The Early History of Biological Sciences
By Barry Boettcher & Tim Roberts
Originally, The University of Newcastle was a College of The University of New South Wales with classes being held at the Technical College, Tighes Hill. The subjects concentrated on the physical sciences, such as physics and chemistry.
The University of Newcastle became autonomous in 1965. It shifted from Tighes Hill to its present location at Shortland. At the time, the site was filled with trees.
The first Vice-Chancellor of the University was Professor James Johnston Auchmuty. Previously, Professor Auchmuty was the Professor History at the University of Cairo. However, when Farouk was deposed, ex-patriots had to leave Egypt. Professor Auchmuty aimed to go to Canada. However, legend has it, he did not have enough money to travel to Canada – only sufficient to travel to Australia.
When the University shifted to Shortland, it was decided that the first department to be established at the new site would be a Department of Biological Sciences. Advertisements were posted for a Foundation Professor of Biological Sciences and interviews were held of prospective candidates. The successful applicant was Professor Horace Newton Barber FRS, the foundation Professor of Botany at the University of New South Wales. Unfortunately, Professor Barber died in 1971 before he could assume this new position. Second in line was Barry Boettcher, then a Senior Lecturer at Flinders University in Adelaide. His appointment was strongly supported by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brin Newton-John.
Barry and his family travelled to Newcastle in a Holden panel van, towing a trailer with a deep-freeze containing research materials. Barry first reported for duty on 4 June, 1972.
Professor Auchmuty, the Vice-Chancellor, offered wise advice about the new department. He said that, although some of the money for the new building could be used for equipment, it would be best not to use the money in this way. He recommended building as big a building as possible since equipment would be accumulated in future years. This proved to be correct and wise advice.
Professor Auchmuty commented that he fostered the library since a university functions around its library. This also was correct and wise policy for a founding Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Auchmuty instituted the Senate, which met monthly. The Senates was comprised of all professors, together with representatives of the students and non-academic bodies within the university. Through the Senate, all professors were aware of activities across the university. When Professor Don George became Vice-Chancellor, the Senate became comprised of elected departmental representatives and interchange between departments decreased noticeably.
Professor Auchmuty also initiated “Hail and Farewell” dinners, which were held at the end of the year. As indicated by the name of the functions, new members of the university were welcomed and leaving members were farewelled appropriately. Participants were charged $2.00 for the dinner. Professor Auchmuty welcomed participants at the door.
The dinners encouraged people from different departments to mix and talk and were responsible for assisting the development of a collegiate atmosphere throughout the university.
The University of Newcastle was well served by its Founding Vice-Chancellor.
First Official Meeting of the Department in London 1972
Russell Jones recounts: the first official meeting of the Department was held on Barry Boettcher’s birthday, 1972, in the Meeting Room of The Wellcome Institute of Comparative Physiology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, with the following attending: Barry Boettcher, John Patrick and Russell Jones. Ostensibly the agenda was to decide on the BIOL 101 course to be presented the following year in Newcastle.
Silver Sea Horse:
Silver was donated by Gerald Cairns who reclaimed silver from old x-ray films in a kiln he made at home. The burning films created a very high temperature that damaged the kiln.
The silver sea horse was created by Sabine Westland.
The first recipient was Kerry Seager, then working at Red Cross, Sydney. She was a member of the group that discovered that the tissue antigen B27 was related to susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis.
The Silver Seahorse award
The Silver Seahorse recipient board
Raw Prawn:
Made and donated by Tom Cowling, a mature-age student. It was to be awarded to a person who made a notable contribution – when they should have known better.
Professor Boettcher was presented with the award on one occasion. He brought in a female kitten to be de-sexed by the veterinarian in Medical Sciences. The kitten was a male!
Boards listing the winners of the awards were hung near the stairs in the Biological Sciences building.
The Silver Sea Horse and the Raw Prawn were to be retained by the recipients for one year. They would then be given to new recipients.
Recipients were also presented with a book plate. The plates were designed by Margaret Brosnan, a technician in the department. The bookplates featured an excellent drawing of the respective trophy.
PLEASE SEND IN ANY ADDITIONS TO THIS HISTORICAL PIECE TO: tim.roberts@newcastle.edu.au
Barry Boettcher presenting evidence used in the Lindy Chamberland case to a group of interested people.