Earth Sciences History Group (A Specialist Group of the Geological Society of Australia Inc.) Email Bulletin No. 56 10 May 2020
Tom Vallance Medal 2021 The Tom Vallance Medal was introduced in 2011 to recognise people who have made a significant contribution to researching, recording, investigating, documenting and/or publishing about people or places or events of historical importance to the geological sciences in Australia or Australasia. It is awarded biennially and presented at the biennial Convention of the Geological Society of Australia (or similar event). Dr Thomas George Vallance (1928–1993), geologist and historian of science, was formerly Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. Originally a petrologist, his work tracing geological expertise in Sydney during the late 18th and early 19th centuries shed unexpected light on scientific activity in our young colony and ignited his interest in the history of geology and early workers in the earth sciences. He researched and published many articles and papers on famous, infamous and little-known early pioneers in this field. His legacy was in the form of 3000 index cards of information, memorabilia and jottings on miners, geologists, surveyors, prospectors and mining engineers, which was compiled over a number of years and gathered from a wide variety of sources - especially from 19th century mining journals. After his death this rich resource was compiled into a database, which should prove invaluable for researchers. The 1994 meeting of INHIGEO was dedicated to the memory of Tom Vallance, a foundation member and for some years one of its Vice-Presidents. The ESHG is proud that its award should bear the name Tom Vallance Medal. Past Tom Vallance Medal Recipients • • • •
2018, Dr Susan Turner, announced at the AGC in Adelaide in October 2018, and presented privately to Susan in Brisbane 2016, Tom Darragh, announced at AESC2016 in Adelaide and presented at a meeting of the Victorian Division on 28 July 2016; 2014, David Oldroyd, presented at AESC2014 in Newcastle; 2012, David Branagan, presented at the 34th IGC 2012.
At this stage, plans are still underway for the holding of the AESC in Hobart in February 2021. Therefore, nominations for the medal to be presented in Hobart in 2021 are now open. The deadline for nominations for the 2021 award will close on Wednesday 30 September 2020. A nomination form will accompany this Bulletin as an attachment, but it can also be downloaded from the ESHG website. https://www.gsa.org.au/Public/Specialist/Earth_Sciences_History_ESHG/Tom_Vallance_Medal/Public/Specialist_ Groups/ESHG_Sub_Pages/ESHG_Recognition.aspx?hkey=0cc09a0a-b483-459c-9a1a-e1088650b325
Australian Geology Hall of Fame You will remember a poll being taken last year amongst the GSA membership for the naming of a new medal to honour the contributions of Australian women Earth Scientists. The medal was to be named after an influential Australian woman Earth Scientist. Short biographies of the proposed names were circulated as part of this poll. As