Neil Wilfred Archbold - 14 August 1950 - 28 November 2005

2006·0.83 MB·English

by  Doug Mccann

Tributes
Neil Wilfred Archbold
14 August 1950 - 28 November 2005
It is with deep sadness that news ofthe
death ofProfessor Neil Archbold has been
received by members ofthe FNCV. It was
only in May 2005 that Neil delivered the
opening address at the Club’s 125"’
Anniversary Symposium. He was a long-
standing and committed supporter ofthe
Club and encouraged others, including his
students, to participate in Club activities.
Professor Archbold was a palaeontologist
ofinternational standing. As well as being
a leading fossil brachiopod specialist, tax-
onomist and biostratigrapher he was also a
keen amateur field naturalist and had an
interest in the history of geology and
palaeontology.
Itwas notgenerallywell known that as a
child Neil suffered from a chronic life-
threatening illness, and between the ages
of eight and twelve underwent a long
series of operations by distinguished
wartime surgeon Sir Albert Coates, which
saved his life. Over theyears Neil periodi-
cally underwent further surgery but he
always remained cheerful, alert, uncom-
plaining and optimistic. Consequently,
despite periodic bouts of poor health in
recent years, his death still came as a
severe shock. Throughout his working life Neil with butterfly net at his family home in
Neil had a remarkable ability to focus on Mitchamc. late 1950s.
his scientific research andpursue his acad- Terrace, Mitcham, and the local butterfly
emic interests no matter what his prevail- GspuecmiesMoctolhlecOtepdodiinpctluhdeerdateheucEalmyppetrior
ingmedical circumstances. ( ),
Neil’s interests were many and diverse. Wanderer or Monarch Butterfly (Danaus
He was a greatcollector. Atan earlyage he plexippus). Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio
began collecting all sorts or natural objects aegeus). Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi)
as well as stamps, coins and books. From and the little brown Skippers
about the age ofeight he displayed a deep (Hesperiidae). They collected the eggs and
interest in natural history, especially the the caterpillars and bred them. Eventually
Lepidoptera. As well as butterflies and the progeny were released. For several
moths he also turned his attention to spi- years they carried out banding of the
ders, nativebirds, nativeanimals andnative Wanderer Butterfly. They noted popula-
plants generally, rocks, minerals, fossils, tion changes in years of abundance or
astronomy and later, to conservation issues, scarcity. Neil and Jim took a strong inter-
inparticularthepreservationofnativefauna est in the accidental introduction of the
andfloraandalsogeological heritage. European wasp, which had a negative
He followed his brother Jim in his devo- impact on their beloved caterpillars, and
tion to natural history and to butterflies in they vigorously sought out wasp nests and
particular. The family home was in Barkly destroyedthem.
Vol. 123 (2) 2006 113
) )
Tributes
Australian provinces, as well as between
the Australian faunas and those of other
Gondwanan faunas, such asthose in India,
Timor, Irian Jaya and Thailand, and those
even further afield, for example in Russia
andSerbia.
Neil published more than 160 scientific
papers. Ofthese he was sole author of 76
papers buthe wasalso a greatcollaborator,
publishing some 85 papers with 40 or so
co-researchers from more than 20 institu-
tions around the globe. The topics ranged
from the taxonomy of brachiopods to
palaeogeography, palaebiogeography,
palaeoelimatology, palaeoccology, ocean
circulation patterns, global stratigraphy and
the history ofgeologyand palaeontology.
His taxonomic output was impressive,
describing more than 150 new species,
nearly 40 new genera or subgenera, five
new subfamilies and one new family ol
brachiopods as well as a new species ot
bivalve and a new genus and species ot
trilobite.
Neil Archbold at Deakin University c. mid The Permian glacially-derived sediments
1990s. ofthe Bacchus Marsh district held a spe-
cial interest forNeil and he frequentlycon-
Later Neil and his wide Linda cultivated ducted field trips with his students to this
aflourishing, mainly native, gardenattheir area. He was particularly interested in elu-
home in Doncaster Hast, featuring many cidating the palaeontological and geologi-
drought-tolerant plants and a number of cal details ofwhat appeared to be a brief
uncommon species such as araucarias and marine incursion in the area. He was
ginkgo. Neil grew specific plants to attract pleased when he and his colleagues dis-
butterflies, suchas stingingnettles(Urtica covered that the marine incursion was far
to attract Painted Ladies, Swan plant more extensive than had been previously
Asclepias to attract Wanderers and believed despite 150 years ofprior inter-
(
Buddleia(formany species). mittent investigation.
After completing his secondary school Neil’s academic career began in 1973 at
education at Camberwell Grammar School the University ofMelbourne where he was
in Canterbury in 1969, Neil completed a employed firstly asapart-timetutor(1973-
BA (1973), MSc (1976) and PhD (1983) 1980) andthen full-time tutor (1980-1982)
all at the University of Melbourne. His in the Geology Department. He also
PhD was on Permian brachiopods in which tutored formanyyears(1973-1989) torthe
he eventually became a recognised world Council of Adult Education where he
authority. His supervisor was George inspired many students to take up an inter-
Thomas, who had a special interest in est in geology and palaeontology. A num-
Western Australian brachiopod faunas on ber of his mature-age students became
which Neil did his original work and active members ofthe Geology Group ot
remained interested in throughout his the FNCV. He taught at anumber ofinsti-
career. Thiswork expandedtoinclude Late tutions until, in 1989, he became a full-
Palaeozoic biogeography and local and time lecturerat Rusden campusofVictoria
international stratigraphic correlations. For College (which was incorporated into
example, Neil published on stratigraphical Deakin University in 1992). He then
relationships within Australia, such as underwent a rapid series of promotions,
between the Eastern and Western becoming Professor (personal chair) in
The Victorian Naturalist
114
NaturalistNotes
1996. From 1985 onwards he received 15 nenthomewas decisiveto itspreservation.
research grants from the Australian He helped broaden the Society’s appeal to
Research Council. He raised the status of the general public and defended and pro-
the geology section at Deakin University moted the Society’s traditional scientific
from relative obscurity to one ofnational emphasis. His legacy is a vital, active
andinternational significance. Society with a growing membership, in
He was an encouraging and much appre- comparison with some similar institutions
ciated tutor, lecturer and postgraduate that at present are struggling for relevance
supervisor. His own research received andviability.
wide recognition and he established pro- Universally regarded as a gentleman,
ductive linkages with scientists both at Neil was admired and loved by his col-
homeandabroad. Hehadastrongcommit- leagues. He was an inspirational scientist,
ment to international cooperative research intellectual and teacher. His wisdom,
and the development ofscience in coun- insight, humour, gentleness and fortitude
tries such as Russia, China, India, will be deeply missed. His untimely pass-
Argentinaand Timor. Hewasamemberof ing at the peak ofhis career is a grievous
numerous scientific andacademic societies losstoscienceandnatural history.
and servedon manylocal and international
Acknowledgements
committees.
Perhaps his most treasured institutional fThreomauLtihnodragrAartecfhublolylda,ckJniomwlAerdcghebsolasds,isJtaonhcne
contribution was to the Royal Society of Talent and Monica Campi in the preparation of
Victoria where he served as honorary thisobituary.
librarian for many years. He joined the
RSV in 1975 and became a member of DougMcCann
Council (1992-2005), Vice- President SchoolofLifeandEnvironmentalSciences
(1999-2000) and President (2001-2004). 221 BurwDoeoadkiHnigUhniwvaeyr,siBtyu,rwMoelobdoVuircnteorCiaam3p1u2s5
His work as custodian ofthe Society’s
valuable library and in finding it a perma-
Survival ofa blind Bobuck Trichosurus cunninghami
,
Phalangeridae
The Bobuck or Mountain Brushtail On 16 October 2005, two ofthe authors
Possum Trichosuruscunninghamiis alarge (AAM, SMM) encountered an adult
(2.6-4.2 kg), semi-arboreal, nocturnal mar- female Bobuck on the ground at
supial which dens in tree hollows or, less Marraweeny (36° 44’S, 145° 45’E) in the
often, hollow logs, disused Common Strathbogie Ranges, at 1705 hours on a
Wombat Vornhatus ursinus burrows or warm, sunny day. She was in a grassy,
thickets on the ground. Its predominant creek-sidearea with fern-thicketsand scat-
foodisfoliageofSilverWattleAcaciadeal- tered Silver Wattles, moving towards the
bata, and it spends most ofits active time adjacent Peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata
on theground, movingbetweenwattletrees and E. dives) forest. The forest had been
and feeding on additional items including logged and included few hollow-bearing
fungi and various understorey and ground- trees, but there were numerous used and
layer plants. General accounts of the disused Common Wombat burrows in the
Bobuck are provided by Menkhorst (1995, area. Shewascarryinga largeback-young;
as T. caninns) and Kerle (2001, as T. cani- both animals appeared to be well-fed and
nus); Bobucks in the Strathbogie Ranges, in in excellent condition. In this area young
Victoria, have been intensively studied by are born in autumn or early winter and
Marlin(2005; seealso Martinetal. 2004). leave the pouch to travel on the back at
Vol. 123 (2) 2006 115