Small is important.
How can we retain (and maintain) local geoscience sites?
Neville Rosengren (Latrobe University)
Despite the obvious and essential role of (indoor) laboratories in geological research and teaching, the motivation to study earth science for many students is—apart from spectacularly inspiring lecturers in first semester of first year—the drive to understand the nature and origins of landscape and landscape materials. To this end, it is essential that areas of land displaying geological and/or geomorphological features important for teaching and research (geoscience sites) are available for bona fide access. Recognition and appraisal of the attributes of geoscience sites has been achieved across much of Victoria since the 1970’s by a range of focused and coincident studies. It is one thing to know what and where these sites are: it is altogether another item to have any (let alone) on-going access to them and be reasonably assured that they will be there this time next year or next decade. The various barriers to the longevity of geoscience sites include—apart from ambient processes—freehold ownership and the absence in Victoria of a legislative framework to give recognition and protection. Neville’s presentation will range visually across geoscience sites of varied scales and nature in Victoria and discuss issues in the conservation and management of such. Comparisons will be made with other jurisdictions and protocols in Australia and elsewhere.
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Speaker bio...
Neville Rosengren is one of a rare and endangered species—a geoscientist attached tenuously to La Trobe University. His career of 50+years (and continuing) has included the rare position (for Victoria) of teaching Matriculation Geology, and spans extended episodes of further teaching and research at Melbourne University Department of Geography, RMIT Department of Landscape Architecture and as a Surgical Geologist (true) at La Trobe University for 20 years, where he is now an Honorary Associate. For understandable reasons he now is a resident of New Zealand, but is half the time on various consultancy projects in Australia.
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The 2018 Selwyn Medallist, Dr Stephen Carey (Federation University), was awarded at the October meeting.
The Victorian Division of the Geological Society of Australia
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October Selwyn Pin presentation
Honouring our GSA Victoria earth scientists
Prior to the lecture, the GSAV held an second evening event in the Fritz Lowe theatre honouring Selwyn medallists for their major contributions to the earth sciences by presenting each with a miniature Selwyn medal badge.
 The Selwyn lapel pin
The GSAV Selwyn Medal began in 1996 with the first medal going to Fons Vandenberg for his extensive mapping of the State for the Geological Survey of Victoria and for his understanding of the graptolite zones in Victoria. Since then, there have been 21 awards made yearly until now, honouring earth science in all its diversity by scientists who have played a crucial role in providing new understanding of a multitude of Victorian geological topics.
Stephen Carey, Bill Birch, Tom Rich, Clive Willman, Chris Gray, Fons VandenBerg and Pat Vickers Rich .
Major contributions given by The Victoria Division's Selwyn medallists are:
2018 Stephen Carey Investigations into new Pleistocene Megafauna in western Victoria.
2017 Alan Partridge Biostratigraphy, sedimentology and hydrocarbon potential of the Gippsland and Otway Basins.
2016 John Webb Contributions to hydrogeology, geomorphology and geochemistry, and speleology in Victoria.
2015 Ian Cartwright Hydrogeological systems of the Murray, Otway and Gippsland Basins.
2014 Ian Duddy Application of thermochronology to the stratigraphic and geologic history of the Otway and Gippsland Basins.
2013 Ross Cayley New insights into the evolution of Lachlan Orogen,
2012 Charles Lawrence Hydrogeology of the Murray Basin.
2011 Gary Gibson Seismology and earthquakes in Victoria.
2010 Mike Hall Structure and stratigraphy of the onshore and offshore Otway and Gippsland Basins.
2009 Bernie Joyce Geomorphology of the volcanic provinces of western Victoria.
2008 Malcolm Wallace Sedimentological investigations into the evolution of Cenozoic shelf sequences of southeast Australia.
2007 Pat Vickers Rich and Tom Rich Vertebrate palaeontology of Victorian Mesozoic sequences, in particular the findings of dinosaurs in the Otway Basin.
2006 Chris Wilson Structural geology and mineralisation of Palaeozoic sequences in Victoria.
2005 Tony Crawford Understanding of the Cambrian volcanic sequences in Victoria.
2004 Chris Gray Geochronology and geochemistry of granites in Victoria.
2003 Clive Willman Detailed mapping of the Castlemaine and Bendigo goldfields.
2002 Andrew Gleadow Pioneering development and application of fission track techniques to Victorian geology.
2001 Guy Holdgate Stratigraphy of Mesozoic and Tertiary coal deposits in Victoria.
2000 John Nielson Engineering geology around the city of Melbourne.
1999 William Birch Extensive mineralogical investigations into Victorian mineral suites.
1998 Raymond Cas Volcanism and sedimentology in Victoria.
1997 David R. Gray Crustal and tectonic profiles across central and western Victoria.
1996 Alfons VandenBerg Major contributions to GSV mapping of the State and understanding of the graptolite zones in Victoria. |
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The outstanding achievements of these scientists are recognised locally as well as internationally in most cases.
Following presentation of the badges, we all adjourned to Piccolo Mondo for a rowdy dinner filled with laughter and good discussion.
Please note that photographs of the night will be available on the website by the end of the year.
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9th November students awarded at VUEESC conference.
GSA Victoria members attended the Victorian Universities Earth & Environmental Science Conference (VUEESC) to watch an excellent and diverse range of presentations. On Friday evening Ingrid Campbell, the chair of the Awards Subcommittee, presented two awards to exceptional Victorian students.
Martin Nguyen of Monash University received the 2018 D.E.Thomas Medal for his HonoursThesis project entitled:
“Structural and lithogeochemical characterisation of the Depot Domain, Eastern Yilgarn - a study in gold prospectivity”.
Jose Fernandez of Federation University received the 2018 Canavan Award for the best second year Earth Science student at a Victorian University.
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New Postgraduate Research Grant Scheme
The Geological Society of Australia (Victoria Division) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Postgraduate Research Grant Scheme for the encouragement of research in Earth Science. Projects should address Victorian problems, although research that extends beyond the State will not be excluded.
Under this Scheme, beginning in 2019, each year two Ph.D. students will be given grants of $5000 per annum for two years. The award applications may be lodged to gsavictoria@gmail.com, and will include an outline of no more than 300 words of the proposed project. Applications for the 2019 grant year will open Thursday the 1st of November 2018 and close at 5 pm Friday the 14th of December.
A selection panel appointed by the GSA Victoria will judge the submissions and the panel will reserve the right to make as many awards as they feel appropriate, within the constraints of the budget.
Successful applicants will be notified no later than the 2019 February committee meeting. The awards will then be announced to the members at the April Annual General Meeting and will be published in The Victorian Geologist.
Each successful awardee will generally be required to provide a presentation to the GSA Victoria Division. If this is not feasible, the awardee will provide a short report of an aspect of their research to be published in The Victorian Geologist.
Please contact gsavictoria@gmail.com or check the monthly newsletter for updates regarding this scheme.
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Membership renewals for 2019
For those who haven't renewed their GSA membership yet for 2019, you can pay your dues by:
• Paying via credit card over the phone to the GSA Business Office on
02 9290 2194
• Mailing a cheque or a renewal form to the GSA Business Office
(a self-addressed envelope and renewal form were enclosed with
renewal notices)
• Paying via Electronic Funds Transfers
Account Name: Geological Society of Australia Inc.
(BSB: 082067 Account Number: 52-507-4491)
• Signing in and accessing your profile page on the GSA website
(www.gsa.org.au).
Please see the following HELP videos if you encounter any difficulties:
• How to re-set a password
• How to sign-in and pay online
• How to print a receipt/invoice
If you need assistance, please contact the GSA office: membership@gsa.org.au
Want to know more about GSA membership? Contact us!
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GSA Instagram
The Geological Society of Australia Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/geologicalsocietyofaustralia/ now has over 8000 followers! Instagram is a great way to reach kids who may be thinking of geology as a University degree.
Geologists from all over Australia have been submitting amazing images with a small text to describe it. You will see lava tubes, caves, folds, mines, building stones and much more. If you want to take part submit your image and text to Tim at our federal office tim.holland@gsa.org.au
GSA Victoria Twitter
The Geological Society of Australia Victoria Twitter page https://twitter.com/GSAVictoria now has 1000 global followers! If you have a geological notice or story that you would like to promote on Twitter make sure you tag us. The twitter notice will also appear on the feed of our society web page.
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The internationally renowned monthly social get-together
for explorers, miners & other geoscientists
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Fellow Geoscientists,
Welcome to the inaugural GeoPub Melbourne. This monthly event provides an opportunity for members of the Melbourne exploration community to catch up on the industry “goss”, have a few drinks, talk technical, reminisce, and/or generally socialise. Occurring on the second Friday of the month, GeoPub Melbourne aims to become a regular event on any Geologist’s social calendar.
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INVITATION TO GEOPUB MELBOURNE
Join Us: At 5:30pm, every 2nd Friday of the month as your work-spouse-budget-health allows.
Why: Meet other people working / interested in geology, mining & exploration.
And Do? Catch up on "goss", have a few drinks, talk technical, reminisce, and/or generally socialise.
Where: Little Mule Cafe, 19 Somerset Place, Melbourne.
Contact: geopubmelb@gmail.com
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Forthcoming events
Unless otherwise noted, all 2018 talks will be held at the Fritz Loewe Theatre or the Gregory Room, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne.
February 28 2019: Monthly Meeting
Dr Vince Morand Landslides in Kyrgyzstan
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Student Scholarships
The GSAV are pleased to offer scholarships for honours and postgraduate students in geological sciences for assistance with travel costs associated with attending conferences (fieldwork excluded). The number and value of the scholarships awarded each year is made at the discretion of the GSA Victoria committee. Up to $500 for travel within Australia and between Australia and New Zealand and $700 for travel elsewhere is available, paid half before and half after the conference. More information, including the eligibility criteria and application form, is available at http://www.gsavic.org/scholarship.html.
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Contributions to The Victorian Geologist
If there are any events, happenings, news, or views that would be of interest to the membership, please send your details and information to the secretary at gsavictoria@gmail.com.
Newsletter deadline: First Friday of the month, except for December and January.
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Contribute to TAG
It is member contributions which make TAG (The Australian Geologist) a member magazine – please keep the contributions coming and assist with informing all of the membership (not just your Division) about your activities.
Please send your news to: tag@gsa.org.au
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About the GSA Victoria Division
General information about the Geological Society of Australia and GSA Victoria Division can be found at www.gsa.org.au and www.gsavic.org.
Contact details for the GSAV Committee can be found at www.gsavic.org/committee.html.
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