Volume 55 No 2 April 2007 - New Zealand Society of Soil Science

iological contributions to soil processes on the global 20 th -century scene. To quote from the Avantpropos
written by Marcel Bouche for Ken’s 1985 book, “The work of K. E. Lee, which for the first
time places earthworms on a world-wide scale in the economy of nature and humanity, takes up again
a century later, in modern terms, the message of the great naturalist. By its critical analysis, its
synthetic approach and its opening up of all relevant subjects that are accessible to rigorous
understanding, this volume of K. E. Lee takes its place as the direct descendant of that of Charles
Darwin”.
Ken was a natural leader and held the positions of Deputy Chief of the Soils Division and Officer-in-
Charge of its Adelaide Laboratory in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Most unusually for one in such a
position, he was both respected and liked by the staff because of the consideration and fairness he
showed to all staff members. From his early days until his death, furthermore, he was happy to ‘muck
in’. At his funeral in Adelaide, his family recalled how he took charge of (i.e. did) the cooking for the
family after his wife Norma had cooked for the first 25 years of their marriage. He also did the
shopping for the family meals. And he built the garage at their Adelaide home. All of this he did with
enthusiasm, imagination, and love. By the same token, Rick Jackson has recalled in a recent email that
when the Soil Bureau moved to Taita from Molesworth Street, Ken was responsible for building the
weirs. This was under Norman Taylor’s directorial approach whereby specialists got involved in
practical tasks relating to others specialist fields, thus enhancing understanding and opportunities for
collaboration. When Rick had to carry out hydrological calculations in later years he found that Ken
had constructed weirs that did not leak. Not many leading biologists can claim that particular
distinction!
Ken Lee devoted his life and intellect to science. He had great physical and scientific stature, and his
contributions to the study of earthworms and to soil science are recognised and valued around the
world. His family, and those who helped him in his science, can be proud of him. We are better off for
his life.
Gregor Yeates, Palmerston North, NZ
Jock Churchman, Adelaide, SA
Obituary - Colin Vucetich
Many soil science society members will have very fond memories
of Colin Vucetich who died at Wellington Hospital on 25 April
2007, aged 88. Colin worked at the ex-Soil Bureau and Victoria
University. Colin Vucetich and Alan Pullar mapped soils in
different parts of the North Island, and recognised that soils around
Rotorua, Gisborne and Whakatne were formed on volcanic ash
layers, which were often well
exposed in road cuttings. Their
work has been the foundation for
later volcanological studies.
The funeral notice included the line “May you find the ultimate road
cutting".
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