b'Branch newsASEG newscombination of brilliant presentationsof Tasmania / CODES, which routinelyPESA and SPEon March 1. Yes, I know. and fantastic exposure to theincludes presentations of a geophysicalHosting the Summer Social in Autumn exploration community provided aand computational nature as well as on amakes it technically an Autumn Social robust early career framework thatbroad range of earth sciences topics. event but hey, its just another arbitrary will be taken on into the future. Anday in the life of the Earth in a succession opportunity to present at the GeoGerrit Olivierof endless days while space travelling Pitch talks was also a first and much- taspresident@aseg.org.au and chalking up over 4.6 billion laps appreciated experience. A specialaround an ordinary yellow dwarf star, mention to the ASEG SA/NT Branch isVictoria give or take a million revolutions or two. deserved for generously providing theDont get too hung up on it, ok?funding required for my registration atLiving in Melbourne, Ive always AEGC 2023. associated snow as falling in winter in theRight, back to the Summer Social. It so Victorian alpine region. The conditionshappened that the Rock Fluid Dynamics for mother nature to create snow(RFD) group was also hosting an event vary, although sub-zero temperatureson the very same evening and after some are a ubiquitous requirement. Lowerdiscussions, it was decided to host both atmospheric or barometric pressure helpsbashes together. The RFD guys graciously too, a common theme especially if youreoffered to entertain our members at at relatively high elevations. And of course,QT Melbourne, which fortuitously is moisturelots of itmust be presentliterally opposite The Kelvin Club. A shout in the atmosphere. On all those trips toout goes to James Mullins (executive some of Victorias premier ski resorts, Ivedirector of RFD) for temporarily allowing observed snow falling on eucalyptusASEG Victoria Members into their cohort. woodlands surrounded by low-growingI did not personally attend the event, heathland. But no, not you, Toronto, allbut I was told it was a total success as of 76 m above sea-level. Toronto is anno palaeontologists, as promised, were absolute concrete jungle with impressiveharmed at any stage during the evening. skyscrapers developed alongside one ofSpeaking of which, apparently some The Great Lakes (Lake Ontario). Its earlycrypto fanatic and palaeontological Spring and I am in Toronto attendingor geochemist enthusiast may have the 2023 Prospectors and Developerstaken offence to my advert for the Association of Canada (PDAC)one ofSummer Social (see link https://www.the worlds premier mineral explorationeventbrite.com.au/e/annual-joint-and mining conventions. I am a PDACaseg-pesa-spe-summer-social-event-virgin - it is my first time attendingand2023-tickets-548047283177) as they first ever visit to Toronto. My first night inregistered for the event under the Oliver Mowbray making a Geo Pitch presentationthe city was unforgettable. I experiencedname of BitcoinPetePalaeontological at AEGC 2023 what locals call thundersnowa rareGeochemist, with a corresponding event in which an air mass becomescontact email notamember@aseg.org.au.The Branch AGM took place on Aprilso unstable that it turns violent withI thought it was childish but at the 12 and Nick Jervis-Bardy from Orica:lightning and thunder tearing up thesame time creative, especially for a Digital Solutions spoke on using NMR tonight sky coupled with heavy snowpalaeontologist because theres no way characterise aquifer properties in in-situfalls and strong winds. No less than aof knowing what happens behind closed mining. This was an excellent talk. foot of snow fell that night. Welcome todoors when theyre left alone with a fossil Toronto. Welcome to the sub-Artic polarspecimen, is there?!?!Lastly, we couldnt host any of ourvortex. Seeing snow fall on a city street fantastic events without the valuedsurrounded by towering superstructuresFar be it for me to pass up an opportunity support of our sponsors. The SA-NTwas unnatural, to me. I was at odds,to offend more people and other states, Branch is currently sponsored by Beachconflicted with how Ive always witnessedbut the curious world of Queenslanders Energy, Borehole Wireline, Oz Minerals,snow falling. It was contradictory to mydelivers plenty of comedy material. A Vintage Energy, Minotaur Exploration,idea of winter. Natural snow shouldnt falllittle more on that shortly. I was fortunate the Department for Energy and Mining,in a metropolis. It should fall in an alpineenough to also attend the 4 th AEGC in Zonge, Santos and Heathgate. eco-system generally 1000 m above seaBrisbane, immediately following PDAC, level. Damn you Toronto, youve ruined mywhere I had the pleasure in meeting Paul Soeffkyfellow ASEG representatives from the email:sa-ntpresident@aseg.org.au romanticised winter utopia.other states. It was great to actually As other state branches would agree,meet so many people with whom I often Tasmania the first few months of any calendarshare screen time on a monthly basis. I year is usually uneventful (althoughhad a tremendous time thawing out in Meeting notices, details about venuesfor Taswegians, nothing notable hasthe tropics, and theres no denying it, it and relevant contact details can be foundhappened on the Apple Isle since thewas a much needed home conference on the Tasmanian Branch page on thethylacine went the way of the dodo backconsidering the last in-person AEGC ASEG website. As always, we encouragein 36). The Victoria Branch co-hosted itswas held back in 2019. It was a fantastic Members to keep an eye on the seminar/ first event for 2023the annual Summergathering, one for the agesyou just webinar programme at the UniversitySocial with sister Victorian chapters inhad to be there. FYI, ASEG Victoria took APRIL 2023 PREVIEW 14'