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Honours Australian Natural History Medallion 2005 Pauline Reilly Pauline Reillyjoined the Australian Bird the 16 days convincing Pauline Reilly that and Bat Banding Scheme in August 1958 she should become President ofthe Royal and held Authority No. 92 until her resig- Australasian Ornithologists Union nation from the Scheme in 1995. This is (RAOU). This was at a time when that probably the earliest documented activity organisation was emerging from a contro- ofherlong-held interest inbirdsand natur- versial reform and was facing the prospect alhistorywhich has ledtotheaward ofthe ofhosting the International Ornithological Australian Natural History Medallion for Congress in Canberra in 1974. She accept- 2005. The nomination was made by ed and during her Presidency the decision ANGA1R andwas supported by a number wastakentomove from thecramped quar- ofinfluential people in academic and nat- ters ofClunies Ross House; to publish the ural environment managementroles. first part of a new Checklist and the The Sherbrooke Survey Group was Interim List ofSongbirds and to setup the formed by members ofthe Bird Observers Record Appraisal Committee. It was Club in 1958 as a response to the threat of Pauline Reilly who obtained the conces- destruction of lyrebird habitat. Pauline sionthatcontributionstothe Unionforsci- Reilly was a member ofthat group for entific purposes should be tax-deductible, seven years. From 1964 to 1981 she was thus acknowledging that projects approved regional organiser for the Bird Banding by the Field Investigation Committee Scheme (a program ofCSIRO Division of would be ofscientific importance. It was Wildlife Research) and from 1967 to 1981 she who led the delegation to Canberra she formed and led the Penguin Study which convinced the commonwealth Group until a permanent biologist was department concerned that the Union pos- appointed to the Penguin Parade. She was sessed the human resources capable of active on the committee ofthe Australian compiling an atlas ofthe distribution of Bird Banders' Association (now the Australian birds. Pauline Reilly, with Australian Bird Study Association) from Stephen Daviesand Margaret Blakers, was 1966 to 1972, serving as Vice-president instrumental in ensuring the national cov- and President during that time. Pauline erage ofthe project by extensive travel- instigated and led the Flame Robin Survey ling, calling meetings and inspiring local invariouspartsofVictoria. groups to take up atlassing. Pauline was Aswell as the field work associated with RAOU President 1972-1975 and on its her long term studies oflyrebirds, Flame ResearchCommittee 1969-1984. Robins, and penguins in Victoria, Pauline The Victorian WetlandTrust was formed led the Penguin Study Group on a trip to in 1988 with Pauline Reilly as its inaugural the Great Australian Bight and she banded Vice-President. She held that position until shearwaters with Dr Dominic Serventy on 1993 and was also newsletter editor Bass Strait islands. In the austral summer throughout that time. One ofthe initiatives of 1978/79 Pauline Reilly instigated and of the Trust was to collaborate with led a three month study of Gentoo Serendip Wildlife Reserve, so Pauline Penguins on Macquarie Island as an served on its Committee of Management unpaid memberofthe AustralianAntarctic from 1992 to 1996. Another organisation Research Expedition (ANARE). She was which benefited from her expertise was accompanied by Anne Kerle, a post-gradu- ANGAIR where she has been a member ate student from Monash University, and since 1983, contributing ‘Bird of the they found that the birds, five times the Month1 foritsnewsletterformanyyears. weight ofa Little Penguin, proved to be a The Penguin Study Group’s findings on formidable subject toband. the biologyofthe Little Penguin werepub- During a muttonbird banding trip to lished in a series ofreports between 1969 Fisher Island in 1971, Dom Serventy spent and 1974, written by Pauline and Peter Vol. 123 (1) 2006 47 Honours Balmford. Pauline followed this with a 1985, and also wrote Lyrebird: a natural series ofpapers in Emu co-authored with history, greatly assisted by her early stud- Mike Cullen from Monash University. ies of that species with the Sherbrooke Twoofherotherstudy species, the Gentoo SurveyGroup. Penguin and the Superb Lyrebird,werethe Pauline Reilly’s achievements in subject of additional papers in scientific ornithology and conservation have been journals. The 1983 ‘Ash Wednesday’ recognised by other awards. In 1981 she bushfires at Aireys Inlet have special sig- became the first female Fellow of the nificance for Pauline as she lost her house Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union and all of her records to them. She has and in 1994 a member of the Order of monitored the effect ofthat wildfire on Australia. The RAOU Fellow citation birds and patterns of recolonisation for describedheras the epitomeofthose ‘seii- more than eighteen years and reported her ous amateurs', and made the award for her findings inthe literature. distinguished service to Australian As well as her own writing, Pauline has ornithology as a field worker, administra- prepared a number of book reviews and tor and author. The John Hobbs Medal has refereed papers for Emu Core!la. The recognises contributions to ornithology by , Victorian Naturalist and Australian Bird an amateur, and Pauline Reilly was the Watcher (now Australian Field 2001 recipient. In 2005 she was awarded Ornithology). by BirdObservers ClubofAustraliaoneof Probably the most well known ofPauline the ten inaugural W. Roy Wheeler Reilly’s books are those written for chil- Medallions for Excellence in Field dren. Threeofthemareteenagenovelswith Ornithology a wildlife theme for remedial readers. Although Pauline’s greatest enjoyment Another thirty or so contain factual comes from field work with birds, she has researched material which is told as a story contributed much to administration and for about 8-year reading level with illustra- guidance for the community. She served tions that provide accurate information. on the Environment Committee of the These books are also used for Primary sci- Sandringham Council from 1976 to 1982 ence and adult LOTL studies. Between and, for the SurfCoast Shire, she chaired 1985 when Thepenguin that walksatnight the steering committee which prepared its was published and 1998, Will Rolland was Conservation Strategy, was a member of the illustrator. A group of four ofthese its Environment Advisory Committee and books received the Whitley (Natural its 2020 Vision planning committee. She History) Commendation for the best chil- was Secretary to the Aireys Inlet and dren’s series 1986/87, and five more were DistrictAssociation and has been called as VCAT awardedthe WhitleyCommendation forthe an expert witness before hearings bestchildren’seducational seriesin 1994. related to the Penguin Parade at Phillip From 2000 Pauline Reilly and illustrator Island and habitat eneroachment issues for Kayelene Traynor formed Bristlebird Bristlebirdsand wetlands. Books. The eleven bookspublishedto date Pauline Reilly isstill offeringguidance to underthat imprinthave all been shortlisted bird watchers and, in recent times, has orwinners ofthe Wilderness Society Non- been acting as mentor to students who fiction Environment Awards forChildren's carry out field studies in her local area. Literature. These activities have not only included a Penguins have been a large part of study of Bristlebirds at Aireys Inlet con- Pauline Reilly’s life and, naturally, have ducted by Deakin University but also resulted in a number of books: Fairy research of a Japanese PhD student on Penguins: a brieflife history: Fairypen- Little Penguins inNewZealand. Pauline is guins and earthy people Penguins ofthe a worthy winner ofthe Australian Natural ; world (and a Japanese translation) and History Medallion. Emperor: themagnificentpenguin. She was co-author of the Atlas of Ian Endersby Australian Birds(1984),whichwasaward- Montmorency5,6VLioctookreiraR3o0a9d4 ed the Whitley Medal for best book in 48 The Victorian Naturalist