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Tribute James Hamlyn Willis 1910-1995 MargaretCorrick' With the sudden death ofJames Hamlyn 600 copies were required to fill orders Willis D. Sc, AM on 10 November 1995 from Melbourne Teachers Training The Field Naturalists Club ofVictoria lost College and Melbourne University Botany one of its long-standing and most revered School, as well as orders from overseas members, known to us all simply as Jim. institutions. These papers formed the basis Above all, those whose lives had touched of a book entitled Victorian Fungi pub- Jim in any way, however small, felt that lished by the Club in 1941. It was reprint- they had lost a friend. Hischeerful person- ed in 1950 with the new title of Victorian ality, friendly greetings and wise counsel Toadstools and Mushrooms. Further illuminated and enriched any gathering in reprintsappeared in 1957 and 1963. which heparticipated. Jim led his first Club excursion on 30 Jim was born in Oakleigh on 28 January May 1934 - a 'Fungus Foray' to Cockatoo 1910, the second son of Benjamin James Creek (June 1934, The Victorian Naturalist Willis, then a teller in the Bank of 51.45-48). This was the first ofmany such Australasia (now the ANZ Bank) at excursionsand the 'Fungus Foray' became Yarram. In 1913 Benjamin Willis was aregulareventin the Club'scalendar. promoted to manage the bank's branch in In 1937 Jim negotiated a transfer from Stanley, Tasmania, where Jim had his the Forests Commision to the Lands early schooling, first from his father and Department and in October 1937 began then at the local primary school. In 1924, his distinguished career with the Royal at the age of fourteen, Jim came to Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium Melbourne to attend Melbourne High which lasted until his retirement in 1972 School. After matriculating in 1927 he when he held the position of Assistant was awarded a three year scholarship to Government Botanist and Acting Director the Victorian School of Forestry at of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Creswick. After receiving his Diploma in National Herbarium. 1930 he was posted back to the Creswick Shortly after Jim began work in district as a cadet Field Officer with the Melbourne the Willis family moved to ForestsCommission. Brighton and Jim commenced part-time It was in Creswick that Jim met his study at Mebourne University, graduating future wife Mavis Howie. During October in April 1940 with the degree of B. Sc. 1932 Jim was appointed Assistant Forest (Hons.). The move to Melbourne enabled Officerat Belgrave and a year later, on 13 Jim to take a more active part in the Club. October 1933, he and Mavis were married On 20 November 1937he led hisfirstgen- andwenttoliveatCockatoo. eral excursion to the Frankston area with Jim was elected a country member of Ethel McLennan asjoint leader (Jan. 1938, The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria in The Victorian Naturalist 54, 144) and in July December 1932 andin April 1934 his first 1938 he gave his first talk to the Club papers appeared in The Victorian entitled 'The Alluring World of Fungi', Naturalist. Entitled 'The Agaricaceae or illustrated 'by many colourful lantern Gilled Fungi', 'Beef Steak', 'Punk' and slides and projections by the epidiascope'. 'Blackfellows Bread' these papers filled A large collection of fungi was also the whole of Part 12 of Volume 50 and displayed contributed by J.H. Willis, aroused a great deal of interest. A note in H.C.E. Stewart and A.A. Brunton the July 1934 issue refers to the demand (July 1938, TheVictorianNaturalist 55,38). for reprints ofthe April issue; more than Following his retirement in 1972 Jim 7GlcnlussStreet,Balwyn,Victoria3103 was able to travel more widely and many 44 The Victorian Naturalist Tribute of these trips became the subject of talks marks in his publishing career. They were illustrated with his slides. The lecture hall the first comprehensive publications on was always well filled on these occasions the Victorian florasince A.J. Ewarl's long and the audience was assured of hearing outdated Flora of Victoria (1931). The well chosen words, clearly spoken and two handbooks formed the major pari of audible throughout the hall without ampli- his thesis presented to Melbourne fication. Apart from speaking at Club University for which he received a meetings Jim was in constantdemand as a Doctorate of Science in 1974. In 1968 speaker on a wide variety of topics to Flowers andPlants ofVictoria (in collab- othergroups and societies in Melbourneas oration with R. Cochrane, E. Rotherham well as in country Victoria and interstate. and B. Fuhrer) was published in associa- One of his last talks was delivered on 13 tion with the Field Naturalists Club of October 1986 to the Botany Group of the Victoria. The captions to the 543 plates in Club, when he spoke for one and a half the book were entirely Jim's work. The hours on histriptoChina. royalties from the book made a major Jim held several official positions in the contributiontotheClub's publishingfund. Club; the first as a Committee member in In 1975, after his retirement, Jim revised 1941-43; Council member 1974-76; Vice- Ferns of Victoria and Tasmania by N.A. President 1944, 1971-72 and 1973-74; Wakefield, another Club publication. In acting Editor of The Victorian Naturalist 1982 Shrubs and treesfor Australian for 6 months from July 1945, Assistant Gardens by the late E.E. Lord, revised 5th Editor 1947-48 and Editor 1948-51. He edn.byJ.H. Willis waspublished. was a member of the Plant Names Sub- Jim was agreat loverofnature in all its Committee from 1943 and its Secretary aspects, he delighted in any activity which 1948-1957 and a member of the Natural took him outdoors and into the country- History Medallion Award Committee in side. He was atireless walker and even in the 1960's and again in 1973-76. the city he never lost an opportunity of A master of the written as well as the walking through the parks. If business spoken word, Jimcontributed articles on a took him from the Herbarium to the City variety of subjects to The Victorian he preferred to walk through the parks Naturalist as well as to numerous ratherthan take a tram. He participated in Australian and overseasjournals and local an enormous range of botanical and suburban publications. Apart from botani- exploratory trips throughout Victoria and cal subjects Jim was a knowledgeable various parts of every Australian stale, to historian and wrote widely about early New Guinea and New Zealand. After his Australian explorers and botanists. His retirement he travelled with Mavis in published works numbered over 800 Great Britain, Europe. Iceland and China. including 452 individual botanical and Attheageof81 he madeamemorabletrip biographical entries in The Australian to Borneowherehecompletedthearduous Encyclopedia (1958). Over 200 of his walk almost to the summit of Mt. Npaatpuerraslistapapnedarheedtooikn aTmhoedesVticptriodreiainn dKiuneabatlou.shHoertwnaesssveorfy dbirseaaptpho,intheed twhaats, having published more papers there than restrained from attempting the last short, anyone else. In the first 21 years after rockyscrambletothesummit. mpaopveirnsgoftowhMieclhbaollurbnute2h5eappupbelairsehdeidn T1h5e0 hfoorrJessitemrybnawecovkre.krHfiderrstocvboeyntbaiicncyuacerld,e athnoedrdliiadtdeerhhoiinss MViucAsthsorriwoaeonlmlNsatauJsriamVliicswtta.osriaaunthTooradosrtcooo-lasutahnodr bHiecrybcalreiutmouwntoilrk19f6r0owmheBnriMgahvtiosnbteocatmhee P(rolef1av9tni7hts3rsi)eoeinansontVdohifecVtrtoowrblioouaomoketsVhoe2lar.ns1(d.1(9Ap17u92bH6)l2ai)nws,heder2bdenodomlakeajdnondt.-ro aawtrbsoairflprfiiaitcsye.sdteTonahgbgeeeotrultaowcuhaktissoofnasaabsfuceoatsuyrhghdittinrdiaptsfnh;teoettroianpftclfareekeaceastsuJirhineimg;s 45 Vol. 113(2)1996 Tribute his wide knowledge of history and local (fromsub-alpine Victoriaand history as well as botany made him a most Tasmania); entertaining and informativepassenger. Eucalyptus willisii Ladiges, Humphries In the early 198()'s some of the more and Brooker(from SA and Victoria); active Club members felt the need for Goodenia willisiuna Carolin (from SA, botanical and general interest weekend NSWand Victoria); camps which would provide more oppor- Grevillea willisii R.V. Smith and tunity for walking and exploring than was McGillivray(from north-eastVictoria). available on the usual day trips by car or Oleanites willisii I. Cookson (afossil olive bus. At first these (Five Good Camp-outs, from Yailourn); 1985. The Victorian Naturalist 102, 5, f'ottia willisii G.O.K. Sainsbury (a moss 167-177). were organised by John Milligan from StandleyChasm, NT), and and subsequently by Will Ashburner. Jim, Stcccherinum willisii M. Geesteranus often accompanied by Mavis, was an (a hydnoid fungus from Lamington enthusiastic participant. Usually the first National Park, Queensland). astir in the mornings he would have Jim himself described 64 plant species, returned by breakfast time with a little bag two thirds of these as sole author, several ofbotanical specimens to bediscussed and new varieties and made many new combi- usually pressed for donation to the nations. In 1958-9Jim held the position of Herbarium. Jim always travelled with Australian Botanical Liaison Officer at a small bundle of newspaper and, as a Kew. In 1964 he was awarded the passenger mindful of space limits in a Australian Natural History Medallion and companion's car, would often travel in 1973 the Royal Society of Victoria sitting on his bundle of pressings. His Silver Medal for research. In 1974 the collecting notes were always clearly Faculty of Science, Monash University written in his beautiful handwriting on the appointed him an Honorary Fellow and in smallest scrapsofrecycled paper; as a true 1976 he was appointed a Fellow of the conservationist nothing was wasted and it Linnaean Society ofLondon. InJune 1995 is doubtful ifa search ofhis many collec- he became a Member of the Order of tions in the Herbarium would reveal that Australia. he ever used new paper for his notes. Jim Jim is survived by his wife Mavis, two also had a keen sense of smell and taste sons, three daughters, 15 grandchildren and both wereoften employed as an aid to and fourgreat-grandsons. identification ofplants. The breadth and depth ofJim's scien- Jim had a wide range of hobbies and tific achievements place him in the front interestsapart from botany; he was an avid rank ofcontemporary botanists; he was to collector of almost anything unusual or the National Herbarium this century what interesting, including books, minerals, Mueller was in the last, but his many shells, coins and postage stamps featuring friends and colleagues will remember him plant life. He was an accomplished pianist most for the simple things; his cheerful and had a fine baritone voice. He sang in personality, welcoming smile and sincere thechoirand was alocal preacherwith the greeting which made one feel a person of Methodist Church (now the Uniting value. From eminent scientist to young Church) near his home in Brighton. He student, all who sought his advice or spoke French and German and, with the help received the same courtesy. With his aid of a dictionary and elementary gram- passingwe have lostatrue friend*. mar taught himself Latin and Welsh. He alsohad some knowledgeofIcelandic. The name of James Hamlyn Willis is perpetuated in eight plants named after *A more detailed biographical sketch ofJim's him: life and a list of publications was published in Acaciajamesiana Maslin (from Great 1975 Muelleria3 (2), 69-88. An updated listof publications will appear in the 1997 issue of Victoria Desert to Yalgooand Wiluna); Muelleria. Eptlabium willisii Raven andEngelhorn 46 The Victorian Naturalist