Proceedings 2002/2003 - IRSE

123
Section Reports
Australasian Section
Fifty-Fourth Annual Report – Year Ending 31st December 2002
OFFICE BEARERS
Vice-President
Mr P R Symons (F) NSW
Chairman
Mr L F Brearley (F) Qld
Vice-Chairman
Mr K I Walker (F) Qld
Committee
Messrs P A Huth (AM)
Qld
H J Revell (M) Qld, W K Wells (F) NSW
T G Moore (F) NSW, R A Stepniewski (F) NSW
A F Vaz (F) NSW, S W Boshier (M) Vic
M R Donald (M) Vic, D J Ness (M) Vic
H B Luber (M) Vic, I Wortington (F) Vic
I N Roulstone (M) SA, L D Tran (M) SA
P L Gobetz (F) WA, I G Costa (F) WA
A E Neilson (F) NZ
Secretary/Treasurer
Mr G Willmott (A) SA
Public Officer
Mr R A Bell (F)
Vic
Auditor
Mr A G Cumming (A) Vic
Messrs A F Vaz, T G Moore, M R Donald, I
Worthington, J Revell, L D Tran A E Neilson remained
in office for 2002.
Mr I G Costa was elected by the Committee as
replacement for Mr K I Walker.
Mr L Brearley was elected as Chairman for a
second term, consequently there was not the normal
handover of gavel and Badge of Office by the outgoing
chairman.
He then addressed the meeting telling how he
appreciated the privilege of continuing for another
year, thanked the outgoing Committee and welcomed
the incoming. Told the members of the hard
work by the NSW Committee for the organisation of
the forthcoming International Convention.
Further to the training of young engineers in the
rail industry, Rail Co-operative Research Centre held
a forum in Brisbane, August 2001, to obtain topics
for research seen as priorities by the rail industry.
The initial project addressed signal and telecommunications
engineering. The first project to obtain
Rail CRC approval was Project 60, Continuing
Professional Development for railway signalling and
telecommunications engineers and technologists.
A steering committee was set up to guide the
signalling programme: M Duffy (QR), P Szacsvay
(RIC), S Barker (WSA), L Brearley (US&S), K Kwong
(CQU).
There is a big age difference between the younger
and older members, certainly local meetings make
the IRSE more accessible to the younger persons. At
the present time, we do have awards for the under
35, but is it enough?
The past Australasian papers together with Noel
Reed’s history were scanned by Bob Taaffe, with the
CD ready for sale at the Convention.
Les also addressed the changed process of the
Committee nominating the next year’s Chairman and
Vice-Chairman, members were clearly to understand
that this did not preclude any other eligible nomination
for these positions.
During the year, meetings of the Australasian
Section were held as follows:
1 Annual General Meeting, Sydney, NSW, 29th
April 2002 at the unusual time of 3.00 pm
The AGM was convened prior to the start of the
International Convention programmed to run 29th
April – 3rd May.
Mr Brearley opened the meeting, welcoming
President Mr P Stanley and IRSE Chief Executive Mr
K Burrage, overseas visitors and 98 members.
The Annual Report & Balance Sheet, which had
been previously distributed for examination, was
moved for acceptance and passed on show of
hands.
The Chairman then presented the Byles & Calcutt
plaque to Mr Alexander Samoyoa for the year 2001,
the event was photographed and published in the
IRSE News.
The amendments of Rules of the Association,
Australasian Section, which had been proposed and
circulated to all members, were accepted and
passed.
The Australasian Section closed at this point, with
the official opening of the Convention to take place
that evening at the Powerhouse Museum.
The Convention opening, presentations, keynote
address, technical papers, social and guests’
programmes are detailed in an extensive illustrated
report by Derek Edney in the September 2002 IRSE
News, Issue 80.
2 Technical Meeting, Brisbane, QLD, 2nd-3rd
August 2002
Friday 2nd
Seventy-six members and visitors met at registration
Hilton Hotel, Brisbane.
Mr L Brearley opened the meeting at 0900 hrs with
a welcome to all, he then introduced: Mr Ken
Devencorn, GM Airtrain.
Mr Devencorn reiterated the good points in the
building of the Airport Service, followed by the “The
Airtrain, Twelve Months On”.
Weakness in safety is seen as an issue by the
public.
The passengers from the airport can be tired,
disoriented, have language difficulties and possible
air rage.
They have been seen taking photos and movies in