For the November meeting and having in mind the delights of the Swan and Perth 's summer and the States' 150 year celebrations , an evening on the river was proposed as some thing 'different'. Unfortunately the very good id ea became a non-event due to the lack of support from Members . Plans for 1980 include a February meeting with a visiting lecturer, a combined meeting in March on a recently released report on the Cockburn Sound which sho uld attract a great deal of interest and a site inspection in April (no river trips!) . The Branch Committee is working hard at Membership Services and wil l welcome suggestions from any quarter of the Association and also welcome a call by any Member visiting W.A.
NORTHERN TERRITORY A well attended September meeting was addressed by Mr . John Paul , a Principal Engineer of the N.T. Department of Transport and Works. Mr. Paul 's lecture , well illu strated by sl id es and diagrams covered recent Mining Company developments in the Alligator Rivers Region Uranium Province and hi s discussion included comment upon the functions of the Commonwealth Governments' 'Office of the Supervising Scientist ', the Northern Territory Government and Water Division , on scientific and environmental monitoring. The Branch 's final function in December, fittingly was a social event which provided an opportunity for the screening of 'vintage ' films of life in the territory and the traditional wine , c heese and social gathering of wives and friends .
VICTORIA At the October meeting , Dr. Peter Thornton of Worne Biolytics, Europe out lin ed his Company's range of bacterial formulations ('Water' June '79 p.22). Worne have developed a number of products each consist ing of approximately 12 different types of adapted mutant micro-organisms for treatment of food , sewage , paper or chemica l wastes. The addition of these products to a biological treatment system modifies the bacterial population which then must be maintain ed by regular doses of the special ised microorganisms to prevent the modified popu lation reverting back to the natural composition. The technique is c laimed to have significant benefits in faster start-up better BOD/COD , better resistance to shock loadings , oxygen utilization and sludg e handling. Dr . Thornton presented case histori es of successful application in Europe and convinced the meeting , initially somewhat sceptical , that the development of spec ialised bacteria has considerable potential in wastewater treatment . The Branch November meeting was devoted to a 'double-bill'. The aims and achievements of the Soil Conservation WATER
Authority and the interaction of soils and septic tank effluents. The soil conservation aspect was dealt with by Mr. A. Mitchell who is Chairman of the Soil Conservation Authority , Deputy Chairman of the Land Conservation Council and a Member of the Environmental Protection Council. Dr . Van de Graaf , Senior Research Scientist w ith the Soil Conservation Authority discussed the properties of soi ls in relation to the absorption and purification of treatment plant effluents , and particularly , septic tank effluents. He has extensive experience w ith the In stitute of Reclamation in Holland and during his talk , drew upon this and recent experiments at La Trobe University. He also spoke o n the role of the Health Commission and the EPA in establishing criteria for septic tank usage. The combination of subjects proved of considerable interest and most informative to the meeting .
Quite some years in Sydney M.W.S. D. Board were fol lowed by a period as a senior staff man with Consultants G.H. & D. Appointment as Deputy Chief Engineer took me to the Department of Works , Brisbane and then to the post of Chief Engineer and Manager. Returning to the private sphere in 1954 with Humes Limited involved a number of senior positions terminating with retirement as General Manager , Technical in 1976 but continuing until recently as Editor and Publisher of the small monthly ' Hume News'. Involvement with the AWWA commenced in Vi ctoria in the early 50's as a member , Committee man , Branch President and until 1978, Federal Councillor with two success ive terms as Federal President. Continuance and refreshment of lifelong associations in the post of Editor of 'Water' is a great pleasure as is the opportunity to cont inu e to serve the Association . George Goffin .
QUEENSLAND The Branch Committee and the many Members who contributed to the very successful Eighth Convention of the Association at Surfers spent the end of the year reverting to normal and less demanding Branch functions. The final meeting was a Christmas function on November 28th hosted by C. I.G . Enviroshield at the Company's offices and plant at Rocklea by courtesy of Mr. Keith Strickland , Manager. In spectio n of the production and bottling plants proved most interesting and was followed by an environmenta l film. The meeting concluded in true Christmas style with a combination of eating, drinking and pleasant socialising and a feeling of marked appreciation for the Companys' hospitality.
NEW SOUTH WALES The Branch held a joint meeting with the In stitut ion of Engineers , Australia on October 23rd at which Mr. P. Jessop , P.W.D . Manager for the Gosford Regional Sewerage Scheme gave an address on the work to some eighty members and visitors. The scheme will serve an area with a current population of 70 ,000 , the total estimated cost is $130M and present expe nditure is at the rat e of approxim ate ly $1 M per month on two major treatment plants, estuar in e pipe cross ings , tunnels , pumping stations and an ocean outfal I. Mr. Jessop covered the initial strategic planning, investigations , designs and with slides , the construct ion work in progress.
NEW EDITOR An incoming Editor must , in fairness to his readers, provide some introductor.y information and background. My own co nsist s briefly of a lifetime spent in the engineering spheres of water supply and sewerage ranging through design , co nstru ction and technical administration both in the public and private sectors.
IAWPR NEWS From the inception of the Australian National Committee of IAWPR , association and cooperatio n with AWWA has coincided wit h the development by AWWA of ties with other international bodies . The next issue of 'Water' will carry ¡ an informative coverage on this subject and its significance for the information of Members and other readers of the Journal. Pursuing these common interes ts , Dr. N. Norman on behalf of the National Committee of IAWPR has informed the Federal Council of the Association that up to $2000 per annum on a co ntinuin{l basis will be made available to support and improve the journal 'Water'. This pleasing offer has been accepted by the Federal ¡Council. Future copies of this journal will feature 'IAWPR News' under the distinctive logo of that organisation. 9