AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975
Update PNGAF MAG ISSUE # 9B-5B4H5 of 17/04/2024.
FOREST MANAGEMENT
Eminent TPNG Forester Bill Heather 1947-1954
Editor R B McCarthy 2024
1948
Photo credit John Davidson 1972
NAME Dr Bill Heather 1923-2004
Occupation Forest Officer Rabaul 1940’s and early 1950’s
Work Locations
New Britain. He established Kerevat Forest Plantation program with E deglupta (kamarere).
Life after PNG Lecturer in forest pathology and wood science 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
Online at https://openresearch-pository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/142333
1 Dick McCarthy District Forester TPNG Forests 1963-1975.
Photo credits Ian Whyte Kerevat Plantations 1968.
Further research by eminent TPNG foresters Chris Borough3and Dick McCarthy, an update of Bill Heather’s early life has been made possible.
2 Chris Borough personal communication 11 May 2020. Bob Wills and his brother Bernard came from England in 1967 and were appointed as technical assistants.
3 Eminent TPNG Forester Chris Borough 1960-1971. PNGAF Mag Issue # 9b-5b4b3 of 14th July 2021.
“FORWOOD”
Bill Heather was born in Ashfield NSW in 1923 and died in 2004.4
He attended St Patrick’s College Strathfield NSW.
After obtaining a cadetship in the NSW Department of Forestry, he attended Sydney University in 1941 and 1942. Bill then went to the Australian Forestry School (AFS), graduating at the end of 1944.
By 1946, Bill Heather was District Forestry Officer Murray Management Survey Camp (Millewa State Forests) working on the forest resource along the Murray River.
In 1947, Bill joined TPNG Forests, initially in Port Moresby (1947-1949) and then Rabaul circa 1949 to 1955.he was made Regional Forest Officer Rabaul in 1952.
Activities included:
• 1948 - He and forest ranger W R Fryar establishing the Kerevat Forest plantation program with Eucalyptus deglupta (Kamarere)5
• 1952 - Open Bay/Wide Bay patrol New Britain, to locate Mokolkol village.
• 1954 Bill joined ACT Forests.
• 1955 - Bill Heather6 published The Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) forests of New Britain. 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.
In 1956, Bill Heather was appointed as a wood technologist at the Australian Forestry School. 1965 - Bill Heather was awarded a PhD for his thesis Some aspects of the ecology and pathology of Phaeoseptoria eucalypti Hans. emend. Walker on some species of the genus eucalyptus. Heather, William Aloysius. Source ANU Open Access Theses.
• 1965 – Bill Heather was appointed lecturer at the Dept of Forestry ANU in 1965. His subject topics covered wood technology, forest pathology, and silviculture.
Bill passed away in 2004. He is buried in the Gungahlin Canberra cemetery with his wife Norma.
4 Heather, William Gungahlin, Wednesday, December 29, 2004, Saturday, June 2, 2007, PB-08-05-00-314
5 John Davidson personal communication.
6 Heather, W. A. (1955). The Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) forests of New Britain. Empire Forestry Review, 34: 255-278.vol 3
Source: TPNG Forests 1960’s timber brochure.
Bill Heather’s Early LifeSt. Patrick’s College, Strathfield.
19407 . St. Patrick’s College, Strathfield.
The results for 1940 showed that at the Leaving Certificate Exam., honours were obtained In English, history, physics, and chemistry. Nineteen passed, with ten matriculations. J. Brewer was awarded a University Exhibition in engineering, and W. Heather obtained a cadetship in the Department of Forestry.
19428 . Prize Day. St Patrick's College; Strathfield.
This; bright gathering, this song and music, this academic report and distribution of prizes, may appear out of place when shadows of war loom so imminent. But if we are to survive, the education, of youth in their duties to God and their country must continue uninterrupted as much as possible. We have terrible evidence from me frenzied fanatical loyalty of the young Nazi or Japanese of the power and force that an education, even though false, can be stated the principal of St. Patrick's College, Strathfield (Rev. Brother J. V. Coghlan), at the 1941 prize giving ceremony.
The annual report stated that the roll call had risen to over 530, the highest in the history of the college. The results for 1940 showed that at the Leaving Certificate Examination, honours were obtained in English, History, Physics and Chemistry; 19 passed with 10 matriculants. J. Brewer was awarded ii University Exhibition in Engineering, and W. Heather obtained a cadetship in the Department of Forestry,
Sydney University
19429 Sydney University
Uni. Exam. Results. The following are examination results for Science I. and II.
BOTANY II.
Caird Scholarship. Not awarded.
Slade Prize for Practical Botany. Liddell, Eva Saunders Prize. Lidell, J. J. Distinction. Liddell, J. J.
Credit. Branster. M. V. Reedman. Marjorie L. aeq.; Bell. H. M.; Pearce. M. J.; McArthur; A. G.; Bottomley W.
Pass. Casserly, B. P.; Corfe, J. D.; Day. J. E.; Flack, D. S.; Fraser. L. M.; FreiderIch. J. L.; Heather. W. A.; Hindmarsh, W. R.; Plunkett. P. J.; Scott. I. A.; Thomas, P.A M.; Wilkins. M. J.; Wright. P. C..; Youhotsky, I.
CHEMISTRY IIB (ORGANIC). (FORESTRY STUDENTS)
Pass (alphabetical). Heather W. A.: McArthur. AG
Australian Forestry School (AFS)
1942 AFS Year entry
Thomas Richard BRABIN (NSW)
7 Catholic Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW: 1932 - 1942) Thu 15 Jan 1942.
8 The Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW: 1895 - 1942) Thu 15 Jan 1942..
9 Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW: 1941 - 1955) Wed 9 Dec 1942
John Oliver DARK (NSW)
William Temple FEAGAN (NSW) - awarded Schlich Medal
Frederick Phillip FRAMPTON (Tas)
Jack Hernbrough GREEN (NSW)
Herbert PORTER (NSW)
1943 AFS Year entry
Hugh McKenzie BELL (NSW)
William Aloysius HEATHER (NSW)
William Ross HINDMARSH (NSW)
Alan Grant McArthur (NSW)
Richard Vynne WOODS (SA) - awarded Schlich Medal
1944 AFS Year entry
David Boyd DUN (NSW)
Robert James EDWARDS (NSW)
Norman Benjamin LEWIS (SA)
Harold. C. WICKETT (ACT) 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 graduated from the Australian Forestry School at the end of 1944.
Standing
to right Dick Wood, Coach? Jo Bell, Bill Heather, Tom Bracken.
AFS Tennis Party 1945
Back Row L-R. Angela Thomas (Mrs Emil Johnston) Norm Lewis (SA), Emil Johnston (Tas), Rinus Bakkon (Dutch Army), Dave Dun (NSW), Curtis Moore (Gladeswood Station Hall ACT), Marie Brophy? Alan McArthur (NSW), Hugh Bell (NSW), Helen Rawling, Mavis Harmey (Mrs Norm Levers) Bill Heather, Mrs Lane Poole (wife of principal).
Front row L- R: Barbara Rawling, Dick Wood (SA), Helen Moore, Bill Hindmarsh (NSW) Bob Edwards (NSW) Estelle Peters. (note names do always correlate to individual). Source ANU Open Research.
Employment
Forest Commission of New South Wales
194610
District Forests' Preservation.
Forestry Experts address Regional Committee
Messrs Withers, District Forestry Officer of Western Region (Wagga) and Heather, District Forestry Officer Murray Management Survey Camp (Millewa State Forests) addressed the Central Regional Committee on Tuesday, regarding the preservation of district forests.
Protection of Forests
Mr. Withers said that the Western region forests had red gum and cypress, the latter not being in very large quantities. There are 8 red gum mills in the State forests and 80 sleeper cutters engaged. No cypress mills were operating in State forests, as these had been discontinued to allow the trees to grow up. The tendency was to withhold Cypress forests from grazing.
Serious Drought Effects
In the area west of Deniliquin, said Mr. Withers, 70 per cent, of the cypress trees had died out through the drought. Red gum trees had also suffered severely, particularly in thickets. On the other hand, summer flooding has also proved bad for red gum.
Forests Dwindling
Forests were dwindling rapidly, said Mr Withers and one could not go through without being struck by their sickly appearance, which was definitely due to lack of water. A scheme to water trees by gravitation from Tumbarry and Stephen weirs was a matter of£ urgency. The Millewa forests were better than Wakool. A great deal of damage had also been done by a small yellow grub. They had been through a series of very low rainfall years.
Mr. H. B. Douglas said the forests were dying rapidly and the interference with natural flooding had had a tremendous affect.
Exclusion of Stock
Mr. Withers said the exclusion of all stock had been proved by trials to be definitely warranted. The fencing off of areas from stock and the ravages of rabbits was definitely getting results. If the areas were fenced off from stock and rabbits, young trees would grow themselves if not, forests would cease to exist in 30 to 40 years’ time. Persons requiring posts always came to the pine and there was no replacement. The breaking of forests into cells of 2,000-acre blocks, to be dealt with separately was the latest scheme.
Aerial Surveys
Mr. Heather said it was the intention to have aerial photographs taken as a quick method of forest survey. Employment, which this survey would provide was mainly for youths 17 to 18 years, straight from school, with a good educational background, or reasonably educated, 10 The Independent (Deniliquin, NSW: 1901 - 1946) Thu 7 Feb 1946
young servicemen. The full complement would be 30 trainees, 2 cooks and a maintenance man. A topographical map of the area had been prepared from military maps.
Power Alcohol
Heating timber in the absence of air (destructive distillation) would add highly valuable biproducts. The yield large supplies of power alcohol method made the whole industry economical. The difficulty was the disposal of charcoal.
Interstate Co-operation
Mr. Heather said there was a Victorian Forestry Camp on the opposite side of the river, and they had done their best to cooperate with them. He hoped for a Victorian combination toward the whole solution of the problem.
Cr. T. C. Macaw: As members of the Murray Valley Development League, we are keen to see the States coordinating. These National assets are so valuable as to be far beyond State boundary considerations:
No Oregon Substitute
In answer to Cr. Macaw, the Forestry officers stated that there was no Australian timber to replace Oregon Richmond River pine was good and comparable for lightness. Radiata was quite a useful substitute.
Huge Timber Belt
Mr. Heather said the proposed construction of a mile-wide timber belt from Tocumwal right through the State to the Queensland border, with a view to controlling wind erosion, was part of a £3 million scheme of forestry development work. He would be very glad to make available any information which would enable some of that money to be spent in this region.
Information Please
The two officers promised any possible help as local Forestry officers and appealed for any reciprocal help or district information that members could provide. The chairman, Cr. T. C. Macaw, expressed the committee's appreciation to the two officers for their attendance. They were, he said, definitely interested in timber, and for economic reasons, would be forced to take a lot more interest in the future. It was very, gratifying to learn that the States were now cooperating on a scientific basis, and something good must come of it.
194611
Mr. W. Heather, forest surveyor of cypress pine areas with headquarters at Wagga, is at present making an assessment survey of pine forests in the Narrandera district. The work will take some months. With Mr. Heather are a number of trainees in forestry work, who are aiming to qualify for positions as forestry officers, etc. 11
TPNG Forests
Port Moresby
1947
Bill Heather commenced as Assistant Forest Officer Port Moresby TPNG in 1947 - 1949. Bill Heather undertook plant collections from Sogeri (Papua) and New Britain in the NGF series (CF New Guinea Forces Lae after 1945.)
Plants of Papua New Guinea12
Flindersia amboinensis Rutaceae W. Heather NGF2828, Aug 1948
Locality: Papua New Guinea, Central: Sogeri (09 25 S,147 30 E)
Habitat:
Habit/Notes: Donor/Supplier: BRI Donor Number: AQ0209896
Galbulimima belgraveana Himantandraceae W. Heather NGF2821, Sep 1948
Locality: Papua New Guinea, Central: Sogeri (09 25 S,147 30 E)
Habitat:
Habit/Notes: Donor/Supplier: BRI Donor Number: AQ0540168
Aleurites moluccana var. floccosa Euphorbiaceae W. Heather NGF2790, Sep 1948
Locality: Papua New Guinea, Central: Sogeri (09 25 S,147 30 E)
Habitat:
Habit/Notes: Donor/Supplier: BRI Donor Number: AQ0201247
Elaeocarpus womersleyi Elaeocarpaceae W. Heather NGF2788
Locality: Papua New Guinea, Central: Sogeri (09 25 S,147 30 E)
Habitat:
Habit/Notes: Donor/Supplier: BRI Donor Number: AQ0186236
Eucalyptus deglupta Myrtaceae W. Heather, 1949
Locality: Papua New Guinea, New Britain: Kerevat, East New Britain.
Habitat:
Habit/Notes: Donor/Supplier: LAE Donor Number: 8403
194913
Mr. W. A. (Bill) Heather has been spending a few days in Narrandera as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. Foster, of Margaret Street. Since graduating from the Sydney University Bill has been connected with the Commonwealth Forestry Administration and has now returned to Port Moresby where he has been stationed for the last two years.
12 Full information of selected records https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/RBG
13 Narrandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW: 1893 - 1953) Tue 26 Apr 1949.
Source TPNG Forests 1960’s timber brochure.
Rabaul & ENB
1948
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.
Editor R B McCarthy14 2024.
Air Search for New Britain Nomads. From a Special Correspondent
THE District Officer of Rabaul (Mr. J. K. McCarthy) has stated that an air reconnaissance of the mountain territory of the elusive Mokolkol peoples, on the island of New Britain, has just been completed, and a village has been observed. A patrol will be sent out to try to contact these natives.
The Mokolkol is a fierce nomad tribe, which has consistently evaded capture during the entire years of the Europeans’ rule of New Guinea. The only Mokolkols ever captured are children, abandoned by their parents in flight. There are believed to be two of them at present in Rabaul, now grown up, who were captured in this fashion. These young Mokolkols, it was hoped, could be trained, and sent back to their village to civilise their own people but under the influence of civilisation they soon lost the Mokolkol tongue.
14 Dick McCarthy District Forester TPNG Forests 1963-1975.These fierce natives hunt with a primitive axe, descending upon a village and leaving a trail of dead behind them, then disappearing again into the surrounding hills, where they live in temporary camps. Other New Britain natives live in mortal fear of the Mokolkol.
1950 (November)15
Three editions of The Bulletin detailing capture of Mokolkols
195016
A SUCCESSFUL patrol has been carried out in the Mokolkol country, in the region of Open Bay hinterland, on the island of New Britain. Seven Mokolkols were persuaded to return to Rabaul with the patrol, which was led by acting ADO Fienberg, accompanied by Cadet PO Normoyle (Junior), and Forestry Officer [Bill] Heather.
The “captives” consisted of two men, one woman, and four children. The men are about 33, and 38 years of age and therein lies the tremendous success of this patrol. Previously only aged men, women, or children have been picked up by expeditions into the Mokolkol strong hold. They said that there is only this one Mokolkol village, containing twelve males, one youth, eight adult females, and about ten children. It seems incredible that this tiny band of hill-people should dominate and terrorise, as they do, about 500 miles of country.
The natives will be taught Pidgin and in a few months’ time it is hoped to send them back to their village as proselytes of civilisation.
195117
MEET THE MOKOLKOLS. The Ned Kellys of New Britain. From a Special Correspondent
MEETING the Mokolkols has been quite a job for the Administration of Papua-New Guinea, for this brown-skinned, Ned Kelly tribe has been successfully dodging Governmental authority for about 30 years.
In that time, they have raided and murdered far and wide in the country near the base of the Gazelle Peninsula, in New Britain until the mere name “Mokolkol” tends to cause panic among neighbouring tribes. In fact, they have few neighbours, for the latter tend to clear out and leave these New Britain hillbillies in undisputed control of about 500 square miles of countryside.
Patrols went out intermittently over the years to round up these anti-social Mokolkols, but never succeeded in really getting to grips with them. Sometimes there was a bit of a skirmish, but on most occasions, the natives just skipped into the jungle and faded out, like a conjurer’s rabbit.
15 The Bulletin. Vol. 80 No. 4134 (6 May 1959); The Bulletin. Vol. 80 No. 4135 (13 May 1959); The Bulletin. Vol. 80 No. 4136 (20 May 1959)/
16 Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM.Vol. XXI, No. 5 (Dec. 1, 1950).
17 Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM.Vol. XXI, No. 6 (Jan. 1, 1951)
But in November of this year a patrol led by Assistant District Officer D. M. Feinberg, of Rabaul, with Cadet Patrol Officer C. Normoyle and 12 native police, finally tracked down the Ned Kelly hide-out. A Forestry officer, Mr. W [Bill]. Heather also accompanied the patrol.
They got within a few feet of the first house before first a pig and then a woman gave the alarm. The patrol immediately closed in, and two bearded warriors tried to bolt from their huts. But a shot into the ground at the door of one of the buildings dissuaded one black gentleman, who was then disarmed, and the other retreated indoors.
The first had obviously meant business, for he had a long-handled axe in each hand, and plenty of ability to swing both at once. The patrol picked up the second man, and a Mokolkol woman and four children before the villagers got away into the jungle.
These Mokolkols are now in Rabaul, learning Pidgin, as a preliminary to being taught to live in peace with their neighbours and the world in general.
A WORD about the history of these people. It seems that some 30 years ago they came from the general direction of the Bainings area; and, perhaps because of a quarrel or for some other reason, they took to the mountains between Wide Bay and Open Bay. There they have lived as nomads, making temporary gardens and raiding, with berserk ferocity, isolated natives working in the gardens of adjoining settlements.
Their ferocity, and the superb bushcraft which enabled them to appear and disappear at bewildering speed, added to the ill-repute gained by their wholesale slaughter, made them dreaded, for miles around. Not a native would wander knowingly within their area.
It appears that they raided mainly for axes, which apparently are not only their chief weapons but an important part of their culture. A search of the village showed that these are all of the tomahawk type, of Australian or American manufacture, and fitted with native-wood handles four or five feet long. They swing these with deadly effect, and they also use them on less murderous jobs for which other natives normally use knives. The axes are sharpened on whet stones to a razor edge; and this process is never allowed to be watched by the women of be tribe.
The two Mokolkol men taken by the patrol are both comparatively tall and well built, and both are bearded, one 33 years and the other 38. The woman is of the Baining type, with rounded head and a plump body. She is described as being extremely voluble and quite intelligent It was found that the Mokolkol language was somewhat similar to another dialect of Baining origin, and it was possible to get a halting and stumbling interpretation through the language of this second group.
THE patrol, working on preliminary information from the Mokolkols taken to Rabaul, and subject to later check ascertained that the entire Mokolkol group now numbers about 30, including women and children, and that the numerical strength of the tribe has been declining for some years. It is regarded as astounding that this small group should have built up such a reputation and spread such fear through so large an area. Even natives in quite distant areas regard the mere name of Mokolkol with dread.
The little group at Rabaul expects to be able to make contact with the rest of the tribe when they return home. They will be sent back after a short time, accompanied by a patrol to ensure their safe acceptance by the tribe, and it is hoped that they will be the means of establishing permanent contact with the Administration. If so, the solution of this tough little spot of trouble will be only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, it would be interesting to know what these wild folk of the hills think of civilisation and the strange new world to which they are being introduced. Perhaps, with increasing knowledge of Pidgin, they will be able to express their views before they go home.
Source – Pacific Island Monthly.
195118
Mr. W. Heather, formerly of the Forestry staff at Narrandera, and now of New Guinea, is at present on leave and is spending some of the time in Narrandera as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. Foster, Margaret Street.
Of interest is the reporting19 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, during which the Pope's Apostolic Blessing was bestowed on the young couple. The alter was fittingly decorated by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and as the bride entered the church the Children of Mary formed a guard of honour throughout the length of the aisle, and also rendered sweet, devotional singing throughout the Mass.
Misses Betty Foster and Mr. John Foster, sister, and brother of the bride, were in attendance as bridesmaid and best man, respectively. The bride's frock was made of figured organdi over taffeta, made with fitted bodice and full tucked skirt. Her veil of four folds finger-tip length was held in place with orange blossom, whilst her bouquet consisted of tuberoses and carnations. The bridesmaid's frock, cut on the same lines, was of pale lemon organdi over taffeta, and her bouquet of mauve and pastel shades gladioli and violets. The halo matched the bouquet.
While the register was being signed Mrs. Stan Walton sang 'Ave Maria.' The reception was held at the Narrandera R.S.L. Hall, Mrs. Heather assisting Mrs. Foster to receive the guests. Father McVeigh was chairman and read many telegrams of congratulation, one being from the bridegroom's brother, the Rev. T. B. Heather, of Rome. After the reception, the guests returned to the home of the bride's parents to say 'farewell' prior to Mr. and Mrs. Heather leaving by car for Port Macquarie, where the honeymoon was spent. 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.
Source PNGAA.
18 Narrandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW: 1893 - 1953) Mon 5 Mar 1951.
19 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101621436
HMS Bulolo built in Scotland and launched in 1938. She was a 6,267-ton 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. In 1939 she was converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser, then a Landing Ship Headquarters (LSH) in 1942. She directed the landings in North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, and Normandy during World War II. In 1946 she was decommissioned and returned to Burns, Philp Shipping Company in 1948 to resume her merchant duties.
https://www.pngattitude.com/2011/02/reminiscence-the-last-voyage-of-mv-bulolo.html
The HMS Bulolo was given back to Burns Philp in 1948 and renamed MV Bulolo. She was refurbished and painted white. This is how she would have looked when Bill and Norma travelled to Rabaul after they were married.
After 181 round voyages she was scrapped in 1968. Source Wikipedia
195220
Bill Heather confirmed as Regional Forest Officer Rabaul in January 1952.
195221
195322
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Heather, of the Department of Forests, Rabaul, New Britain, are visiting the latter's parents, Mr., and Mrs. W. Foster, of Margaret Street. Mrs. Heather was formerly Miss Norma Foster.
195423
Bill Heather joined ACT Forests in 1954 and was appointed the first OIC of Kowen Forest. ACT Forests was part of F&TB at that time, as was AFS. He transferred to AFS as Wood Technologist in October 1955.
195524
In 1955, Bill published The Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) forests of New Britain.
20 TPNG GAZETTE 24 Jan 1952 provisional Promotions
21 TPNG Gazette 21 Feb 1952 confirmed promotions.
22 Narrandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW: 1893 - 1953) Thu 30 Jul 1953
23 Personal communication Graham McKenzie Smith 15th April 2024.
24 Heather, W. A. (1955). The Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) forests of New Britain. Empire Forestry Review, 34: 255-278.vol 3.
AFS/ANU Dept of Forestry
195825
Work carried out at the Australian Forestry School, Yarralumla, during the past few months by a group of six Asian students, has been described by the Principal of the school, Dr. M. Jacobs, as "important work, well done."
The students were five Burmese, four of whom left Canberra yesterday after two years at the school, and one from North Borneo, who left Canberra earlier. Four of the Burmese students, Aung, Kimlai, Than and Win, will return home but the fifth, Sum, will do post-graduate study at Melbourne University.
The work done by the students during the past three, months involved compiling a key, to the identification in detail of 100 species of Burmese timber. The results are on a scale not previously reached in the field of Burmese forestry. Copies of the key will be presented to the University of Rangoon and the Forestry Department of the Union of Burma.
The students worked under Mr. W. A. Heather, a wood technologist at the school; Dr. Jacobs said yesterday that the work was made possible by the Department of External Affairs and the Public Service Board and the Burmese Minister in Canberra, U Myat Tun, who had assisted in getting the timber to Australia.
196226
Bill Heather prepared for the eighth British Commonwealth Forestry Conference The maintenance of health in forest crops as a series of leaflets.
196227
Bill Heather prepared the article, The incidence and significance of disease in native forest crops for the Commonwealth Forestry Conference 1962
196528
Forestry posts. The Australian National University has made four appointments to the new Department of Forestry in the School of General Studies.
The acting principal of the Australian Forestry School, Mr K. P. McGrath, will be associate director of forestry studies and Senior Lecturer.
The senior lecturer and acting deputy principal of the Australian Forestry School, Mr L. T. Carron also has been appointed Senior Lecturer. The other appointments are Mr C. D. Hamilton and Mr W. A. Heather as lecturers.
25 The Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 - 1995) Sat 8 Mar 1958
26 Source National Library of Australia (NLA) The maintenance of health in forest crops by W.A. Heather. Bib ID: 2271381. Canberra: Commonwealth Forestry and Timber Bureau, 1962 16 p.; 25 cm. Leaflet @ 83.
27 Heather, William Aloysius. The incidence and significance of disease in native forest crops. Commonwealth Forestry Conference 1962
28 The Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 - 1995) Wed 19 May 1965
The Department of Forestry's professor, Dr J. D. Ovington, begins work this month.
196529
In 1965 Bill Heather was awarded a PhD for his thesis Some aspects of the ecology and pathology of Phaeoseptoria eucalypti Hans. emend. Walker on some species of the genus eucalyptus. Heather, William Aloysius. Source ANU Open Access Theses.
29 Some aspects of the ecology and pathology of phaeoseptoria eucalypti Hans. emend. Walker on some species of the genus eucalyptus. Heather, William Aloysius. Source ANU Open Access Theses.
1969
Chris Borough30 undertook the timber rights purchase of the Open Bay Timber area in which the Mokols resided.
196931
POSITIONS VACANT ANU ASSISTANT, GRADE II Department of Forestry
Applications are invited from male graduates in Forestry, Agricultural Science or Science. Previous experience in soil microbiology or plant pathology would be an advantage. The successful applicant will study, under the supervision of Dr W. A. Heather and Dr B. H. Pratt, the isolation of Phytophthora cinnamomi from forest and agricultural soils and the distribution of this organism in relation to micro-environment in the eastern States of Australia. There would be considerable opportunity for travel in eastern Australia. It is expected that the successful applicant will commence duty early in January 1970. The appointment will be for an initial period of twelve months. Salary will be within the limits $3,815/4,837 per annum, depending upon qualifications and experience.
1969
Forestry
John Davidson (TPNG Forests 1962-1980) addressed the void in research on kamarere. From Kerevat (June 1967-March 1969) to October 1970 to January 1971, for which he was awarded a Ph.D. in 1972 from ANU. Thesis titled “Variation, association and inheritance of morphological and wood characters in a tree improvement program for Eucalyptus deglupta Blume”. John’s Ph.D. supervisor was Dr Bill Heather, after his former supervisor Dr Peter Rudman left the University.
197733
Bill and Norma Heather listed on the electoral role for ACT.
30 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9C1 of 10th Sept 2021. Pages 16-20 Chris Borough Timber Rights Purchase Open Bay Timber Area.
31 The Canberra Times (ACT 1926 - 1995) Sat 29 Nov 1969
32 Eminent TPNG Forester John Davidson 1962-1980. PNGAF Mag Issue 9B-5B4 D3 of 18th Aug 2022.
33 Personal Communication Cora Num 14/8/2018- Electoral roles 1903-1980.
Departure
1988 & 200434
Burial details Gungahlin. Norma Heather 23rd Aug 1988 (PB-08-05-00-314).
Burial details Gungahlin Bill Heather 29th Dec 2004. (PB-08-05-00-314)
34 Personal Communication Cora Num 14/8/2018-http://www.canberracemetries.com.au/gravesearch
35 Personal communication Dr John Davidson 27th March 2024.