Arthur James Farnworth MBE, PhD

2007·0.61 MB·English

by  Sheila Houghton

Tributes
Arthur James Farnworth MBE, PhD
30 September 1923 - 10 December 2006
It was with great regret that we heard the
news of Arthur’s death. Arthur was
President from 1990-1993, and was one of
the most dedicated and influential presi-
dents that the Club has had. He came to -
was thrust into - the position at a time
when the Club was at a very low ebb.
Membership had been falling for several
years. The Victorian Naturalist seemed to
be on the verge of foundering, and our
tenure at the Herbarium was becoming
increasingly insecure. Initially somewhat
daunted by the positon he found himself
in, Arthur tackled these problems with
energyanddetermination.
ArthurFarnworthwas electedtothe Club
in 1986, with the intention ofquietly pur-
suing his interests in natural history and excursions before they occurred, had exist-
honinghis skills in naturephotography. He ed forsometime, and Council had regular-
andhiswifeEnid, who ablysupported him ly discussed the feasibility of having a
throughout his presidency, attended newsletter. Nothing had come of this
Botany Group meetings, where he fell because no-one seemed willing to under-
under the talent-spotting eye of Marie take the task ofproducing one. In October
Allender. In the lead-up to the 1990 AGM, 1990Arthursentan open lettertoall mem-
Marie suggested to me that Arthur would bers announcingthatanewsletterwould be
be a good person to have on Council. I included with the bi-monthly The
contacted him, and he agreed to stand. My Victorian Naturalist, and that measures
approach mighthavebeen alittledisingen- were being undertaken to ensure that the
uous, because I knew that 1 would not be journal appeared on time. The Field
standing for re-election as Vice-President, Naturalists Club of Victoria Newsletter
as I was going overseas later in the year, January/February 1991 duly appeared,
andthehuntwasalreadyonto findanother under the able editorship of Dr Noel
candidate. On a Botany Group excursion, Schleiger. From the outset it became a
Marie and I put the suggestion to Arthur stand-alone publication, but remained bi-
that he should stand for this position. (In monthly until August 1994, when, under
those days we had only one Vice- the title Field Nats News, it became
President.) In May 1990 he was duly monthly. Ithas appearedregularlyfrom the
elected. But we had no President, and in outset, without a break, since then, and
August the person who had subsequently nowadays there is an efficient system in
been appointed, resigned. Arthur, totally place that ensures its production and mail-
unexpectedly and with some dismay, ing. The Victorian Naturalistalso began to
foundhimselfintheposition. bepublishedmoreonschedule. Intheearly
Two major problems immediately con- days there was much burning ofthe mid-
fronted him: the lateness of The Victorian night oil to achieve this, in which Arthur
Naturalist, and the confusion ofthe mem- played a major role. He was fortunate that
bership records. The failure to get The he gathered around him a willing band of
Victorian Naturalist out on time, so that helpers, but he inspired people, and they
members had notice of meetings and responded to this. He was quick to express
Vol. 124 (3) 2007 181
Tributes
his appreciation ofanyone’s efforts, with and the cheerful remark ‘And I don't know
the quotation ‘1 dips me lid’, which he used what the hell this is!’ He had a great sense
wheneverhethought itmerited. of humour. His 1992 presidential address,
In January 1991 an editorial sub-commit- entitled ‘Kakadu and other interests’,
tee was set up to assist the editors in the included slides which had tickled his
planning and costing of The Victorian fancy. His informative article in The
Naturalist and the Newsletter. The Club Victorian Naturalist on the changes in
had been late in submitting its application Mallacoota Inlet was typical, full ofcomic
for the Treasury grant, which it had previ- asides and concluding with the comment
ously received. Arthur rectified this by that ‘the jetties lying several centimetres
writing to the Premier, and the grant of below the surface ofthe lake, provided a
$1500wasrestored. golden opportunity for anyone with delu-
The Club’s membershiprecords hadbeen sions ofgrandeur to practise walking on
computerised in 1985, but the system was water,’ adding thattherewere rumours that
outsourced, and there were many pitfalls; several MPs had occasionally been seen at
the situation was aggravatedin 1990 bythe Mallacoota Inlet!
lackadaisical attitude of the current Arthur Farnworth was born in Geelong
Subscription Secretary. This was another on 30 September 1923, and was educated
problem that Arthur had to tackle, and at the Gordon Institute ofTechnology, and
again willing helpers, such as Margaret the Universities of Melbourne and Leeds.
Potter, came to his assistance. Ittook more After several years as Senior Lecturer in
than two years to sort out the confusion, Textile Chemistry at the Gordon Institute,
but the provision of office space in the hebecame a Research Officerwith CSIRO,
Astronomer’s Residence, as a result of where he developed Si-Ro-Set, the perma-
negotiations with the Herbarium, made the nent press process, which smartened us all
administration ofthe Club easier, and in up. In 1961 he became Technical Director
1993 the membership records were of the Australian Wool Board, Deputy
installed on ourown computer. Managing Director in 1970, and General
Amongst other matters needing attention Manager, Corporate Services and Research
was the future of the Club’s Kinglake Division, Australian Wool Corporation in
property. Council had always understood 1974. In 1946 he married Enid Brown, by
that by the terms of Harold Frahm's will whom hehadthreechildren.
the Club was unable to dispose of the In recent years Arthur’s membership of
block. However, diminishing use of it by the Club lapsed, as Enid’s debilitating ill-
the Club, together with an increasing van- ness required increasing care, but he left a
dalism, and resulting expense, made it lasting legacy, primarily by the establish-
important that some action be taken. mentofFieldNatNews,but also in revital-
Arthur initiated investigation ofthe Club’s ising the Club at a time ofcrisis. We have
position, and it was established that it was good reason to be grateful. Our condo-
under no legal obligation to retain the lences gotohis family.
property. The money from the sale ofthe
Kinglake block, though long delayed,
became an important contribution in the
establishment of the Club in its present
home and so we may thank Arthur for the Sheila Houghton
parthe played inthis. 12ScenicCourt
Arthurwas a superb nature photographer, Gisborne,Victoria3437
and his slide shows were always informa-
tive. But it was not unknown for him to
conclude with a very striking photograph
182 The Victorian Naturalist