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Survey House 14 Shepherd Street Darwin GPO Box 417 Darwin NT 0801 Telephone (08) 8981 4137 Fax (08) 8941 3449 Email nt@engineersaustralia.org.au Website: www.engineersaustralia.org.au

News

Engineers Australia Northern Division August 2009

Partners

It has certainly been a busy time since our last newsletter. Engi-neering week has come and gone. A very busy time for all concerned. The Divi-sion sponsored a race on the Darwin Cup Day program getting

national TV and oncourse coverage as well as local media coverage. All aimed at raising the profile of Engineers Australia. Feedback on members’ perceptions would be helpful in evaluating the success of the sponsorship.

The launch of Engineering Week by Deputy Chief Minister Delia Lawrie was attended by 85 members. Well done. The Minister’s speech addressed the importance of the profession and its activities and empathised with the chal-lenges we are facing and showed a sound un-derstanding of the engineering profession. It was a pleasure to see Mike Burgess, the head of the Department of the Chief Minister and Secre-tary to Cabinet presented with his Fellow’s Cer-tificate by the Minister. Mike made the point in his response that training and practising engi-neering knows no boundaries. Engineers can add value in any pursuit.

A Fellows luncheon was held as part of the celebration of Engineering Week with Professor Graham Pegg the Dean of the Faculty of Educa-tion, Health and Science as the guest speaker. It is in this faculty that the School of Engineering resides.

Additionally since the last newsletter I have attended presentations by visiting EA Eminent Speakers, Dr David Skellern (ITEE College)

and A/Prof Ron Cox (Civil College), great pres-entations and added to previous presentations have been a valuable resource for the Division. Thanks to Nina Lenz (EA National) for organis-ing speakers to visit the Division.

The next major function will be our Engineering Excellence Awards on the 18th September, a gala dinner to celebrate the efforts of our pro-fession. I urge you to attend. A public presenta-tion of the entries was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Darwin Graeme Sawyer and was well attended. The judging is now complete, but you will have to wait until the 18th September to hear the results.

Delivery of CPD to rural and remote based members is an issue of importance particularly to our Division. Peter Godfrey raises the issue in his column “From the President” in the July issue of Engineering Australia, and the current work of the Electronics Communication Com-mittee and the Regional Committee.

Next time you visit the Engineers Australia site find the link to makeitso or simply go to www.makeitso.org.au to see the latest Engi-neers Australia is asking of you to raise our profile.

Peter Hagan President

From the President

Don’t forget to register for the 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards

See registration details on page 11

• President’s Report • Engineering Week - Race Day - Launch - Fellows Luncheon - Highlights • Director’s Report • Technical Presenta-

tions • CSIRO Science Fair • SMART 2009 • Launch MAKE IT

SO Campaign • Poole’s Ponderings • Young Engineers

Golf Day • Hays Engineering

Welcome as new sponsor

• Registration 2009 Engineering

Excellence Awards • Calendar of Events

Sponsor

Page 2

Northern Division’s 2009 Engineering Week was off and running at the Darwin Cup on Monday, 3rd August. The division spon-sored Race 2 the “Engineers Australia Special Conditions Handi-cap”, with the outright winner past the finish line being “Two Sons”. Peter Hagan and Bronwyn Russell presented the trophy to its owner John (Foxy) Robinson, JJ Robinson, R Robinson, Mrs J Reidel, J Berryman and C James., second place went to “Party Crasher” and third place went to “Caraga Sunshine”.

Over 30 members and guests enjoyed the hospitality on the day at the Engineers Australia Corporate marquee track side which in-cluded a great buffet luncheon and a beverage or two, as well as the Division’s own Sweepstake.

It was a little disappointing that members didn’t support this initiative as much as we would have liked with many phoning or coming into the office on the Thursday prior to the races request-ing tickets which had already been sold to the general public due to lack of interest.

The race kicked off a very busy week for the Division.

hosted by Hon. Delia Lawrie, Deputy Chief Minister, MLA .

The Hon. Delia Lawrie hosted the launch of Engineering Week in the Stranger’s Lounge at Parliament House on Tuesday, 4th Au-gust from 5:00pm

85 guests enjoyed the Minister’s hospitality, including Mike Bur-gess who was presented with his Fellows Certificate. Mike was invited to become a Fellow by the President of the Association, Peter Hagan and he took the opportunity to thank the division.

Engineering Week

Launch of Engineering Week First past the finish Line

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Friend

Engineering Week

Saffrron at Parap – Wednesday, 5th August

Fellows and companions were invited to join Prof. Graham Pegg, for a Fellows and Companions luncheon which was held at Saf-fron in Parap on Wednesday, 5th August as a part of “Engineering Week” activities.

Professor Graham Pegg is currently Dean of the Faculty of Edu-cation, Health and Science at Charles Darwin University. He holds a first class honours BSc Degree in Chemistry / Biochemis-try and a PhD from James Cook University. His Research inter-ests and International Publications have included Molecular De-sign and Synthesis, New Drug Discovery and Development, Natural Products Discovery, Vaccine Development, Pharmacol-ogy, Biochemistry, Toxicology, Forensic Chemistry and Molecu-lar Genetics.

Graham reflected in his role as Dean of the faculty for the past two years and highlighted the positive steps by Charles Darwin University to improve the universities standing in the commu-nity. He also provided some tips and recommendations on man-agement styles.

Graham and his wife Lindsey have five adult sons (including triplets), and his hobbies include fishing and boating, antique furniture restoration and red wine appreciation.

On Thursday, 6th August, an Engineering Week activity for 2009 included an Engineering presentation at the Darwin High School Bullocky Point, Darwin.

The Director of the Northern Division Brownyn Russell and two young Engineering members; Jacinta Kelly and Justin De Zylva provided an inspirational session to students to inspire their imagination to consider engineering as a career choice in the fu-ture.

Over 300 children from Darwin High School attended this event.

Darwin High School Engineering Presentation

Fellows Luncheon

More highlights from Engineers Australia Darwin Cup Race Day

Sponsor

Page 4

Director’s Report

What a full time we have had in recent weeks and still a lot to come for the year. I was privileged to be a spectator along with many Darwin residents at the welcome home march for 1st Brigade in Darwin streets recently where a number of our members were proudly marching. It is good to acknowledge the work done by our young engineers on deployment to places such as Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor. There is a project from Afghanistan in this

year’s Engineering Excellence Awards. Can I remind you that the Awards are coming up fast on 18 Sep-tember with a fascinating number of entries this year! If you have-n’t bought your tickets to the dinner yet please let Karen or Tara know. Also there is an opportunity to sponsor students from Charles Darwin University to attend the dinner. I am sure you can all remember being a poor student and this gives you a chance to meet some of these interesting young people who will be our next generation of engineers. The sponsorship of a race on Darwin Cup day during Engineer-ing Week exposed us to more than 20,000 people at the races plus many more who watch the event on national television. The race

was won by a group that included one of Darwin’s well known developers who uses the services of engineers on a regular basis!

Bronwyn Russell

The 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards Technical Presentations were held at Darwin City Council on 29th July 2009. All entrants into the Awards provided key people to speak and highlight the positive as-pects of their project to the judges, members and the general public. With some project entrants travelling from as far as Sydney and Alice Springs to present it was a delight to hear from them all. A big thank you to Darwin City Council who supplied the function room, food and beverage for the presentations.

Change of date! For National Assessor

Ewan Hazeldine’s visit on the 9th to 13th of November…

• Come along to Ewan’s workshop and find out how to complete your CER (Career Episode Report).

• Alternatively, if you have already completed your CER’s, get them in now and be ready for your profes-

sional interview when Ewan comes to town.

• Check with your firm. Does it have a PDP? Ewan can do an individual session with your firm if you have

enough interested.

Contact Karen on 89814137 for more information.

Wanted…

Young Engineers Australia Committee

members Contact Tara on 8981 4137

or Andrew on 8947 4400 for more information

Darwin City Council Sponsors 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards Technical Presentations

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Friend

CSIRO Science Fair

Engineers Without Borders, Young Engineers Australia and ACA participated in the 2009 CSIRO Science Fair from 18th – 20th August. Rana Everett, coordinator for the week said “ the response from the children was excellent. Their faces said so much from the activities that they got involved in and the information they re-ceived. The age of the children is the best age for them to start thinking about engineering and to know that the science and maths is achievable”. The children were amazed about the cool things that Engineers do! Rana expressed her concerns over the poor response from the volunteering potential in the engineering industry. She was em-barrassed that the organisers had to assist her in covering the stalls when no volunteers were available. The division relies on its volunteers to assist with events such as this and we look forward to your support in 2010.

Supporter

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Science Maths and Real Technology (SMART) 2009

A SMART RECIPE FOR SUCCESS The SMART (science, maths and real technology) remote tour took to the sky at the beginning of science week, August 2009, after much planning in the Engi-neers Australia Northern Division office. The recipe for the tour was the brain child of Director, Brownyn Russell and made possible by the generous assistance of ALPA (remote community store manag-ers), the University of Newcastle, Engi-neers Australia Northern Division and

the Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Re-sources (DIISR). It was a recipe for success from the start. The ingredients: Take 10 remote Arnhem Land and Tiwi Island schools, 2 weeks of intrepid travelling,1 402 Cessna plane, a large bunch of smiling, dark haired, indigenous school students, 2 amazing and adaptable SMART show presenters, 2 helpful ALPA hosts, a range of pilots and 1 very overwhelmed tour organiser. (I'll explain later) The method: Start with a good Aussie bush story and include isolated airstrips, red dusty troupes, camp dogs, kilometres of travel, loads of science give-aways (a cuppla midgies or 3) and what do you have? ...A fabulous, well received and exciting op-portunity for students in the remote communities to gain a posi-tive educational experience to entice them to choose science, maths, engineering or technology as their future career pathway. The blend of expertise from University of Newcastle, Dr Terry Burns and his co-presenter Mr Chris Hendry made the show in-teresting for the students and helpful to the schools. There was a fair amount of dust and heat in the air that gave rise to a perfectly formed series of shows that catered for the needs of everyone (including the amazed tour organiser - more later). The tour primarily consisted of entertaining science 'magic' dem-onstrations that were entertaining and interactive. The shows were followed by a very busy student and or teacher workshop to encourage hands on tasks for everyone. The students experienced success and the teachers were engaged in new ideas to add to the classroom. ...So, why was the tour organiser so amazed? She (aka Rosemary O'Reilly - that's me) saw firsthand how generous and accepting the people in the remote communities were as the SMART team received the hospitality of Gapuwiyak, Galiwinku, Milingimbi, Ramingining, Delisavile, (Tiwi Islands) Nguiu, Pir-langimpi, Minjilang, Warruwi and Gunbalanya schools. Phew! I dare you to memorise THOSE names by the end of this article. The 'proof is in the pudding'. I encourage you to share this recipe with your friends and colleagues and pass on the Engineers Aus-tralia Northern Division office number (08 8981 4137) to anyone 'remotely' (no pun intended) interested in finding out more about the SMART program. It's a recipe for success.

WE WANT YOU!

Members of Engineers Australia to volunteer to assist students with Sunchase 2009.

What is Sunchase? Sunchase is a fun and interactive program where students build their own Solar Kit Cars and race them

against their fellow students.

It’s an opportunity for the students to learn about science, engineering,

and a vehicle that can be powered only by the sun.

Interested?

Please contact Rosemary O’Rielly on 8981 4137 or email

rorielly@engineersaustralia.org.au

Page 7

Youth Partner

!!CONFERENCE ROOM AVAILABLE FOR RENT!! Hire

The conference room be hired out for: • Half days at $110 • Full days at $220 • Evenings at $165

Equipment White board, TV, DVD/Video and OHP are free to use but the following cost money to use: • Data projector is $220 per day • Laptop is $88 If data projector is being used for three days or more it will be charged at half price. All prices are Negotiable

Catering The conference room has a kitchen with fridge, oven, stove, microwave and dishwasher. We charge a minimum of $30.00 per day for continu-ous tea & coffee for any number under 20 people and $1.50 per person for numbers over 20.

Cleaning It is the responsibility of the hirer to set up and clean the room. We have a vacuum cleaner in the

server room. We recommend that you bring a jacket.

Launch of the MAKE IT SO campaign by Engineers Australia

Sponsor

Page 8

Poole’s Ponderings - David Douglas Smith (DD Smith)

In the last article, the engineering activities of DD Smith (DD) fea-tured. In this article we will look at some family, supplementary and peripheral activities of DD. The information for this article was sourced from the Northern Terri-tory Archives Service, George Red-mond’s “A History of Public Works in the Northern Territory, the Australian War Memorial and the “Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography, Charles Darwin Uni-versity.

DD’s father George emigrated from Scotland to NSW in 1888; over the next twenty three years he was employed by the NSW, WA and Tasmanian Railways, progressing from ganger to Com-missioner. George married Jean Lindsay from Wollongong in 1894. DD was the second of seven children, having four brothers and two sisters.

DD married Margaret Murray of New Town Tasmania on 16 April 1925; they had five children, three boys and two girls. They divorced in 1967. DD married Dylis Hurst in 1969.

The first work undertaken in the Territory by DD was the 1926/7 survey of proposed railway lines through the Barkly Tablelands and Victoria River Districts. He left his wife and infant daughter in Tasmania whilst he undertook this work. He bought his family to Alice Springs in 1928 when he was appointed Resident Engineer for Central Australia.

The family lived in a tent on a site on the corner of Parsons and Hartley Streets while they con-structed a house. It was suggested at one stage during the 1930’s depres-sion as a cost saving meas-ure, that DD be sacked from his position and his house converted to a post office thereby saving on the cost of building a proposed new post office. The site is now a park which bears DD’s name.

DD travelled extensively throughout the Territory. It is reported that he covered up to 50,000km in a per. This was at a time when

tracks were considered to be in excellent condition if motorists could average 25km/hr. Roads were seen as being for dry sea-son use only with the need for minimal use during the wet sea-son; this philosophy lasted well into the 1950’s when early dis-cussion on beef road standards proposed that minimal funding for draining works be incorporated into budgets.

On one trip DD rolled his vehicle near Tennant Creek fracturing bones in both arms, he lay injured by his vehicle for 26 hours only gaining access to his water tank by operating the tap with his feet.

The construction of improved roads in the NT was one of the DD.’s ambitions. He consequently overspent his budgets. Equipment was basic initially fire ploughs, camels and labour intensive low productivity equipment.

The gold rush at Tennant Creek in the 1930’s resulted in an up-graded track from Alice Springs. Further to the north of Tennant Creek reconnaissance survey, centre line pegging, clearing and

construction was occurring. This preliminary work was of great value when the initial upgrade of the track was undertaken by the military in 1940.

The management of activities in the NT was continually changing, DD at various times reported to the NT Administrator and an NT officer to the bureaucracy in Can-berra.

The appointment of “Southern” Engineers from the State Road Authorities to co-ordinate and oversee the construction of what became the Stuart Highway was

seen by many locals as a slight on the abilities of DD.

The construction activities for WWII resulted in the infrastructure that DD and others had only dreamt of becoming a reality. After the war the task became one of maintenance.

In 1949 DD became a pas-toralist as he had for Terri-

tory infrastructure. DD had plans for Central Australian pastoral-ising. He became a part owner of Mount Allan Station where his business plan was to turn a profit off yearling cattle for fattening in the south. The development of Mount Allan required fencing, bore and yard construction.

Description: Seventh ? Legislative Council - standing, l to r, - K.C. Wa-ters (Arnhem), D. Hogan (Clerk Assistant), B.F. Kilgariff (Non Official), F.W. Drysdale (Nightcliff), W.M. Curteiss (Director of Agriculture), R.C. Ward (Port Darwin), D.D. Smith (Stuart), H. Chan (Fannie Bay), H. Brennan (Elsey), C.F. Adams (Director of Mines), A.L. Rose (Alice Springs), R.J. Withnall (Crown Law Officer), J.H. Whittem (Director of Animal Industry), D.N. Mathieson (Non Official) F.H. Walker (Clerk); seated, l to r - L.H. Purkiss (Barkly), H.C. Giese (Director of Welfare), R.B. Nott (President and Administrator), H.C. Barclay (Director of Lands), W.J. Fisher (Non Official).

Page 9

Friend

Poole’s Ponderings cont…….. DD’s son who was a partner in the station provided an interest-ing description of the years in his oral history, including hand cutting 40,000 timber fence posts.

(Mt Allan was sold to the Aboriginal Land Fund Commission. This matter also makes interesting reading in the oral history records). DD also had interest in Central Mt Wedge Station and a property in S.A.

DD retired from the Government in 1957. His public service did not end though as he maintained an interest in the Race Club, Scouts and Guides. He was involved in the construction of the John Flynn Memorial Church and the Old Timers Home and was a Justice of the Peace for fifty two years.

DD was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Council for one term in 1962-65. The Council of the time was comprised of Official (appointed) bureaucrats and elected members.

DD’s service to the NT and its citizens were recognized by him being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1981 and a state funeral following his death on 7th July 1984. DD died aged 87 following complications from surgery for a broken hip.

The NT has had several Engineers who left a mammoth legacy of improvements to our way of life.

Works and Service Branch, Department of the Interior. Darwin Back row L-R: W.West, Works Supt Darwin. W.Nuttall, Asst Works Supt Darwin. E.G.Copley, Field Asst Canberra. W.V.Lancaster, Asst Accountant Canberra. A.C.Fleetwood, Eng Water & Sewerage Canberra. T.Nulty, Clerk Canberra. D.D.Smith Resident Engineer Alice Springs. J.H.Hays Electrical Section Canberra. Front row L-R: A.Brewster Clerk Darwin. H.Hollins Chief Eng Can-berra. G.Moss Temps Asst Darwin. P.West Manager Dar-win. J.B.Watts Assistant Darwin.

Young Engineers Golf Day 23 July 2009 The annual YEA golf day went ahead on the 23rd July 2009 and was once again a success, showcasing some of Darwin’s best (and worst) golfing talent!! About 30 people in 9 teams of 3 or 4 competed in an ambrose format for the fun one day event at the Palmerston Golf and Country Club. Several local engineering firms and contractors were repre-sented on the day but as sunset approached it so happened that the team from Douglas Partners was setting the pace, closely followed by a team representing Macmahon Contractors. ‘Awesome Hot Guys’ from Douglas Partners, represented by Jim Hollebone, Yidir Chaachoua and Mick Owen eventually took first place and were closely followed by ‘3 Old Farts and 1 Girl’, from Macmahon Contractors. After some luck with the dice, third prize went to the guys and girls from GHD. All in all it was a great day with everyone enjoying a relaxing end to the working week with a few beers (the drink buggy be-ing expertly driven by Kye and Trent) and a ‘wee’ bit of exercise in typical beautiful Darwin dry season weather, followed by a BBQ catered by the Palmerston Golf and Country Club. This great event would not be possible without the support from local sponsors (see below), the players and of course the YEA committee members and EA staff who helped the day run smoothly. On behalf of YEA I’d like to express our thanks and gratitude and look forward to continued support in the future.

Supporters

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Welcome aboard to our newest sponsor Welcome to Hays Engineering as our newest sponsor for 2009. John Robertson from Hays can answer all of your requirements for recruitment and we ask our member organisation and individuals to support our sponsors.

Code of Ethics Seminar with Bob Nairn

Northern Division took the opportu-nity to ask Bob Nairn to present to members on the Engineers Australia “Code of Ethics” during a recent visit to Darwin. Bob’s son was playing in

the Darwin Symphony Orchestra for the Masquerade Ball be-ing held at Skycity. Over 25 members and heard Bob speak on the “code of ethics” to assist members with knowledge and to outline the standards that all Engineers Australia members

should adopt. Bob also discussed the awareness of the roles Engineers play that are centrally linked to ethics, and how to deal with coplaints against EA members. Peter Hagan thanked Bob for conducting this very impor-tant issue for Northern Division members.

R J Nairn BE, BEc, CPEng, EngEx

Page 11

Supporter

Booking Details RSVP: FRIDAY 4th September 2009

Total No of Participants ________ @ $140.00 (incl GST) per person Sponsor a Student _____@$100.00 (inc GST) per person

Payment Method

Credit Card Mastercard/ VISA/ AMEX Amount$

Name on Card Signature

Card Number ______/______/______/______ Expiry __/__

Invoice Company Name:

Billing Address:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2009 Engineering Excellence Awards - Register Today!

2009 Engineering Excellence Awards Registration Form

Darwin Convention Centre

Friday 18th September 2009 Cost $140.00 per person

Students $100.00 per person (includes food , champagne, wine, beer and soft drinks)

TAX INVOICE Where an individual registration is for less than $1000 (incl GST) this document becomes a tax invoice for GST purposes upon completion and payment. ABN 63 020 415 510.

Company Name: _____________________________ Contact Name: ______________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ Email: ____________________________________

Return Via Fax on: (08) 8941 3449

Contact Details Engineers Australia Northern Division

Survey House 14 Shepherd Street Darwin Phone (08) 8981 4137

Email tkeogh@engineersaustralia.org.au

Page 12

Friends of Excellence Awards

Date Event Speaker/Venue

11th September Sunchase Alice Springs

18th September Engineering Excellence Awards 2009 Darwin Convention Centre

7th October 4:00pm to 6:30pm

Estimating Sea-Level Rise in an Uncertain Future - seminar An overview for policymakers and owners of major coastal infrastruc-ture

Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Novotel, Esplanade Darwin

8th October Eminent Speaker - Ron Cox Engineers Australia

22nd October Sunchase Darwin

6th—7th November National Electrical College Meeting Darwin (venue TBA)

9th—13th November Ewan Hazeldene, National Assessor Visit Engineers Australia

17th—18th November 9:00am to 5:00pm

Estimating Sea-Level Rise in an Uncertain Future - seminar 2 Designed specifically for planners, engineers and other stakeholders

Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems, Novotel, Esplanade Darwin

3rd December Annual General Meeting 14 Shepherd Street, Darwin

25th September Careers Fair Charles Darwin University

Young Engineers Northern Division monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each

month at Lizards Bar, 5:30pm. All Young Engineers are welcome to come along and get involved.

Calendar of Events

2009

Engineering Excellence Awards

Celebrating 90 years of Engineering Excellence

Looking Forward Looking Back