b'PeopleNewsVale: Dr Barry Drummond (19502019)his wife Linda moved to Canberra in 1972, where his early years were spent working on seismic refraction surveys designed to measure the thickness of the Earths crust. These surveys included the Trans Australia Seismic Survey (1972); the Bowen Basin Refraction Seismic Survey, which commenced his long-term collaboration with Clive Collins who was then at UQ; and the 1973 East Papua Crustal Survey (EPCS). In his first years at BMR he was involved with the development of analogue seismic recording and playback systems for crustal refraction surveys that were first tested in the trying conditions encountered in PNG. EPSC was a collaborative activity between six tertiary institutions, four government departments and eight contractors. This herding cats experience obviously Dr Barry Drummond put him in good stead for the rest of his career in negotiating with a diverse range of stakeholders across numerous Sadly, the Australian geosciencewas able to record some key momentssectors. This combined with the work he community has lost a wonderful personin his career. His records, along withundertook into understanding the Earths after a short illness. For those of you whocontributions from some of his formercrustal structure certainly influenced a knew Barry, I think there can be no doubtcolleagues, have allowed me to sharelarge part of his future career.in your minds that he was a great leadermany of his great contributions and and mentor to many. His contributions toachievements to Australian geoscienceThe 1977 Pilbara Crustal Survey led to Australian earth science were considerable,with Preview readers. Barry gaining the support of a Public and were across a broad spectrum ofBarrys interest in the earth sciencesService scholarship to undertake an geoscience. He will be truly missed by thewas fostered at an early age by hisMSc at the ANU, which he submitted in many colleagues he was associated withgrandfather, who was a coal miner and1979. This was immediately followed by over the four decades of his professionalfossicker for precious and semi-precioushis PhD study titled Crustal evolution career, and those he continued to workstones. At the age of 11 his uncle tookin northwest Australiaevidence from with during his retirement. him down a coal mine which he foundseismic refraction data, based on deep a fascinating experience. The scene wascrustal seismic refraction profiles using Many of us benefited enormouslyquarry blasts and the odd 10 tonne from Barrys guidance and wisdomthus set for fifty plus years in geoscience! explosive shot detonated by Barrys BMR in supporting our own careers as weBarry had a good aptitude for mathscrew. After completing his PhD studies developed as scientists, managers,and physics in high school, whichBarry started to combine the refraction technicians and leaders. He alwayscombined with his interest in rocks ledresults from deep seismic reflection endeavoured to encourage us to developto a leaning towards geophysics. He wassurveys with which the BMR had been solutions to whatever problems we facedfurther attracted to geophysics by theexperimenting since the mid-1950s, and by giving us the confidence in our ownfather of a school friend who managedhad been routinely acquiring along long knowledge, skills and abilities. In turn,a geophysical contracting company inregional reflection seismic lines from the he taught us to treat our staff in thehis home town of Toowoomba. At thatearly 1980s.same way, something which I hope hastime the Moonie oil fields were being imparted an enduring legacy. When wediscovered and south-west QueenslandIn 1987 Barry was given the task of went off in the wrong direction, he wouldwas the centre of oil exploration inintegrating the BMR seismic reflection always strive to help us understand howAustralia. Geophysics thus offered aand seismic refraction programmes, and an alternative path might be a morecareer in interesting subject matter thatincreasing their relevance to other parts sensible way to proceed. I think thatwas aligned with his academic strengthsof the BMR programme at that time. This Barry also benefited from the mentorshipand with opportunities to work outdoors. presented a significant challenge as he he received from others who wereneeded to overcome resistance from pioneers in Australian geoscience, JimAfter he completed a Bachelor of Appliedthose who wished to keep reflection Dooley for example, Professor AntonScience degree majoring in geophysicsseismology in the petroleum silo Hales and Dr John Cleary. at the University of Queensland (UQ)and, with no previous management in 1971, he gained a position as aexperience, he had to manage a couple We are fortunate that after his retirementcadet geophysicist with the Bureau ofof dozen scientists and technicians who from Geoscience Australia in 2011 BarryMineral Resources (BMR). Barry andwere reluctant to change. This was both a 13 PREVIEW DECEMBER 2019'