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Prominent People

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This section lists industry people who have made a significant contribution to the achievements and success of agriculture in South Australia and Australia. Where information is available from a readily available source, a link is provided.

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Lewis AO CB, Keith William 1927 - 2013

Keith Lewis was head of Engineering and Water Supply Dept (now SA Water) and was instrumental in introducing River Murray salinity control programs and a single Water Resources Act. He helped create the Dept of Environment and Planning, was on the SA Commission for the River Murray and chair of the SA Land Trust.

Image: The Advertiser

Lothian OBE, Thomas Robert Noel 1915 - 2004

Noel Lothian was the Director of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens from 1948 to 1980. He was a passionate advocate for farmers and pastoralists to plant native vegetation.

Image: Mt Lofty Historical Society

M

Maier, Norbert 1950 - 2007

Norbert was one of South Australia’s leading horticultural research scientists. His career was marked by ground breaking insights in horticultural crop nutrition research. With qualifications from Adelaide University Norbert served the States horticultural industries with distinction and was nationally recognised for his work.

Image: The Advertiser

Marshall, Theo John (Tim) 1907 - 2008

Soil scientist. Marshall joined the new CSIR (now CSIRO) Division of Soils in Adelaide in February, 1929, working on irrigated soils of the River Murray system. He was instrumental in the formation of the Australian Society of Soil Science in 1955. As leader of the Soil Physics Section of CSIRO Soils Division in 1945, he was a great mentor for many Australian soil scientists and had a high international reputation.

Image: https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/csiroalumni.site-ym.com/

Marston, Hedley Ralph 1900 - 1965

Biochemist. On 1 March 1928 he joined Robertson's staff in the division of animal nutrition, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Adelaide. On 14 August 1944 he was appointed chief, division of biochemistry and general nutrition. The most publicised research of Marston's division dealt with deficiencies of trace elements in the soils of South Australia and led to the discovery that 'coast disease'—a wasting malady of sheep pastured in the south-east coastal region and other areas—was caused by a lack of cobalt in their diet. This research substantially changed Australian agriculture, and had a significant impact on many hitherto marginal lands throughout the world.

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedley_Marston

May AM, Dr Peter 1922 - 2007

Peter May spent his working life with CSIRO and became one of Australia’s foremost viticultural researchers. His work revised viticultural practices and were widely adopted and he was a great mentor to many other researchers.

Image: The Advertiser

Melville, James 1908 - 1984

Agricultural scientist. After working in New Zealand, Melville was appointed director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, in January 1956. Melville vigorously encouraged colleagues to collaborate with researchers in the State Department of Agriculture, the CSIRO and with university staff located at North Terrace. Throughout his career Melville sought to contribute to the development of agricultural industries on a national rather than parochial basis.

Image: The University of Adelaide - Urrbrae House Historic Precinct Photograph Collection

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Perkins, Arthur James 1871 - 1944

Agricultural scientist and viticulturist. Arthur Perkins was appointed a member of South Australia's Central Agricultural Bureau and government viticulturist in 1892 based at Roseworthy Agricultural College. His appointment followed requests to the government for expert advice to farmers on viticulture, oenology and horticulture. His teaching of European viticultural methods, including pest and disease control and winemaking techniques, constituted Perkins' first major contribution to Australian agriculture. He also conducted many trials on cultivation of cereals, and was prominent in the improvement of cereals by systematic selection. In 1914 Perkins replaced William Lowrie as South Australian Director of Agriculture; his experience, persuasive powers and administrative skill were highly impressive and he was particularly concerned with agriculture economics.

Image: SLSA B6415 1928

Prescott, James Arthur 1890 - 1987

Agricultural chemist. Prescott was appointed to the chair of agricultural chemistry at the newly established Waite Agricultural Research Institute in 1924 and travelled widely to familiarise himself with Australian soils to interpret the effect that climate, vegetation and other factors had on soils. He drew a map of the major soil zones of the continent. This work established him as the leading authority on soil science in Australia. In 1929 Prescott was appointed part-time chief of the CSIR division of soils, with headquarters at the Waite Institute and from 1938 was also director of the Waite Institute, where he administered research and education in a wider field of agricultural science. In 1956-70 he was a council-member of the Australian Wine Research Institute.

Image: University of Adelaide Library, 2440/47818

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Richardson, Arnold Edwin Victor 1883 - 1949

Agricultural scientist. Educated at Roseworthy Agricultural College, he later joined the State Department of Agriculture where he bred the successful wheat variety, Gallipoli. Foundation professor of agriculture and first director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute of the University of Adelaide from 1924, Richardson investigated the development of pastures and the economics of farm management in Australia. In the early 1930s, he won the confidence of farmers, pastoralists, industrialists, agricultural scientists and governments, and took up the appointment of deputy chief executive officer Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) directing research and development in Australian primary production. From 1946 till his retirement in 1949 he was chief executive officer of CSIR. His vision and energy were responsible for establishing the Waite Agricultural Research Institute as the leading agricultural research centre of the Commonwealth.

Image: SLSA B 61585 1945

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Sluczanowski, Philip 1952 - 1994

Mathematician and modeller. Philip was employed as a senior research officer at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Department of Fisheries from 1979), working on the population dynamics where he inventively applied optimal control theory to generate models of fisheries. He was also an early advocate of integrating fisheries data with computer-based interactive graphics packages. His modelling tools continue to be used for teaching fisheries population dynamics in universities around the world.

Image: SARDI

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