SprL.'1g 1988

..---------- ---- _- ---- - ---._--------------_.. _---..:::=.

Val. 3 No. 4

'0e beginning of anew· ChapterCSIRD's ForeSt ProductsNewsletterwas a. regUlar source of information formore than 40 years until its suspensionin the early 1970s after the closure oftheDivision ofForest Products. It returnedin its present form in 1985 and proved avaluable means ofcammunicatingvarioUs aspects of the work of theDivision ofChemical and WoodTechnology. With. the formation of thenew Division ofE;Jrestry and ForestProducts this year, we see a broadeningof CSIRO's application of research at the

same time as an opportunity to acheivethe continuum of planning and researchfram forest to marketplace.We recognise that this sort of .communication is more vital than everand so this publication will be replacedby Forestry and forest ProductsNewsletter. It will bring details ofourresearch across the breadth and diversityof the Division's programs, from landutilisation through forestry to treequality, w.ood quality and processing,fibre qual1ty and product quality. As welook forward to the future with .enthusiasm, it is entirely appropriate

that this final edition of the ForestProducts Newsletter should reflect thepast.As a long-term senior officer of theDivisi?n, past Chiefof the Division ofChemIcal Technology and CUrrentHonorary Research fellow with theDivision a/Forestry and ForestProducts, Huntly Higgins is the idealchoice to cOmpile that refIection~

WarienHewertsonChief,CSIRO DiviSion ofForestry and Forest

Divisions of Forest Products, ChemicalTechnology, and Chemical and Wood Technology- The Last 20 Years .. .

HGHiggins

A brief history of the CSIRODivision of Forest Products, by SuePreston, was published in the ForestProducts Newsletter, April-May,1968. The ptesentaccount isdesigned to bring this up to date.

In March 1966, when Mr (later Dr)R W Muncey became Chief, theDivision of Forest Products, locatedat 69-77 Yarra Bank Road, SouthMelbourne, with adjacent sites onthe east side earlier taken over fromGtmnersens arid Lees, was organisedinto eight sections:- Wood and FibreStructure (Officer-in-Charge Dr W EHillis), Wood Chemistry, Pulp andPaper (Dr H G Riggins), TimberPhysics (Mr R S T Kingston), TimberMechanics (Dr J D Boyd), TimberSeasoning (Mr G W Wright), WoodPreservation (Mr N Tamblyn),Plywood and Gluing (My J WGottstein) and Utilisation (Mr R FTumbull). In July 1966 the names of

some research sections werechanged; "Wood and Fibre Structure"to "Physiology and Microstructure";"Wood Chemistry, Pulp and Paper"to "Paper Science"; and "TimberMechanics" to "Engineering"..

About this time Ray Turnbull wasseconded as Chief Scientific LiaisonOfficer for Australia in London, andhe did not return to the Divisionbefore retiring. In August 1967 theDivision was saddened by thecomparatively early death of GeorgeWright. Following these events theformer Seasoning, Plywood andGluing, and Utilisation Sections werecombined into a new TimberConversion Section with BillGottstein in charge.

The Assistiillt Chief of theDivision, Dr W E Cohen, retired inJune 1967 and Dr W G Kauman wasappointed to this position in July1967.

in this issue..Divisions of ForestProducts, ChemicalTechnology, anrlChemicaland Wood Technology- The Last 20 Years 1

Editor: Susan Lucas Ass. Editor: Marion Fallon Address for correspondance: Private Bag 10, CIa ton, Vic, 3168Telephone: (03) 5422244. Telex: AA 35675. FAX: (03) 543 6613 ©CSIRO, Australia ~SN 0816-1526

The South Melbourne laboratories occupied by the Division ofForest Products (1936"1971) and theDiVision ofchbnical Technoiogy (1972-1982)

Building Research which waslocated at Highett. Ray Muncey wasappointed Chief of BuildingResearch, in succession to lanLanglands. The physical relocatim,took several years to accomplish.The areas of forest products affectedwere those most closely allied to thebuilding industry (including timberengineering; sawmilling; veneer,

--- -plywoodandacillesives;seasoning,wood preservation; timber physics)which provided some superficialrationale for the transfer. Theresidual areas (Paper Science,Physiology andMitrostructure)were grafted on, organisationally, toelements derived frorn the Divisionof Applied Chemistry which had itshea<iquarters at Fishermen's Bend.As the DBR components moved toHighett, they were replaced at SouthMelbourne by people fromFishennen's Bend. These includedthe whole of the Water TreatmentGroup and a number of officersfrom other areas, who wereeventually redeployed.

The splitting of DFP caused afurore among the staff and in theforest products industries. In a letterdrafted by senior officers of theDivision and sent to the Chairmanof CSIRO, it was predicted that itwould be necessary eventually forthe Government to provide again foridentifiable research in the forestproducts field. This prediction wasfulfilled in 1981 when most of thegroups which had gone to DBRwere reunited organisationally withtheir fonner collegues.

, Fmm 1971 to 1974 the part of theDivision of Applied Chemistry atSouth Melbourne was responsibledirectly to Or D E Weiss, whomoved to the site from Fisherrrien'sBend and was appointed AssistantChief in 1971, and through him tothe Chief, Dr S D Hamann, whoremained at Fishennen's Bend. Thisperiod was characterised by someuncertainty as to the way theresearch programs were to beintegrated. At the same time some

. positive effects of the changes werediscernible, resulting from the areasof expertise which Don Weiss andhis colleagues had brought to SouthMelbourne, and vigorous effortswere made to mould the newresearch entity into an effective andcohesive organisation.

The Section of Physiology and

other forest products, practicalapplication and a continuing andfruitful relationship with the forestindustries. The staff were thereforeill prepared for the traumaticexperience of 1971. In May of thatyear the CSIRO Executive took whatmany people regarded as theextraor~illarystep of transferringnearly two-thirds of the Division ofForest Products to the Division of

Dr R. W. Murray (left) and Dr W.E. Cohen, 1967.

Reg Kingston retired in January1971 and Mr L N (Bill) Clarke wasappointed to lead the PhysicsSection. The Division suifered atragic loss shortly afterwards by thepremature death of Bill Gottstein asthe result of a tree felling accident inNew Guinea in March 1971.

The period up to 1971 was a mostproductive one for the Division interms of basic research on wood and

=2 '......-

Inspecting the Mulgrave site, late 19605. From left: J.D. Boyd, R. W Murray, RN. Boumow, J. WGottstein,H.G. Higgins, W.G. Kauman, WE, Hillis, E. WB. da Costa; D.E. Bland and W.M.'McKe~zie . .. .

MicrostruchIre, led by Ted Hillis,changed its name to Wood andForest Science, this was later brokenup and by early 1974 researchscientists and supporting staff had

. been transferred to two otherDivisions, Building Research andSoils. Or Hillis went to BuildingResearch.

In 1974 Sefton Hamannrelinquished the position of Chief,this led to the splitting-up of theDivision of Applied Chemistry intothe Divisions of Applied OrganicChemistry and ChemicalTechnology. Dr D H Solomon andDr D E Weiss were appointed asChiefs respectively. Applied OrganicChemistry continued to occupy theFishermen's Bend site and the SouthMelbourne site became theHeadquarters for ChemicalTechnology. At this time somefurther exchanges of staff weremade between the two Divisions. Iwas appointed Assistant Chief of theDivision of Chemical Technology in1974.

The new Division was concernedinitially with three researchprograms. Two of them (RenewableResources; Water and WastewaterPurification) stemmed from similarprograms in the Division of AppliedChemistry, and the former had closelinks with earlier activities of thePaper Science Section of the Divisionof Forest Products. A third program,

Bioenergentics, which was a specialinterest of Don Weiss, was plannedand was later to form one of thesubprograrns of the BiotechnologyProgram.

In 1976 the AgroindustrialResearch Unit of CSIRO, a small buteffective group under the leadershipof Mr G A Stewart, wasamalgamated with the Division,with which it was alreadycollaborating. Based in Canberra,the Unit also carried out someagronomic research in NorthQueensland, but in 1980 it wasconsidered appropriate to transferthis activity to the Division ofTropical Crops and PashIres.

The Program struchIre had now(1976) evolved as follows:

Cellulose Technology (Dr A JMichell, Coordinator), Water andWastewater Purification (Dr B ABolto), Biosynthetic Technology (OrC C Curtain), Assessment andDevelopment of CellulosicResources (Mr V Balodis), LigninTechnology (Dr D Willis),Agroindustrial Systems (Mr G AStewart). Earlier (1975) the CelluloseTechnology work and the incipientBiosynthetic Technology studies hadformed the Renewable ResourcesProgram, with Mr K 0 Kirby asCoordinator.

In the mid-1970s emphasis wasgiven to building up the Division'sstrength in the field of chemical

engineering, and a number ofofficers were transferred from theDivision of Mineral Engineering.The period 1976-80 wascharacterised by an increasingemphasis on biotechnology,particularly in relation to the studyof processes for the production ofliquid fuels from biomass. In1976Cyril Curtain-had been appointed tothe Divisiorias Coordinator of theBiosyntheticTechh6IogyF'rogram;later to berenamed,Bibtechnology.EmphClsiswasplaced onfermentation processes to produceethiillol andfatty acids; and somework wasdone on the use ofvegetable oils as diesel 'substitutes.In related programs attention wasgiven to the production of methanefrom wastes and to the potentialitiesof unicellular algaeasa possiblesource of chemicals and energy. Theneed for a strengthening of theDivision's microbiological skills wasrecognised and led eventually tosome new appointments in thisfield.

In pulp and paper researchincreasing attention was given to thepotential of high yield pulps, asdistinct from the low yieldingchemical pulps, and modifiedprocesses were investigated whichcould provide a basis for obtainingoptimum pulp properties in plantsof moderate size.

Work in the area of woodcomposite materials wasconsolidated around a few mainthemes - reconstituted woodproducts, applications of complexyarns to a new type of wool bale andto energy-absorbing materials, and areplacement of asbestos by cellulosefibres in fibre-cement composites.

In the field of water purification,an interest in desalintion processeswas maintained, but increasingemphasis was laid on new processesfor removing colour and hIrbidityfrom water supplies to render themsuitable for use not only by largetowns but small communities.

,In February 1979, the Chief, Don, Weiss, was appointed Director of theCSIRO Planning and EvaluationAdvisory Unit. I succeeded him asChief of the Division and later in theyear Brian Bolto was appointedAssistant Chief. During Or Weiss'term of office a firm fOlli,dation waslaid for the development ofproductive and imaginative

3

Part of the Paper Testing Laboratory, late 19605, showing the Single Fibre Microcheometer (left) and the DFP Paper rheometer (right) being operated byHeather ROlfe and Jan Hamilton respectively.

.programs in the fields oflignocellulose and waterpurification, and a considerabledegree of program mtegration wasattained.

The philosophy of the Division,insofar as it could be generalised in1980, had developed in line withcontemporary ideas regarding thevalue of strategic, mission-orientedresearch. With the introduction of theInstitute structure in CSIRO, theDivision.became a component of theInstitute of Industrial Technology in1978, and, appropriately, it wasconcerned with the development ofprocesses to help industry to provideproducts andservices of value to thecommunit)' Equally, however, itsconcern was to develop a particularset of natural resources in the mosteffective way.

At this time the function of theDivision of Chemical Technologywas defined as the application ofchemical and biological technologyto the utilisation and processing ofrenewable resources such as forests,residues from forest and agriculturalindustries, algae, water andwastewater. Research areas included:fibre separation and pulping;development of pulpwoodresources;cellulose-based composite materials;the use of biological systems for theproduction of chemicals and energy,particularly liquid and gaseous fuels;the development of agroindustrialsystems; and technologies forpurifying and recycling water.

In 1979 the ParliamentaryStanding Committee on PublicWorks recommended that approvalbe given for work to proceed on anew laboratory complex for theDivision, to be located on the c:SIROsite adjacent to Monash University,Clayton. Building commenced in themiddle of 1980, and was completedat the end of 1982.

It should be noted that theDivision of Forest Products hadacquir.ed land as early as 1968, atMulgrave, with the aim of erecting anew laboratory. However, with theorganisational changes of 1971 theseplans came to nought.

Towards the endof 1980 aCommittee was set up by the CSIROExecutive to review the Division, anda report was presented in January

Dr D.E. Weiss, First Chief of the Division ofChemical Technology

1981which stated, inter alia; that theDivision's research programs wereconsonant with perceived needs andpriorities in relation to two importantnatural resources, lignocellulose andwater.

On 1st July 1981 groups concernedwith Wood Science, ForestConversion Engineering, andConservation and Biodegradation(formerly WoodPreservation) weretransferred back to the Division fromthe Division of Bttilding Research.However they continued to belocated at Highett.

The research programs were nowas follows:- Cellulose Technology(Coordinator Dr A J Michell), Waterand Wastewater Purification (Dr B ABolto), Biotechnology (Dr C CCurtain), Pulping and PulpwoodResources (Mr V Balodis), ChemicalConversion (Dr A FA Wallis),Agroindustrial Systems (Mr G AStewart), Wood Science (Dr W EHillis), Forest ConversionEngineering (Mr M W Page) andConservation and Biodegradation(Dr H Greaves). The total staff of theDivision was about 180, an increaseof about 40 on thentimber before thetransfer of the Highett groups. In1971 the staff of the Division of ForestProducts had exceeded 230.

Having reached the mandatoryage, I retired as Chief in July 1982,but continued my connection withthe Division as an HonoraryResearch Fellow. Brian Bolto was

4

..~; .--s:t: ... . ._.. ._,. . ...._. .. _

___ •. _.--t:;

The Division ofFb;estry and For~st Products Headquarters at Clayton

Acting Chief until Dr WarrenHewertson, formerly of ICI,England, commenced duty early in1983 as the new Chief. The move toClayton was also completed aboutthis time. The old laboratories atSouth Melbourne had served theDivision well, but they had becomeovercrowded, out-of-date andhazardous, and the move to thesplendid new facilities at Claytonwas welcomed by the great majorityof the staff.

The name "Chemical Technology"had never been a particularly aptdescription of the Division'sactivities, and after the review in 1980it was suggested that a Division ofCellulose Research be formed, withseparate units for water andmicrobiology research. In the event,however, no such fragmentationoccurred, and the name "Chemicaland Wood Technology" was adoptedto accommodate sustainedrepresentations from industry andothers for a more readily identifiablefocusforforest products research.

In 1983 a small group, AgriculturalEngineering, from the formerDivision of Mechanical Engineering,joined the Divjsion and became thetenth research program, with Dr G RThorpe as Coordinator. However in1986 the group was again transferred,this time to the Divjsion ofEntomology.

The relocation at Clayton hadadditional advantages in that theDivision became part of a powerfulCSIRO research complex. TheDivisions of Chemical Physics andMineral Engineering were locatedone on each side of the newlaboratories, and plans were afoot forthe Divisions of Materials Scienceand Applied Organic Chemistry tomove to the site. In addition thelaboratories wereirnmediatelyadjacent to Monash University.

In May 1984 the new laboratorieswere officially opened by the PrimeMinister, and in November thecomplex to be ocCupied by Chemicalarid Wood Technology and AppliedOrganic Chemistry, which were toshare a number of facilities, wasdedicated to Sir Tan Wark, the firstChief of the Division of IndustrialChemistry and later a member of thecsm..o Executive.

With Dr Bolto as Assistant Chief,Mr W G C Raper becameCoordinator of the Water Program.Other changes were Mr F JChristensen becoming Coordinatorof the Forest ConversionEngineering Program on Mr Page'sretirement, Dr G Gartside becomingCoordinator of the Techno-EconomicAssessment Program on AlanStewart's retirement (to become anHonorary Research Fellow), and theestablishment of the IndustrialMicrobiology Program with Mr GM

Black as Coordinator. At the end of1986 the Chief announced that fromJanuary 1987the Division would bestructured around four majorresearch activities, eaCh workingunder the control of a ProgramManager. The Programs andManagers' were Wood Processing(Dr H Greaves), Fibres andChemicals (Dr G Gartside), Water(Mr W G C Raper) andBiotechnology CMr G M Black). DrDon Willis, who had been appointedAssistant to the Chief in 1979,became Research Services ProgramManager.

As part of a major restructuring ofCSIRO in 1987, theDivision ofChemical and Wood Technologywas combined in January 1988 withthe Division of Forest Researchunder the name Division of Forestryand ForestProducts. The WaterGroup was transferred to the newDivisicin of Chemicals andPolymers, and the BiotechnologyGroup was transferred to the newDivision of Biotechnology. TheAdhesives Group of the Division of.Building Research, formerlytransferred from the old Division ofForest Products ini97l returned tothe new Division of Forestry andForest Products. The cycle is thusalmost complete, only the TimberEngineering Group remainingoutside the Forest Products fold. Thecloser organisational links between

5

forestry and forest products are to bewelcomed and reflect a policy inaccordance with that expressed bymany in 1971.

Dr·Warren Hewertson has beenappointed Chief of the Division ofForestry and F9rest Products, withMr AIan Brown, in Canberra, asDeputY Chie~ andDr HarryGreavesand DrSadandanNiUhbiar asAssistant Chiefs. .,

The Divisions have had manynotable scientists and technologists.Among thosewh6 have retired ortakenup other p()sitioI1?ln the last 20years (excluding those who havebeen mentioned already) are: StanAttwood (Divisional Engineer), LesArmstrong (Wood Rheology), JohnBeesley (Wood Preservation), Dave

, Bland (Ligniri. Chemistry), NoraBolza (Timber Mechanics), RayBouruon (Timber Structures), LeoBrennan (Timber Seasoning), GeorgeCampbell (Timber ?easoning), BaileyCarrodus (Wood Structure), GeoffChristensen (Sorption in Wood),Frank Christensen (TJIDberSeasoning), Bill Clarke (TimberPhysics), Jim Colley (Paper Physics),Ross Cowling (Timber Utilisation),Bill Da Costa (Mycology, WoodPreservation), John De Yong (PaperPhysics), Dick Donaldson (Physics),Frank Dale (Preservation), GeorgeDavies (Wood Structure), NoelEdwards (Physics)~Kurt Eppinger(Water 'Purification), Rick Finighan(Seasoning), Ralph Foster (WoodS~cture), Keith Fricke (Seasoning),ViC Garten (Fundamentals), PaulGrossman(Wood Rheology), DickHead (Physical Chemistry), DickHemingway (Extractives), RonHinde (Assistant to Chief), Ken Hirst(Adhesives), Bob Ingle (WoodAnatomy and Identification), BillKeating (Utilisation), Harry Kloot(Timber Mechanics), Ron Johanson(Inorganic Preservatives), AianLogan (Pulping), Ron Liversidge(TJIDber Conversion), Dan McCarthy(Wood Preservatives), Joe Mack(Timber Mechanics), Bill McKenzie(Wood Cutting Utilisation), LynOsbome (Preservation), DavidPackham (Fire Research), Merv Page(Sawmilling, Utilisation), RonPearson (Timber Mechanics), FrankPhillips (Pulp and Paper), KenPlomley (Adhesives), BrucePoppleton (Crystal Structure), GregReardon (Timber Mechanics), AIanRosel (Preservation), Anne Ryan(Timber Mechanics), Roger Sands

(Tree Physiology), Lotse Santer(Divisional Engineer), Lou Shain(Wood Structure), Gordon Scurfield(WoOd Strticture), Rosemary Siudak(Water Purification), JohnSm~lstorius (Wood Chemistry), BobSwmton (Water Purification), BobVmes (Climatology), Neville Walters(Mycology), AlfWatson (Pulp andPaper), Malcolm Winfield (Catalysis),Lon Wymond (Information),

John Mills (CarbohydrateChemistry),who was attached to theDivision of Chemical Technolog}-jalthough working at the Universityof New South Wales, died in 1977.Andy Stashevski (Plywood andGluing) also died before reachingretiring age, and the following havedied after retirement - Ray Bourn(Engineering), Ken Hirst (Plywood),Reg Kingston (Physics), CliveSchuster (Engineering) and CharlieStewart (Wood Chemistry). FrankPriest (Technical Secretary) retired inMay 1975 on groUnds of ill health,and died later.

People in research support andother categories who have retired ormoved on during this periodinclude Barbara Ashbolt (Secretary),Bob Bain (Pulp and Paper), FrankButler (Senior Clerk), Ann Forbes(Librarian), Ollie Fyfe (Canteen),Wally Hastie (Photography), RonHenderson (Draughtsman), PaulKightly (Electron Microscopy), LeonLau (Wood Structure), Norm Lynch

. (Carpenter), Mike Menshun(Chemistry), AlfMoroni (CabinetMaker), Mary Parsons (WoodAnatomy), JackPattison(Administration), Ralph Periera(Pulp and Paper), John Read(Maintenance), Anna Yuritta(Pulping), and Elizabeth Zerdoner(Wood Chemistry).

Among those still working in theDivision of Forestry and ForestProducts (mid-1988) who were inthe Divisions which preceded it atthe time of the 1971 upheaVal are:

From the Division of ForestProducts - Bill Balodis, JohnBarnacle, Frank Christensen, JohnColeman, Olga Collett, Jim Creffield,Carl Garland; Harry Greaves, KevinHarrington, Ted Hillis (who becamean Honorary Research Fellow in1986), Doug Howick, Yugo Ilic,Goran Langfors, Barry McCombe,Aiex McKenzie, Bob MeNamee,Tony Michell, Peter Nelson, BiuceNicholson, Andrew R02sa, Adrian

Wallis, John Ward and Yoshi Yazaki.

From the Division of AppliedChemistry - Bob Coutts, LouisKolarik, David MacArthur, NormPilkington, andTony Siomnis.

Several others were fbundationmembers of the Division ofChemical Technology, inclUdingDave Dixon, Rob Eldridge,GeoffIrvine, Merv Jackson and NoelWhelan, who has been th~ senioradminiStrative officer through to thepresent time.

Over the whole period which hasbeen briefly reviewed above therehas been increasing emphasis on theapplications of research and onways of ensuring that processinnovations and new products aretransferred to the industrial level assoon as possible. During much ofthe period, particularly in recentyears, this has had to beaccomplished in aclimate ofdiminishing Government fundingin real terms. '

It is beyond the scope of thisarticle to summarise theachievements over the last 20 years,and reference should be made to theAnnual Research Reviews and otherrelevant publications. However,mention can be made of practicaladvances in the following areas:-

Seasoning processesSawmilling and conversion

processesContinuous-feed timber drierNew wood preservativesVeneer and plywood productionRailway sleepersNew consolidated wood productFluid-bed carbonisation of wood

residuesDevelopment of new forest

resources for pulp productionPulping of tropical hardwoodsCherr:ith~rmomechanicalpulpingApplicatiOns of explosive

defibration (Siropulper)Ethanolamine pulpingApplications of press drying of

paper .Air impingement device for paper. drying

Additive application at papermachine wet end

Papermaking from kenafImproving sugarcane bagasse

quality for pulpingCellulose fibre-reinforced cement

compositesComposite paper-wrapped yarns

for improved wool packs

6

High-speed process for waxingcorrugated fibreboard boxes

Relative humidity measurementand control

Wood chip destructuring inrelation to pUlping

The Sirotherm process ror waterdesalination

Magnetic; iOIl"-exchange resinsMagnetic.filter aidsRemoVing c0lour and turbidity

from water (Sirofloc)Decolorisation of. mill effluentsAlternating a~robic/anaerobic

activated sludge systemsOzone~ind1iced "

chemiluminescence for wateranalysis

Treatment of piggery wasteSolid-phase fermentation for

ethanol productionNovel separation of alcohol from

fermentation liquorsSeparation of volatile fatty acids

from fermenter effluentProduction of beta-caroteneVegetable oils as diesel fuels and

lubricantsInduced resin formation in pinesHigh temperature disinfestation of

grainAssessment of agroindustrial

systems

Underpinning muCh of this work hasbeen a series of more basic studies inthe following fields:-

Wood anatomyThe nature of the cell wallCell contentsWood chemistryChemistry of lignin and

lignificationPolysaccharide ChemistryChemistry of pulping and

delignificationAdhesion and adhesivesHydrogen bonding and crystal

structureRheology of wood and paperDesign of timber structuresFracture in wood, paper and

compositesMoisture movement in woodDrying stresses in woodCollapse and recovery in woodWater sorption and swelling of

woodGlass transitions in lignin and

woodMechanism of cutting woodPhysics of paper and papermaking

processesElectrokinetic properties of fibresPermeability of fibre networksMeChanism of beating

cellulose fibresRelationship between wood, fibre

and paper propertiesTimber mycologyTimber 'entomologyBiosynthetic production of

chemicalsMembrane biochemistryRecombinant DNA technologyAnaerobic fermentationDigestibility oflignocellulosic

substra.tesReadily regenerable ion-exChange

systemsOxidation resistant resins for

Sirotherm processPolymerchemistryOver the last 20 years members of

the Division have receivedrecognition in various ways (apartfrom the internal promotionsysteIn), including the followingexternal honours and awards­CSIRO Medal (1), Fellow, AustralianAcademy of Science (n Fellow,Australian Academy ofTechnological Sciences (4), Presid.ent(1) and Fellow (3 others),International Academy of WoodScience, Senior Doctorate (5),Leighton Memorial Medal, RACI(n Applied ResearCh Medal, RACI(1), President, Appita (3), L RBenj~Medal, Appita (2), OertelNadebaurn Distinguished ServiceAward, Appita (2), Honorary LifeMember, Appita (2), President,International Association ofScientific Papermakers (1), ranMcLennan Technology Award (1),Plant of the Year Award, Society ofChemical Industry (1), Hurnphreysand Glasgow Medal and Prize,Instihition of Chemical Engineers(1), Grimwade Prize, University ofMelbourne (1), VictorianEngineering Excellence Award,Institution of Engineers (1), MiChaelFlynn Award, Australian Water andWastewater Association (1), VisitingProfessorship (1), Honorary LifeMember, Society of ChemicalIndustry (1), President, AustralianSociety of Rheology (1), Coordinator,Forest Products Division,International Union ofForestResearCh Organisations (1), Officerof the Oider of the British Empire(1), Stanley Clarke Medal, Instituteof Wood Science (3) and ChurChillFellow (1).

Officers of the DiVision haveserved with distinction, bothnationally and internationally, onmany professional committees,

- --

editorial boards and so on.Throughout the period reviewed theChief or Assistant Chief has been anObserver on the StandingCommittee of the AustralianForestry Council. Another importantaspect of the Division's work hasbeen in providing technologicalassistance to many other countries,mostly in the underdeveloped

t sectors of the world. These effortsalone would warrant a long chapterin the historyof the DivisionS.Similarly an account of theDivisions' relations with industryand with Goveniment agencies(particularly State forestry ana.water supply authorities) could fillmany chapters.

It should be emphasised that thisaccount does notiricludethe historyof the Forest Products componentSwhich were part of the Division ofBuilding Research between 1971 and1981. Similarly the present articledoes not deal with the prior historyof those groups and individualswho came to South Melbourne fromFishermen's Bend in the earlyseventies. SuCh accounts can best bewritten by members of the groupsconcerned.

The most controversial and far­reaching event in the last 20 yearswas undoubtedly the dismemberingof the Division of Forest Products in1971. The motives behind thereorganisation are not generallyknown. What is clear is that theexperience and good judgement ofthe Division's staff, the forestproducts industries, forestryauthorities and research colleaguesin other countries were not broughtinto play. All this is now history, andits main value may be in helping usto make wise decisions for thefuture. As Churchill said in 1936,"the u~e ofrecriminating about the pastis to enforce effective action at thepresent."

For further information on thisepoch the best references are theAnnual Reports of the Divisions ofForest Products and Applied~hemistryand the Annual ResearChReviews of the Divisions ofChemical Technology and Chemicaland Wood Technology. Listed thereinare about 800 papers and manypatents describing the researchconducted over the 2D-year period.

7

::

CSIR D e e •i~lVlS

..... _~'

of

o es res c sDUring Australia's pioneering

years,settlers cleared much of thenative forests for agriculture.Nowadays, the'area of forest land isless thanone-thiid of that whichexisted when Captain Cook arrivedin 1770~ In the first half of thiscentury, the forest resource avcillableto Australian indtistrywas.essentiiiUy old-growth native forestdominated by a variety of eucalypts.Although the establishment ofsoftWood plantations began in SouthAustralia as e;;rrly as 1876, itexpanded slowly until the 19305.CSIRO's early research was aimed atmaking better use of the old-growthforests·aild improvfug the successand qUality of exotic plantations.

Native forests and woodlands .seldom produce as much timber asintensively-managed plantationsgrown in an equivalent area. Largescale softWood plantations.complement production from nativeforests by supplying raw materialfor Australia's valuable forest

products industries. There isincreasing interest in an expandedrole for eucalypt plantations

.. CSIRO in collaboration with Stateforest services and mdustry, beganover 60 ye;;rrs ago to collectinformation pnthe properties andbest uses of Australian hardwoods.Methods which CSIRO developedhave been so successful thatAustralia now leads the world inmany areas of forest-basedtechnology, including theproduction of paper fromhardwoods.

Today, CSIRO is still stronglycommitted to research for AustralianIndustry. Research on forests ismainly Undertaken in the Divi?ionofForestry and Forest products,integrating research on land useproduction and processing of wood.This Division was formed in January1988 from the Divisions of ForestReSearch and Cherriical and WoodTechnology. Research is of two maintypes: (a) longer-term strategic

research that will help shape thefuture of the industry; and (b)collaborative and contract research

~ with individual companies andStates.The Division's aims are to: .

• enhance oitr understanding ofthe ecology and the basis forsustained productivity 6fforests;

• develop strategies andtechniques for management offorests for multiple usesincluding wood production,water supply and ecosyste:mconservation;

• develop technologies forincreasing the profitability offorest-based industries throughefficient use of wood resourcesand development of new

.products.

CHIEF - Dr W. Hewertson

DEPUTY CHIEF - Mr A.G. Brown

ASSISTANT CHIEFS - Dr H. GreavesDr E.K.S. Nambiar

PROGRAM LEADERSAustralian Tree Resources - Mr A.G. BrownFibres and Chemicals - Dr G. GartsideIntensively-Managed Temperate Eucalypts ­DrG.A. KileNational Bushfire Research Unit - Mr N.P. CheneyNative Forests - Dr K. M. OldRadiata Forests - Dr E.K.S. NambiarSub-TropiCal Eucalypt Plantations - Mr KN. CromerWood Science and Technology - Dr H. Greaves

LOCATIONSVictoriaHeadquarters: Bayview Avenue, Clayton, ViC. 3168.

Telephone (03) 542 2244. Telex AA35675.Fax (03) 543 6613

Highett Laboratory: Graham Road, Highett, ViC. 3190.Telephone (03) 556 2211. Telex AA33766.Fax (03) 533 2819

Australian Capital TerritoryCanberra Laboratory: Banks Street,Yarralumla, ACT2600.

Telephone (062) 818211. Telex AA62751.Fax (062) 818312

QueenslandQueensland Forest Research Group: Curiningham

. Laboratory, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4067.Telephone (07) 377 0307. Telex AA42159

South AustraliaPlantation Forest Research Centre: Airport Road,

Mount Gambier, SA 5290.Telephone (087) 25 5555. Telex AA80024.Fax (087) 24 9008

TasmaniaTasmanian Forest.Research Group: "Stowell",

Stowell Avenue, Battery Point, Hobart, Tas. 7004.Telephone (002) 20 1444. Telex AA58300.Fax (002) 21 1419

Western AustraliaW.A. Forest Research Group: Underwood Avenue,

Floreat Park, WA 6014. Telephone (09) 387 0200.

8