Bill Heather TPNG Forests 1947-1955

1947 Bill Heather64 TPNG Forests 1947-1955

AFS Class 1943-1944. L to R. Dick Woods (SA) awarded Schlich Medal, Alan McArthur (NSW), Bill Hindmarsh (NSW), Bill Heather (NSW), Hugh Bell (NSW).

Source ANU AFS archives. Bill Heather was born in Ashfield NSW in 1923 and died in 2004.65 He graduated from AFS in 1944.

Bill Heather (TPNG Forests 1947-1955) was a Regional Forest Officer at Rabaul New Britain in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s in Papua New Guinea. He and forest ranger W R Fryar started the Kerevat Forest plantation program with Eucalyptus deglupta (Kamarere) at Kerevat New Britain in 1948. 66 Donald Fryar service number - SX2836: born in 1919 in Adelaide SA. He enlisted at Wayville SA. He was a forest ranger Kerevat until killed in the late 40’s/early 50’s. in an accident on the Kerevat River Bridge. Fryar logging area in Kerevat is his legacy. Bill heather undertook plant collections from Sogeri (Papua) and New Britain in the NGF series (CF New Guinea Forces Lae after 1945.)

1948 E deglupta (Kamarere) Kerevat ENB planted by Bill Heather.

Photo credit John Davidson 1972.

64 Reference PNGAF Mag # 9B-5B4H5 eminent TPNG Forester Bill Heather 25th July 2022 65 Heather, William Gungahlin, Wednesday, December 29, 2004, Saturday, June 2, 2007, PB-08-05-00-314 66 John Davidson personal communication.

In 1955 Bill Heather published Heather, W. A. (1955). The Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) forests of New Britain67 . This paper descibed the environmental conditions under which E deglupta occurs naturally in New Britain. Silvicultural characteristics and requirements of the species are outlined. A silvicultural system and policy of management are proposed. Information on growth, yield, major properties and uses of the timber is summarised. After service in PNG, Bill Heather became lecturer in forest pathology, wood science (technology) and Silviculture at the Australian Forestry School.

Bill Heather’s thesis in 1965 for his Ph.D. was on: Some aspects of the ecology and pathology of phaeoseptoria eucalypti Hans. emend. Walker on some species of the genus eucalyptus. Heather, William Aloysius Keywords: Eucalyptus - Diseases and pests.; Eucalyptus.; Leaves - Diseases and pests. on some species of the genus eucalyptus / W.A. Heather. Some aspects ...Online at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/142333

Of interest is the reporting68 of Bill’s wedding to Norma Foster in 1951 in Narrandera. St. Mel's Church, Narrandera, was beautifully decorated on 2nd June for the marriage of Norma Aileen Foster, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs W. Foster, of Narrandera, and William A. Heather, eldest son of the late Mr. W. Heather, and Mrs. A. G. Heather, of Strathfield. The Rev. Father McVeigh, P.P., assisted by the Rev. Father Stempter, M.S.C., of Viamona, New Britain, officiated at the Nuptial Mass On the 16th of June they sailed on the 'Bulolo' for Rabaul, their future homeland. A week previously the bridegroom's mother sailed for Rome to attend the ordination of her youngest son.

TPNG’s MAIL BOAT

HMS Bulolo was a 6,267ton passenger and cargo ship of the Burns, Philp Shipping Company operating in the South Pacific. Her shipping route was Route Mail service from Australia to PNG including Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, Norfolk, and Lord Howe Islands. Source Wikipedia.

67 Heather, W. A. (1955). The Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) forests of New Britain67. Empire Forestry Review, 34: 255-278.vol 3 68 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101621436

ANU Department of Forestry 1969. John Davidson (fourth from left back row), Bill Heather (third from right, middle row.) Photo credit John Davidson. 69 John Davidson’s Wood Density Researchon E deglupta. Part of his Ph.D studies.

69 Reference PNGAF Mag # 9B-5B4D3 of18th Aug 2022 Eminent TPNG Forester John Davidson 1962-1980.