This year is the hundredth anniversary of the erection of a monument on Forestier Peninsula in 1923 by the RST. The monument commemorates the landing of the Abel Tasman Expedition in Tasmania on 3 December 1642.

The Tasmanian Historical Research Association (THRA) is organizing an excursion to the monument and has offered 15 places to RST members.

Date: Sunday 3 December 2023.

Itinerary: Participants make their way to “Bangor” independently. The excursion will start at the Bangor Shed, just south of Dunalley, at 10am. After morning tea and a brief introduction, we will take a bus through “Bangor” to the start of the track, arriving there at 11.30am. A hilly walk of around 15-20 minutes will take us to Tasman Bay and the Tasman Monument where participants can have lunch (BYO). For the more energetic, there will be an option for a 45-60 minute return walk to North Bay where Tasman and later Marion du Fresne (in 1772) anchored their vessels. Participants will return to the bus by 2pm and then to their cars at the Bangor Shed at around 3pm. The Shed offers wine-tastings for those who would like to indulge! THRA member Tom Dunbabin farmed “Bangor” for many years and will provide commentary during the tour.

Cost: $30 per person, includes morning tea and bus transport between the Bangor Shed and the start of the walk to the monument.

To secure a place on this excursion, please send a short message before 30 September to admin@rst.org.au with the subject line “Tasman Monument excursion”. Payment will be due 1 November 2023.

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Below is a photo of the plaque on Tasman Monument at Bangor. Click on the image for an enlarged view.

“At this spot the Expedition under Abel Jansz Tasman being the first white people to set foot on Tasmanian soil planted the Dutch flag on December 3rd 1642 as a memorial to posterity and to the inhabitants of the country. This stone was erected by the Royal Society of Tasmania 1923.”

Transcription from plaque.

At the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre’s flag-raising event on Monday 3 July, the first day of NAIDOC Week 2023, Rodney Gibbins was named Tasmanian Aborigine of the Year. This award is intended to recognise Aboriginal individuals who make outstanding contributions to improving the lives of members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Rodney Gibbins was recognised for his selfless and unwavering dedication to advance the negotiations for Treaty by means of an Aboriginal-led process. At the same time, Rodney has been advocating for Truth Telling as the essential context for achieving Aboriginal rights and recognition.

Rodney has generously given his time and experience to support these causes, both within and outside the Aboriginal community. He is also committed to developing the understanding of younger members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community so they can reach their full potential and gain confidence in their own abilities and skills.

Rodney’s connection with the RST began in February 2021 when, together with Michael Mansell, he spoke on behalf of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community at the paired RST-TMAG Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

The text of Rodney’s speech was published in the Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmanian December 2022 issue (Volume 156).

Rodney delivered an RST lecture in December 2022 entitled “Truth-telling and treaty as it relates to Tasmania now” (click here to view).

Congratulations Rodney!

Congratulations to RST member, Dr Keith Corbett on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the King’s Birthday Honours announced on 12 June.

Keith’s passion for geology, conservation and wild Tasmanian places has lasted a lifetime, during which he has contributed relentlessly to promoting and caring for Tasmania’s natural environment. Keith’s wife, Elizabeth Bothwell Corbett, was also awarded an OAM for service to conservation and the environment.

The Royal Society of Tasmania is the oldest scholarly society in Australia and New Zealand and its mission is the advancement of knowledge.

The RM Johnston Memorial Medal was established in 1920 by the Royal Society of Tasmania, with the first award being presented in 1923. It is intended to acknowledge a scholar of great distinction in any field within the Society’s purview. The Medal commemorates Robert M. Johnston who served as Vice-President of the Society from 1897 to 1911 and 1916 – 1917. The awardee may be invited to deliver the “RM Johnston Memorial Lecture”.

In 1997, the Royal Society of Tasmania instituted the MR Banks Medal, to be awarded biennially to an outstanding mid-career scholar in any field within the Society’s purview. The medal honours Dr Maxwell R Banks’ contributions to science and to the Royal Society of Tasmania. The awardee may be invited to deliver the “MR Banks Lecture”.

Nominations for these medals are now open:

• Nominations may be made by anyone, although no self-nominations will be accepted.
• Nominations must be received by cob on 31 August, 2023.

Further guidelines for medal nominations are available via this link.

Knowing our past: truth telling in science

Science Meets Parliament (SMP) is an annual Australian event connecting STEM experts, policymakers and federal parliamentarians. In 2023 SMP took place in Canberra from 7-23 March and involved 528 delegates, 68 speakers and 64 meetings with scientists and parliamentarians. There was a strong online component, and the Royal Society of Tasmania was invited to take part in the session ‘Knowing our past: truth telling in science’.

As our President was scheduled to be working overseas in a remote area, I was asked to represent the Society in this panel discussion. The panel was chaired by Yawuru epidemiologist Dr Kalinda Griffiths, with other speakers Quandamooka mathematician Prof Chris Matthews and Mr Mike Flattley, CEO of the Royal Society of Victoria. The aim of the session was to share reflections on how to approach truth telling about the history of science’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, and why it’s important to know our past and be able to talk about it with clarity and honesty.

An official round-up was circulated each day of SMP, and this is how the panel discussion was summarised:

‘… then it was into a powerful discussion on truth-telling in science.

STA board member and Quandamooka mathematician Professor Chris Matthews said this work was deeply intertwined with “undoing the damage of the original doctrine of terra nullius – which did not see Aboriginal people as people”. 

Session chair Dr Kalinda Griffiths reminded us to remember the vast load on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – and urged non-Indigenous people to step into the space and carry the work with a deep awareness of that load.

Royal Society of Tasmania immediate past President Mary Koolhof reminded us a truth-telling was a process of humbling ourselves, deep listening and understanding – and of building trust. “That listening provides the platform for change.”

… Royal Society of Victoria CEO Mike Flattley: “What truth telling means to me is facing the past … that can evoke shame sorrow and anger, but settlers need to understand the past so we can atone for the wrongs and understand those legacies in the present.”’

There was considerable interest in the work of the RST in truth telling, and a great deal of respect for the process undertaken. One of the most important steps in this process was the delivery of the Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal People in 2021: https://rst.org.au/apology-to-tasmanian-aboriginal-people-2021/. Newer members of the Society may be interested to know that one of the first steps in the Society’s journey towards truth telling took place in 2003 with the sponsoring of research into the work of the Royal Society of Tasmania in relation to Tasmanian Aboriginal people in the nineteenth century.

It was a privilege to represent the Society at this event and to develop deeper understanding of the process of truth telling and its importance.

More information about Science Meets Parliament can be found at
https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/science-meets-parliament/

Mary Koolhof
Past President
The Royal Society of Tasmania

Nominations for positions on The Royal Society of Tasmania Council are now open for election at the Annual General Meeting.

The following positions are open for nomination:

• Three Council members (for 1 & 3 year terms to be determined by ballot at the first Council meeting after the AGM)
• Honorary Secretary (1 year; may be re-elected)
• Honorary Treasurer (1 year; may be re-elected)
• President (1 year; may be re-elected for 2 years maximum)
• Vice President (1 year; may be re-elected for 2 years maximum)
• Student Councillor (3 years)

Nominations must be received by the Returning Officer, Mrs Mary Koolhof by Sunday 26 February, 2023.

The nomination form can be printed/downloaded from here. Copies may also be obtained from the RST Office open Thursdays 9.00 am to 12 noon.

The completed and signed form may be returned by mail to:

The Returning Officer
C/- The Royal Society of Tasmania
GPO Box 1166
Hobart TAS 7001

OR delivered to the RST office at 19 Davey Street

OR a signed and scanned copy may be emailed to admin@rst.org.au

For further information, please contact the Honorary Secretary at secretary@rst.org.au

Any change to the Rules of the RST requires approval at an Annual General Meeting.

A small change is recommended for the second paragraph of Rule 64 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT. This change will be presented for approval at the AGM. The change is intended to ensure that the Society will remain compliant through future changes in the relevant government bodies and the legislation.

The current version of the second paragraph of Rule 64 is:

ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
64. …..
The Society will register with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) or its successors in law, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Australian Business Registry (ABR), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), any similar Tasmanian Government body where that registration will benefit the Society, or is required by law. All material issued by the Society will comply with all rules and regulations created under the legislation created by each of the above bodies.

Changes to this paragraph have been proposed, as follows:

ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
64. …
The Society will register with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) or its successors in law, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Australian Business Registry (ABR), and any similar Tasmanian or Federal Government body where that registration is required by law or will benefit the Society. All material issued by the Society will comply with all rules and regulations created under the legislation created by each of the above bodies.

Jocelyn McPhie
President

Congratulations to Royal Society of Tasmania member, Mrs Joyce Mackey, on being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2023 Australia Day Awards, for service to community history preservation.

Joyce is an Honorary Costume Curator for TMAG at Narryna, an 1830s merchant’s house and collection that tells the story of early colonial life in Hobart. In 2016 Narryna received a National Library of Australia Community Heritage Grant to undertake a significance and preservation-needs assessment of its nationally-significant costume collection. Over the Winter of 2018, Joyce led volunteers in upgrading the cataloguing and photographic documentation of the collection as it was rehoused, using archival materials provided for by a second successful grant application.

Joyce now curates both the textiles and costumes collections at Narryna, arranging their exhibition at events such as the “Ashes to Ashes” exhibition held as Narryna’s contribution to the Dark MOFO program of 2015.

Joyce is also a highly accomplished lace maker. In 2017, Joyce designed and made a mixed bobbin lace pattern placemat of Tasmania’s floral emblem of blue-gum leaves and flowers against a lattice fence, which was presented as part of an Australian official anniversary gift to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Henrik of Denmark.

A beautiful lace bonnet, created in 2016 by Joyce to commemorate the memory of 1790’s convict Mary Reibey, is now on permanent exhibition at Entally House in Hadspen.

Congratulations to the Royal Society of Tasmania’s Honorary Editor, Council member, and renowned Wildlife Scientist and Conservationist Dr Sally Bryant, on being made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Awards, for “significant service to wildlife and land conservation in Tasmania”.

Sally has worked in many of Australia and New Zealand’s wildest places focusing on threatened fauna mainly birds. Her conservation assessments of Tasmania’s shorebirds, eastern ground parrot and forty-spotted pardalote have been foundational for three decades. In Tasmania she has surveyed many of the remote offshore islands including Macquarie Island and was instrumental in establishing the Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program. At the Tasmanian Land Conservancy Sally was instrumental in protecting 11 permanent nature reserves and establishing long term monitoring across 15,000 hectares. Two reserves had World Heritage Status and one reserve in the heart of Kingborough protected a critical colony of forty-spotted pardalotes.

In 1991, Sally authored the Forty-Spotted Pardalote National Recovery Plan for the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water, which aimed to secure major colonies of the forty-spotted pardalote on private land, maintain or increase the amount of potential habitat available to the species and maintain or increase the populations at or above those recorded in 1991.

Sally has authored and co-authored numerous books, chapters, journal papers, technical reports and popular articles on conservation issues, including those for the Royal Society of Tasmania. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at UTas, on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Ecological Management & Restoration, and has recently lectured for the Society of the plight of the Forty-Spotted Pardalote.

Sally is probably best known for her popular ABC Radio wildlife talkback programs, which have been running since 1999.