TAG - Geological Society of Australia

NSW:Ian Percival (GS Londonderry)Victoria:Vince Morand (DPI Melbourne),Fons VandenBerg,Bill Birch (VicMus Melbourne)Tasmania:Ralph Bottrill (MRT Hobart)(Ch),Garry Davidson (UTas Hobart),Kim Denwer (Bass Metals Burnie),Mike Vicary (MRT Hobart),Nick Turner (GSA),Ken Morrison (GSA),Andrew MacNeil (UTas Hobart)South Australia:Wolfgang Preiss (PIRSA Adelaide),Barry Cooper (UniSA Adelaide),Tony Belperio (Minotaur Expl Adelaide)Western Australia:Mike Fetherston (GSWA Perth)Northern Territory:Christine Edgoose (NTGS Alice Springs)ACT:Michelle Cooper (GATimeWalk),Jan Knutson (Cenozoic volcanism),Des Strusz (Fossils), (GSA)If you would like to join one of these groupsor can offer any assistance to them, pleasecontact John Bain at rockgarden@gsa.org.auor any of those listed above.If you would like to suggest a rock for thegarden please give us the maximum amountof information including the geological age,official formation name, location, and reasonfor the selection, reference information andphotos.Landscape architecture –University of CanberraDuring the 1st Semester 2011 at theUniversity of Canberra (UC), 27 final-yearlandscape architecture students, as part oftheir course work, completed a design projectwith a focus on the National Rock Gardensite. GSA offered prizes for the top designs.On two days in early May, Doug Finlaysonand John Bain, with UC Staff, viewed 27student poster presentations. The standard ofpresentations was most impressive; studentshad injected a considerable effort into theirprojects. After some difficult choices, thestudent award winners were decided:1st, Renae Palmer; joint 2nd, Jared Phillipsand Mandy Sullivan; highly commendedDavid Duham and Marina Signer.Congratulations!ASEG supportThe Geological Society of Australia welcomesthe letter of encouragement and supportrecently received from the Australia Societyof Exploration Geophysicists for the NationalRock Garden project. “Thank you ASEG.”Feedback and furtherinformationThe Geological Society welcomes feedbackand suggestions on the development of theNational Rock Garden. Correspondence maybe sent to the GSA Office in Sydney atrockgarden@gsa.org.auDOUG FINLAYSONInternational GeologicalCongressEarly Bird registrationsIf you missed the Super Early Birdregistration fees the Early, Standard andLate registration fees will be released in theThird Circular (late September).Student registration fees will be released inthe Third Circular. For all other delegates,the Super Early Bird fees have been thelowest-cost registration options availablefor the congress.You can register now at www.34igc.orgThe Third Circular, which will be released inlate September 2011, will include the namesof the invited keynote speakers where thesehave been provided.Abstract SubmissionAbstract submissions are now being acceptedvia the Congress website. Select the AbstractSubmission option at www.34igc.orgDr Neil Williams electednew President of the AGCThe Australian Geoscience Council haselected Dr Neil Williams PSM as President fora two-year term 2011-2013. Neil recentlyretired as the Chief Executive Officer ofthe Australian Government’s nationalgeoscientific research and spatial informationagency, Geoscience Australia (GA). He is thelongest serving CEO of this body in itsvarious incarnations (including the Bureau ofMineral Resources or BMR). Dr Williams iscurrently an Honorary Professorial Fellow atthe School of Earth and EnvironmentalScience, University of Wollongong.Image courtesy Neil Williams.Neil trained as an economic geologist andhas a BSc Hons from the ANU and a PhDfrom Yale University. Following his PhD hereturned to the ANU for five years as anacademic researcher, specialising in thegenesis of sediment-hosted base-metaldeposits. He then joined Mt Isa Mines andspent 10 years in mineral exploration intechnical and management roles.Dr Williams has been the recipient of variousawards including the Public Service Medaland the Society of Economic Geologists’Lindgren Award. He is also a Fellow of theAustralian Academy of TechnologicalSciences and Engineering, a member of theNational Committee for Earth Sciences,Australian Academy of Science, and of theQueensland Exploration Council, and wasPresident of the Society of EconomicGeologists in 2008.In welcoming Neil’s acceptance of the role ofPresident of the AGC, the outgoing PresidentMichael Leggo commented “there is now acongruency with respect to the 34thInternational Geological Congress to be heldin Brisbane in August 2012, where he isalso the President of the 34th IGC. Thecongruency arises since the AGC iscontractually responsible for the organisingand conduct of this Congress. We arefortunate indeed to have a geoscientist ofthe eminence and with the geoscienceknowledge and understanding of Dr Williamsas our new President”.TAG September 2011|21