.
there is statutory provision for a veterinarian.
Bassett Hull. Launcelot Harrison joined the
Council a year later: He and Harvey Johnston In the very early years of Taronga, there
later occupied Australian chairs of zoology. was great hope that the Society would use
the animal collection (including off-exhibit
This revolution came too late to keep the
holdings) for research. Nothing came of this
zoo in the Society's management. On the
and, the Society deserted its original home in
other hand, it provided the basis of Australia's
the Zoo within five years of the Zoo's opening.
first scientific society devoted entirely to
zoology. How this opportunity was exploited Direct relationships were not resumed until
is the subject of the second part of my sketch. 1967, when the Society instituted Associate
Finding it difficult to hold all the strands Membership for people with a primary interest
together in a continuous narrative, I shall in the Zoo but the idea that the Society could
dissect the history under several headings - combine its scientific activities with a zoo-
at the cost of some repitition. support role was misconceived. There were
December 1994 Australian Zoologist, Vol. 29(34) 229
too few members to be significant and, to be members, they could conceivably contribute
an effective support body, the Society would also to the Zoo as a support group and fund-
have had to place itself under the control of raising body.
the Zoo's public relations division. It is difficult
This proposal was accepted by Council
to imagine how it could have continued its
and the Articles of Association were altered
scientific activities in such circumstances.
accordingly at a special General Meeting. Two
However, there was one area of fruitful co- members, Wendy Clayton and Zoe Forbes,
operation. In 1975, the Society established a then embarked on a recruitment drive and,
Zoo Guides Section, providing volunteers by 1970, there were 2,650 members, three-
trained by the Society, to manage information quarters of them in the Associate category. As
booths and to conduct tours. a unilateral gesture, the Society passed on
one-third of the subscriptions of the Associate
Relations with the Zoo were very strained
Members to the Zoo, asking only that the
during the period when Jack Throp was
Society be represented on a joint committee
Director (197M6). He saw no future for the
to decide how this money should be spent. After
Society except as a support group and, when
several years of negotiation, the Zoo refused
this could not be achieved, set about the
to accept any such advice and, in the early
establishment of the "Zoo Friends", in open
1980s, the Society ceased these contributions.
competition with the Society. The situation
eased once the Zoo Friends had become An interesting phenomenon was an enormous
firmly established and Throp's last year increase in Junior Members between 1970
saw the Society provided with permanent and 1985. There were 70 in 1970 but 760 in
accommodation. 1980. With the establishment of the Zoo
Friends in 1983 and the establishment of
The Society and the Zoo have been on good
family membership in that body, there was a
terms since then but this involves little activity
steady decline to about 100 Juniors at the
apart from representation of the Society on
present time: these are children with a serious
the Board's Zoological Committee. Quite
interest in natural history.
independently, some members of the Society
are engaged on research projects in the Zoo. Competition from the Zoo Friends also led
to a considerable reduction in Associate
Membership. Unfortunately (because of an
MEMBERSHIP
inadvertent change in the format of the
The Society began with about 400 members Annual Report), we do not have readily avail-
but, on average, this dropped by about 100 able data on membership between 1984 and
per decade until 1912, when it reached an all- 1992 but it was reduced to about a half by
time low of 83 and there was one Councillor 1987. In 1992193 there were about 1,200 adult
for every five members! Thereafter, it rose members, a little more than half of these
fairly rapidly, reaching a peak of nearly 700 being Scientific Members. The rapid decline
in 1937. The Second World War led to a in Associate Members has, to an encouraging
slump to 470 members in 1941 but post-war extent, been offset by an increase in Scientific
recovery was rapid, leading to a short-lived Members.
peak of 750 in 1949. In the 1950s and 1960s,
An interesting outcome of the competition
membership varied between 500 and 650.
between the Zoo Friends and the Society was
In 1967, I became Director of Taronga Zoo a demand on the part of the Zoo that sub-
and, at the Annual General Meeting of that scriptions to the Society should not be less
year, I gave an address to the Society, review- then those for the Friends. Despite a loss of
ing its past relations with the Zoo and inviting members, thii led to an increase in the Society's
it to return to its historic base. I further funds which, in boom times, were very skilfully
suggested that, since only a minority of invested by an Assistant Treasurer, Zoe
members were seriously interested in zoology, Forbes, putting the Society on the way to its
it might be appropriate to have two categories present satisfactory financial situation.
of membership: one for zoologists or serious
naturalists, the other for those who were more
ACCOMMODATION
interested in the Zoo. It seemed to me that it
would not be difficult to increase membership Transfer of the very considerable assets of
in this second category, thus providing the the Society to the Taronga Zoological Park
funds necessary to maintain and expand Trust was not a one-way transaction. On its
the Society's scientific activities. Given a part, the Trust agreed to provide members of
sufficiently large body of such "associate" the Society, in perpetuity with an annual pass
December 1994
to Taronga Zoo and (up to a maximum of 300 were reduced to a cupboard in the staff tea-
members) with twenty free tickets. Permission room in the Australian Museum and its
was also given to the Society to undertake meetings were held in a room rented from
approved scientific research within the Zoo. time to time in Anzac House, a building which
The Trust also undertook to provide: used to exist in College Street.
"Suitable premises within the Park for I succeeded Sir Edward Hallstrom as Director
use by the Council or other governing of Taronga Zoo in 1967. In 1968 I was able to
body of the Society for the purpose of
provide a small room for the Society's Office
holding its meetings, and of storing its
and in 1970, with the retirement of the
books and records and otherwise of
Manager of the Zoo, the rooms above the Zoo
conducting its business."
Entrance -which had been converted into a
In 1916, the Society was given the use of a flat for him and his family -w ere made avail-
large room, constituting the first floor of the able to the Society at the nominal rent of one
Zoo's Refreshment Rooms, for its library, dollar per week and converted into an office,
office, and Council meetings. This could not a library and a meeting room for Council and
accommodate a general meeting or lectures, the Sections of the Society.
but part of the Refreshment Rooms was made
This arrangement continued until 1985,
available as required for these functions. The
when the premises had to be shared with the
arrangement was not ideal but was indicative
Zoo's official supporting body, the Association
of good faith and it was reasonable to expect
of Zoo Friends. Since they had full-time workers
that more suitable accommodation would
and a number of daytime volunteers, they
eventually be provided.
dominated the use of the area and the Society's
However, in 1921, the Society moved its share was effectively reduced to a small office
office to a room in Bull's Chambers, Martin and space for the library.
Place. It is said that the main reason for the
move was that the Hon. Secretary, A. F. Basset The situation was eventually resolved by
Hull, who was a very keen philatelist, wanted adding a room to the Education Centre for the
to be near to the GPO, but it may be that he sole use of the Society. The Society contributed
wished to be near the Department of Mines, $10,000 (about half the cost of construction)
where he worked. and moved into the premises in September
1986.
The library remained behind and, in 1927,
was moved to the main room of the premises After nearly three-quarters of a century, the
above the Zoo Entrance. A. S. Le Souef, arrangement envisaged in 1912 had been
Director of the Zoo, had his office in a smaller, achieved.
adjoining room and was happy to act as
librarian, signing books in and out.
PUBLICATIONS
By 1937, the premises at Bull's Chambers
had expanded to include a lecture room with
The revolution of 1910 brought a number
60 theatre chairs and in 1942 the Library was
of professional zoologists onto the Council.
moved there from the Zoo. Rent constituted
They recognized that zoology is a science and
one of the major expenses of the Society and
that science involves not only discovery but
some of the area soon had to be sub-let. By
the dissemination of what is discovered. In
1958, the Society's occupancy had been
1913, the Council decided to issue a serial
reduced to an office but, thanks to the co-
publication, The Amtralinn Zoologist, which
operation of Sir Edward Hallstrom, then
would contain ''articles of scientific and
Director of the Zoo, space was found for the
general interest pertaining to zoology". This,
library in a room in the Zoo's administrative
could have implied a popular magazine of
building, Hallstrom House. There was no
natural history but the founders set out to
appropriate space for the Society's great
create a serious scientific journal, the first in
collection of unbound journals and stocks of
Australia to be concerned exclusively with
its own publications, which were stored in a
zoology.
damp basement room under the Zoo entrance.
Some were used from time to time to stan the
The first part of the fint volume, issued in
fire in the building's hot water system.
June, 1914, contained nine contributions in
The lease at Bull's Chambers was terminated 35 pages, the first of these being a challenging
in 1967, just prior to its demolition, and the paper of world significance by Launcelot
Society no longer had a home. Its premises Hamson on the significance of biting lice
December 1994 Awstralian Zoobgist, Vol. 29(3-4) 231
the study of bird evolution - the idea that, Although zoologists continued to be well
since parasites evolve with their hosts, they represented on Council, fewer and fewer
may carry clues to the evolutionary relation- of them looked upon the Zoologist as an
ships of those hosts. Other contributions appropriate place to publish their research.
related to the taxonomy -or systematics of Their attitude was reflected in the general
insects, spiders, crustaceans and fishes. zoological community and the Zwlogist became
more and more a repository for papers that
From the outset, The Amtralian Zoologist was
other journals would not publish. However,
a thoroughly professional journal, well edited,
Whitley and his colleague, Iredale, were
well iUustrated and well produced. Some papers
happy to use the pages for their historical and
were brief and specialized, others were of lasting
biographical works.
general significance. Contributors to the first
volume included H. Burrell (pioneer in One author occupied a lot of space in the
monotreme studies), W. J. Dakin (best known journal with an interminable series of papers
for his work in marine zoology), W. W. Froggatt entitled "Studies on Australian Forest Insects"
(entomologist and ornithologist), L. Harrison which were numbered successively and had
(evolutionary zoologist), A. S. Le Souef reached No. 30 by 1970, when a crisis ensued.
(mammalogist), A. R. McCullough (ichthy- The lack of editorial discrimination had
ologist), T. Harvey Johnston (parasitologist) become known overseas and Whitley published
W. J. Rainbow (entomologista nd arachnologist) two papers of extremely low standard and of
and Prof. T. T. Flynn (Professor of Zoology no Australian relevance that had been received
in Hobart, the father of Errol). The eighth from India. Pressed to dilute his absolute -
part of Volume 1 was published in July 1920, authority by working with an editorial board or
comprising 255 pages - an average of 43 accepting the refereeing of manuscripts, he
pages a year. refused and resigned from the editorship - a
sad moment in the Society's history. However,
The professionalism of the journal was
he continued to write and to manipulate the
established by Alan McCullough, ichthyologist
system. In 1973, he asked to be elected as
in the Australian Museum, who was editor for
President of the Society, whereupon he gave
its first six years. He was succeeded for three
a presidential address, "The Early History of
years by Hanison, by then Professor of Zoology
Australian Zoology", which was published
in Sydney University. Thereafter, until 1941,
separately by the Society. (The only presidential
it was edited by A. F. Bassett Hull who, for
address of comparable length was that of A. J.
much of this period, was also Secretary.
Nicholson in 1927, whose classic "New
Theory of Mimicry in Insects" ran to .I02
Initially, The Amtralian Zoologist included
closely printed pages and 14 plates.)
minutes of the Annual General Meeting, the
President's Report, reports of the Sections,
Publication of the Proceedings ceased in
and membership lists. In 1933, the Society
1972. Increasingly, its pages had been filled
instituted a second serial publication, the
with obituaries and historical material written
annual Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Socieq
by Whitley and, while these were of great
ofNew South Wales, to absorb this material and
value to scholars, they were of little interest to
to provide a venue for shorter papers and
most members. It was replaced in 1973 by the
reports. Hull and the editors who succeeded
popular, zoo-oriented Koolmong. For its first
him, were responsible for both journals. The
two years, this was edited by Jack Prince (a
period from 1942 to 1947 was exceptional in
retired zoologist and prolific writer), followed
having joint editors, first Hull and the
for a year by Erich Friese (then Curator of the
conchologist-ornithologist,T om Iredale; then
Taronga Aquarium). Over that period, more
Iredale and Gilbert Whitley, ichthyologist.
than half of the contents were written by
Both Iredale and Whitley were on the staff of
Prince, Friese and Whitley, indicating no great
the Australian Museum. Except for one year
interest on the part of contributors. I was editor
when he was on sabbatical leave, Whitley was
from 1975 to 1977 and became similarly
sole editor of both journals from 1948 to
involved in filling the pages with my own con-
1970.
tributions. Then, in 1978, the responsibility
Over this period, there were enormous was taken up by Edward Wingiield (a zoo
developments in Australian zoology, reflected guide with little knowledge of zwlogy) who,
in an explosive increase in the number of without complaint, hrought out four issues
specialist societies, each with its own publica- each year until publication ceased in June
tion. CSIRO also entered the field with several 1985. Koohong probably served its initial
biological journals of very high standard. purpose of making a bridge between Associate
232 Ausmlian Zoologist, Vd. 29(w) December 1994
Members and the Zoo but the Zoo itself was slimmer than its predecessor but it is averaging
not interested in the exercise. The "Zoo about 125 pages in each annual volume.
Friends" were in direct competition with the
At the same time that Council was
Society for its Associate Members and, when
contemplating the first issue of the Zoologist, it
most of these had been wooed away, there was
embarked on a programme of production of
little point in continuing publication.
substantial handbooks. Most of these are long
Returning now to the The Zoologist, it must out of print and unknown to members, but
be admitted that, although the successors to they constituted a significant contribution to
Whitley continued much the same rate of Australian systematic zoology at the time. First
publication, they were faced with the fact that was McCullough's Check Lirt of the Fishes $New
the journal seldom attracted papers of high South Wales, published in 1922. Thereafter, at
quality. John Simons, of Sydney University, an average interval of three years, 14 hand-
tried for a year. Ted Robinson of Macquarie books of up to 300 pages in length were
University continued for five years but was published in the fields of fishes, molluscs,
similarly disappointed. Leighton Llewellyn insects and birds, the last being Courteney
took over the editorship in 1978 and continued Smithers' Catalope of the Psocoptera of ihe
until 1983, when the last issues in the traditional World. To these can be added two booklets
format was published. It had become clear on the history of Australian zoology by
that the task of the editor had become largely Whitley (1970, 1975), a centenary history of the
a matter of coaxing colleagues to write some- Society by Prince (1979), and a preliminary
thing to fill its pages. account of the fossil mammals of Riversleigh
by Michael Archer (1989). All of these
The format of The Zoologist was therefore
works were produced by Councillors of the
changed to something like that of the recently
Society.
terminated Koolewong hut with the option of
including some original research contributions. In the late 1960s there was much public
At the same time, it was decided to start a new, anguish about the culling of kangaroos and
irregular, publication, Awtralian Zoological the commercial use of their skins and meat.
Reuims, that might fill a gap in the Australian Under the auspices of the Society, Basil Marlow,
zoological literature. Initially, the new Zoologist of the Australian Museum, and I (then Director
was under joint editorship, Wingfield looking of the Zoo) organized a symposium that brought
after the popular side and Michael Augee, of together representatives of all the State fauna
the University of New South Wales, responsible authorities, the CSIRO, conservation and
for scientific content. After 18 months, Dan animal welfare organizations, and the kangaroo
Lunney, of the New South Wales National industry to share their knowledge and opinions.
Parks and Wildlife Service, replaced Augee Published in 1971 as a special issue of the
and, in June 1989, he became sole editor. The Zoologist and made available separately, Kanga-
contents show a strong bias towards his interests roos and Men made a great contribution to
in wildlife management and mammalogy but rational discussion of a complex issue: it was
it is a much more vigorous and valuable our first symposium. The next symposium,
publication than the old journal. bringing together authorities on the biology
of the Koala, was a joint project of the Zoo
I was the initial editor of Reviews but, so far,
and the Society. Held in 1975, it was not
it bas not been successful, only two issues
published until 1978, by which time the
having been produced. It was not well
Society's first symposium on monotremes was
publicized and I took too much on myself. I
in print. Since 1971, twelve symposia have
hope that it can be resuscitated in the hands
been published, an average of one a year.
of a younger editor.
More are in the pipeline and this (quite
Looking at the productivity of the Zoologist expensive) activity has become one of the
over its history, one can see two peaks. most significant contributions made by the
Between 1925 and 1933, about 200 pages Society to Australian zoology.
were published each year and a volume was
published every two years. There was a low
POPULARIZATION
period between 1945 and 1960, when the
annual output was about 35 pages a year and In the first part of my historical overview,
it took 7-10 years to complete a volume. 1 pointed out that the science of zoology was
Then, between abont 1970 and 1980, the of little concern to most of its members:
annual output rose to abont 100 pages with a they were interested in the Society's zoo at
volume about every three years. The "new" Moore Park. Even after the Council of the
Zoologist gives the impression of being much Society's had become emphatically scientific, the
Australian Zoologist. Vol. 29(34) 233
situation did not change greatly: an enquiry SECTIONS
made in 1925 revealed that at least a quarter
In 1921, Council resolved to form a number
of the members did not even open their copies
of Sections that would enable members with
of the "Zoologist".
special interests or skills to work together.
However, even accepting that more than First of these was the Entomology Section and
it may be noted that it included three very
half of the members lived in Mosman or the
distinguished entomologists. This closed
lower North Shore, and were zoo-oriented, it
down in 1929, was re-established in 1959, and
seemed likely that about half of the remainder
seceded in 1989. Sections for Ornithology
might have been interested in zoology if
(still in existence) and Economic Zoology
it could be made palatable to ordinary
(short-lived) were established in 1922. A
people.
Zoological Survey Section, based on a cottage
There was a burst of such activity in the at Gundermaian, in Royal National Park, was
form of lectures and demonstrations in the set up in 1924. A two-room cabin in the
Jubilee Year of 1929. Ten years later, the southern part of the park near Waterfall, was
Society instituted General Meetings for made available to the Ornithological Section
zoological discussions but these was not well but the Trustees of the Park took back the
attended and, after two years, they faded cottage around 1930 and the Society's property
away. Another attempt was made between had to be crammed into the cabin. When this
1950 and 1957. was severely vandalized, around 1932, the
Section disbanded, but the cabin continued to
It seems that these enthusiasms recur at he used until World War I1 when increased -
about ten-year intervals. In March 1967, 1 vandalization made this impossible. A Marine
gave a series of ten weekly R.Z.S. evening Zoology Section, established in 1926,
lectures on evolution in the Hallstrom remained active until 1961.
Theatre: these were very well attended. Next
The standard of these early Sections is
year, three lectures were given: one by John
indicated by their officers and committees. In
Simons, one by Jack Prince and one by me.
1927, these were:
And that was that.
Entomology: Chairman, G. A. Waterhouse;
In 1972, Council set up a General Activities
Vice-Chairman, G. A. Carter.
Section to organize public lectures, field
excursions and guided Zoo tours. This survived hithology: Chairman, J. R. Kinghorn; Vice-
two years. Chairman, H. Wolstoneholme; Hon. Sec.,
Neville W. Cayley; Committee: E. A.
D'Ombrain, A. H. Chisholm, C. Coles,
Ten years later, in 1983, the monthly
A. Musgrave.
Wildlife Forums were established - meetings
in which discussion of controversial topics was Biological Suruqr: Chairman, Prof. L. Harrison;
encouraged. These were initially so successful Hon. Sec., I. A. Mackerras; Treasurer,
that each meeting held at the Zoo was repeated G. A. Waterhouse; Committee: Prof.
the following night at the Museum (so as to Griffith Taylor, Prof. W. R. Browne,
accommodate members from both sides of the A. J. Nicholson.
Harbour). This required considerable organiza-
Marine Zoology: Chairman, T. C. Roughley;
tion, for which Marianne Cochrane was largely
Hon. Sec., W. E. J. Paradice.
responsible. Gordon Grigg, Michael Augee
and I shared the chairmanship of the meet-
Sections for Aviculture and Budgerigars
ings but, as attendance declined, we became
flourished between the early 1930s and late
increasingly depressed by the many occasions
1950s. These had little relationship to zoology
when we had to introduce a brilliant visiting but much to do with the original acclimatiza-
speaker to an audience of 10 or less. The last tion aspirations of the Society. Afirr a gap of
forum was held in 1988. about ten years, the Aviculture Section was
resurrected in 1969 and is still in existence.
There is probably a lesson to be learnt from
this recital. It may simply be that we can A Conchology Study Group was established
expect another burst of popularization in in 1950 and, for a time, met with the Marine
1998. Alternatively, it may be that the Society Zoology Section. It seems to have taken over
should concentrate on scientific activities, that Section, which went out of existence
directing more attention to the science within two years of the establishment of
graduates who now constitute about half of the Conchology Section, which still meets
the membership. monthly.
234 Australian Zoologist. Vol 29(3-4)
An attempt to establish a Juniors Section in let loose on the public. Mrs Barbara Purse,
1955 failed. Launched again in 1965, it is still Press Liaison Officer of the Zoo and a
functioning. No other Section calls for more Councillor of the Society, was more optimistic
dedicated effort on the part of its officers (or and, at the end of 1974, set up a Section with
officer) than this and, on the whole, it has continuous training. It proved a great success,
been very well served. so much so that, after eight years, it was taken
over by the Zoo to form a basis of the Associa-
Between 1957 and 1962 there was a Section
tion of Zoo Friends.
devoted to reptiles and mammals. A Herpetology
Section was started in 1969 but faded away in The present situation is that there is a so-
1974. Following wildlife tours that I led to called Ornithological Section which is, in fact,
Africa and India, there was some interest in a separate body with no more than historical
creating a Mammal Section but I discouraged links to the Society. The Aviculture Section is
this, on the grounds that the study of native concerned with breeding birds and has little,
mammals is not readily available to amateurs. if any, relationship to zoology. The Conchology
Dr Michael Augee took a quite different view Section is concerned mainly with shell-collecting
and set up the Section. With about equal but has some zoological content. The Junior
numbers of professionals and amateurs, it Section is active in natural history and the
soon became the most active and scientific of Mammal Section is thriving: it is not only a
all the Sections: it is now in its 18th year. venue for scientific discussion but a group that
engages in faunal surveys and other zoological
To some extent, I was also wrong in respect
research. The history of the sections is
of the Zoo Guides Section. Soon after I
summarized in Figure 1.
became Director of Taronga Zoo, I became
interested in recruiting a team of guides,
EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES
docents or "explainers" to assist adult visitors,
hut I learned from a number of overseas zoos I cannot cover the multitude of conserva-
that it was catastrophic to use under-trained tion activities in which the Society has
people to pass on information. I was inclined engaged over the last 80 years; this could be
to the Los Angeles approach, which involves the subject of an illuminating study by
some 50 hours of training before docents are another scholar. Perhaps the most significant
ml4OLoGY
ORNITROLOGY
RCONONIC ZOOLOGY
SWVEY
W I N E ZOOLOGY
AVICULrnE
BUDGERIGAAS
GENERAL
CONCKOLOGY
JUNIORS
m S h REP TILES
ABRPETOLOGY
nAm4NQGY
ZM) GUIDES
1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
Figure 1. Duration of Sections.
December 1994 Australian Zoologist, Vol. 29(34) 235
point is that, at least until the Second World interests. Gordon Grigg and I formulated the
War, the Council of the Society constituted philosophy and mechanics of an award
the "zoological establishment" of New South system, headed by the Whitley Medal, to be
Wales and its members were on every govern- awarded annually "to the author of the book
ment panel, board, trust or enquiry related to judged to have made the best contribution in
wildlife. Indeed, since most Councillors were that year to the natural history of Australian
prominent in at least one or more other animals or to the history of zoological studies
professional bodies, it was not uncommon to in Australia". The first awards were made in
find that (wearing a variety of hats) members 1979.
of the Council constituted a majbrity on such
It was hoped that the publicity generated
bodies.
by the awards would encouraged higher
When wildlife conservation became a popular standards and greater originality on the part
middle-class issue in the 1960s, the political of authors and publishers: there are signs of
influence of the Society became diluted. Its some such effect. The Society has also
solitary scientific eminence had already been benefited: whereas there had been virtually
challenged by the post-war proliferation of no book acquisitions in the forty years prior
more specialized scientific societies. I shall to 1979, since then it has received almost
mention only two examples of early extramural every book on a zoological topic that has been
activities. published in Australia.
In his presidential address of 1919, W. W. A single-bedroom home unit was bequeathed
Froggatt set out a prospectus for a Common- to the Society by Ethel Mary Read in 1975. In
wealth Bureau of Biological Survey. Over the contrast to Whitley (who was almost synonymous
next 50 years, the necessity for such a body with the Society), Ms Read was unknown to
was reiterated by the Society, particularly any member of Council. Enquiries revealed
through its links with the Australia and New that she had joined as a Life Member about
Zealand Association for the Advancement of 15 years previously.
Science. The Bureau of Flora and Fauna was
Initially valued at $14,000, the unit brought
established in 1979 and, although the Society
in about $1,000 a year in rent. However, in
cannot claim the credit, it contributed to the
1984, Claudia Ford, then Assistant Treasurer,
climate of opinion that led to its creation.
proposed that the property be sold and the
Prior to such compendia as the lUCN Red proceeds ($38,000) used as the basis of a fund,
Book, the Society made many subn~issionst o the interest from which would be used to
State and Commonwealth Governments, provide research grants (up to $600 each) to
drawing attention to endangered species. It young zoologists. Michael Archer took on the
strongly criticized the Tasmanian government arduous task of translating this principle into
for its attitude to the Thylacine and eventually, legal actuality and the scheme has been
in l938, the Tasmanian Fauna Board invited operating since 1986. In June 1992, the Ethel
the Society to send a representative to join a Mary Read Research Grant Fund stood at
search for the species. Michael Sharland was $44,500.
sent. As we now known, this was a little late,
the last known individual having died (in
THE FOUNDATION
captivity) two years earlier.
In The First One Hundred Years, Jack Prince
Over the past 20 years, The Society has closed with a long chapter, "Our Hall of Fame",
been very selective in its public pronounce- consisting of a series of short biographies of
ments, prefemng to let its published symposia some notable early members. This could well
speak for themselves. However, it has be expanded to cover many more members
supported the controlled harvesting of kanga- (mostly Councillors) who have contributed
roos, even to the point of recommending that significantly to Australian zoology over the
kangaroos be "farmed, instead of sheep, in past 80 years. I am not going to attempt this
marginal grazing lands - to the betterment task but, in closing, I want to pay tribute to a
of the soil and the native flora and fauna. few people who have maintained the founda-
tions of the Society, working behind the
In 1976, the Society received $1,000 in
scenes on the arduous, boring, necessary work
Gilbert Whitley's will. Council agonized for
associated with the management of the Society.
months over what to do with this relatively
small sum, but I eventually proposed that it I have already mentioned A. F. Bassett Hull
should be spent on minting silver medals, as Editor and President. He also held the
commemorating Whitley and reflecting his position of Secretary for 18 years. Leone
236 Australian Zwlogist, Vol. 29(3-4)
Hadord, a member of the Conchology Section, 1932 A Bibliography of Australian Entomology, 1775-1930.
A. Musgrave.
was Secretary from 1952 to 1971, one year
1938 Basic List of rhe Land Molluscs of Australia. T. Iredale.
longer than Hull. Michael Augee was Secretary 1940 The Fishes ofAustralia: Sharksand Rays. G. P. Whitley.
from 1982 to 1986, during which time he 1943 Ausrralian Insecrs. K. C. McKeown.
'r.
completely reorganized the membership 1944 The Bees ofr\usrralia. D. Cockerell.
1948 Check List of the Birds of Paradise and Bower Birds.
records and brought the Society into the T. Iredale.
computer age: he also served two periods as 1954 Revision of the New, South Wales Turridae. C. F.
President and convened two major symposia Laseron.
on monotremes. Augee was followed as 1957 A Reclassification ofthe Order Odonata. F. C. Fraser.
1958 Birds of the Sydney District. K. Hindxood and
Secretary by Marianne Cochrane (198692), A. R. hlcG11I.
a born organizer, whose dedicated input 1960 Handbookof the Dragonflies of Australia. F. C. Fraser.
enabled the Council to handle the greatly 1967 Catalope of the Psocoptera of the World. C. N.
Smirherr.
increased responsibilities that it took on at that 1968 Check List of Fishes Recorded from the New Zealand
time. Region. G. P. Whitley.
1970 Early History of Australian Zoology. G. P. Whitley.
Even less recognized have been the so- 1975 More Earlv Historv of Australian Zoolo-e. v. G. P.
called "Assistant" Secretaries or Treasurers Whitlev.
1979 neFirst One Hundred Yean of rhe R.Z.S.N.S.W.
who handle the day-to-day business of the
J. H. Prince.
Society, particularly membership. Olive Wills, 1989 Fossil Mammals of Riversleigh. M. Archer et al.
a members of the Conchology Section, was
Assistant Secretary for 12 years (19661978). SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS
Arthur White, a professional zoologist and
1971 Kangaroos and Men. Ed. G. P. Whitley.
teacher, held this position from 1979 to 1990. 1978 Monotreme Biology. Ed. M. L. Augee.
Betty Bull, has managed the office as Assistant 1978 The Koala. Ed. T. J. Bergin.
Treasurer since 1984 and continues to do so. 1982 Carnivorous Marsupials. Ed. M. Archer.
1985 Biolom of Australasian From and Reotiles. Ed.
u
Without such dedicated people, there may G. Grigg el a/.
1987 Possums and Opossums: Studies in Evolution. Ed.
well have been no history for me to explore. M. Archer.
1988 Kangaroo Harvesting and the Conservation of Arid
and Semi-Arid Lands. Ed. 1). Lunney and G. Grigg.
HANDBOOKS AND REPRINTS 1990 Care and Handling of Australian Narive Animals.
Ed. S. J. Hand.
1922 Check Lisr of rhe Fishes of New South Wales. 1991 Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna. Ed.
A. R. McCullough. D. Lunney.
1927 A Monograph of the Australian Loricates. T. Iredale 1992 Plarypus and Echidnas. Ed. M. L. Augeq.
and A. F. Bassett Hull. 1992 Zoology in Court. Ed. D. Lunney.
A Field Guide to Australian Butterflies
By Robert Fisher Price $29.95 ISBN 0 949324 52 3
A growing interest in the conservation of what is left of our natural environment has created a desire in many
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More than 200 of the 385 or so species of butterflies that have been recorded in Austmlia are described and
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A special feature of the field guide is the illushation in colour of a representation of the early stages of each of
the five major families that occur in Australia.
Available from: Surrey Beatty & Sons
43 Rickard Road, Chipping Norton, NSW
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
Decemkr 1994 Ausualian Zoologist, Vol. 29(3-4) 237