Minutes of a meeting of the Society of OAFs held on 18 December 2019 at noon at University House (Christmas lunch)

1. Present. OAFs Barlow, Beard, Falvey, Larkins, Lee Dow, Tija, White and Wood. Professor Emeritus David Connor was present as a guest.
2. Apologies. OAFs Hickey and Topp
3. Minutes of the meeting of 15 October 2019 had been circulated previously.
4. Activities since last meeting
5. Business

Santa Claus (aka OAF Falvey) provided small gifts for each OAF that could be used for marketing purposes. Prof Deli Chen very kindly provided two bottles of Bass Phillip pinot noir for the lunch and later made a brief appearance to extend Christmas good wishes.

The discussion was lively and wide-ranging but not sufficiently structured to be recorded except for two points (1) that Deli Chen be invited to become an honorary fellow of the Society, and (2) whether we should have a category of foreign fellow. These questions can be decided at our next meeting.

Another potential fellow Roger Cousens was not able to attend this meeting but expressed a firm wish to attend our next meeting in 2020.

6. Date of next meeting

Please see the calendar

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Minutes of a meeting of the Society of OAFs held on 15 October 2019 at noon at University House

1. Present. OAFs Barlow, Beard, Falvey, Lee Dow and White. One of the Agriculture Travel Award recipients Saeedeh Taheri was welcomed to the gathering.
2. Apologies. OAFs Hickey (overseas), Larkins (Tasmania), Tija, Topp and Wood
3. Minutes of the meeting of 7 August 2019 were accepted as read.
4. Activities since last meeting

OAF Barlow noted the concern that farmers and other rural people were expressing about the impacts of climate change. He also participated in a group that went to Parliament House to make the case for a national strategy for climate action in agriculture, which is particularly important given the Australian government’s aim to increase the value of Australian agricultural production to 100 billion dollars. He also had an exciting time whale watching off Fraser Island.

OAF Lee Dow has been asked to launch the book Oxford Handbook of Higher Education Systems, a multiauthor publication reviewing global trends and developments in higher education. For the UK it is an update of the Robbins Report of the 1960s.

OAF Beard spent three months around Europe with a highlight of seeing puffins and contributing to their continued well-being. She has completed a general practice note for TEQSA on admissions, is organising a conference for the L.H. Martin Institute and has been appointed Board Chair of a new higher education provider in IT.

OAF Falvey has similarly spent three months in Europe as noted in previous minutes, has been engaged in demanding CGIAR discussions, has completed the draft of his forthcoming book and is preparing for the Crawford Medal oration tomorrow.

OAF White reported that the launch of his new book ‘Healthy Soils for Healthy Vines’, with Mark Krstic of AWRI, was held at University House on 10 October. CSIRO Publishing attended with books for sale. To dispel some myths, he has co-authored a paper with Richard Eckard on The Carbon Cycle; also has had his article on The Clash of Cultures published in Down to Earth, the newsletter of Soils for Life.

5. Matters Arising

All matters arising were agreed to have been covered in other discussion during the meeting.

6. Other business

OAF Beard advised that David Connor would be in town in December and wondered if he should be invited to attend OAFS – this was agreed as a good idea and prompted the recollection of an earlier similar discussion concerning Roger Cousens, which was similarly considered a good idea.

The Honorary Secretary was asked to contact the two prospective OAFs, inviting them to join us at our next meeting.

7. Date of next meeting

OAF White, Hon. Secretary

Minutes of a meeting of the Society of OAFs held on 7 August 2019 at noon at University House

1. Present. OAFs Barlow, Larkins, Lee Dow, White and Wood
2. Apologies. OAFs Beard (overseas), Falvey (overseas), Hickey (overseas), Tija and Topp
3. Minutes of the meeting of 3 July 2019 were accepted as read.
4. Activities since last meeting

OAF Wood has been very busy harvesting truffles and developing value-added products for sale. He very kindly brought in some camembert cheeses laced with black truffle for the OAFs to taste at the table and at home – many thanks Nigel. The cheese was delicious (a photo of the occasion is attached).

OAF Barlow has been dealing with coal seam gas issues in his role as a NSW Commissioner for Land Planning. Another issue on the agenda for the Agriculture Forum of ATSE is the potential carcinogenicity of Roundup herbicide and its safe use.

OAF Lee Dow has had a quiet time since the last meeting, with nothing of significance to report.

OAF Larkins was successful in securing an $18 000 grant from the Foundation for Regional and Rural Development on behalf of the Yea Wetlands Trust. He still finds himself actively involved with the Port Phillip Probus group.

OAF Falvey reported from overseas on a successful meeting of the CGIAR group; also a nostalgic visit to Spain on the 15th anniversary of his meeting with wife Simone. His new book is being proof-read at the present time.

OAF White reported that the launch of his new book ‘Healthy Soils for Healthy Vines’, with Mark Krstic of AWRI, will be held at University House from 6 to 7.30 pm on 10 October. CSIRO Publishing will attend with a supply of books for sale. He also reported on his attendance at the 17th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference in Adelaide.

5. Matters Arising

OAF Barlow reported back on his discussion with Kate Howell on the criteria for selection of OAF Travel Awardees. OAF White undertook to invite the awardees to our next lunch in October.

6. Other business
7. Date of next meeting

OAF White, Hon. Secretary

Minutes of a meeting of the Society of OAFs held on 3 July 2019 at noon at University House

1. Present. OAFs Falvey, Larkins, Lee Dow, and White
2. Apologies. OAFs Barlow, Beard (overseas), Hickey, Tija, Topp and Wood
3. Minutes of the meeting of 21 May 2019 were accepted as read.
4. Activities since last meeting

OAF Larkins expanded on the various reactions to his article on the ERA and how useful were the statistics therein. He is active as chairman of the Yea Wetlands Trust, but no longer president of the Port Phillip Probus group.

OAF Lee Dow has been involved in strategic planning for new accommodation at Graduate House, part of Graduate Union at the University.

OAF Falvey’s book, provisionally titled Agriculture and Philosophy, is nearing completion and he invited OAFs to be readers of the draft MS. He has joined a University choir of singers in training – no performances to which OAFs might be invited as yet. He attended the ICM AgriFood awards in Sydney.

Advance copies OAF White’s new book ‘Healthy Soils for Healthy Vines’, with Mark Krstic of AWRI, is now available. The Dean of FVAS has kindly agreed to sponsoring a book launch, probably at University House in conjunction with a wine tasting. There will also be a launch in Adelaide sponsored by AWRI.

5. Matters Arising

OAF White reported that he had invited the Head of Agriculture and Food, Professor Herbert Kronzucker, to join us for lunch or dinner. He will contact the HOD’s Executive Assistant again to see whether a date can be arranged.

OAF Barlow is asked if he can supply the email addresses of the Travel Award recipients so that they can be invited to lunch.

6. Other business

The previous suggestion that perhaps the OAFS might hold a meeting in the new building 125 was not discussed.

OAF White

Hon Secretary

Minutes of a meeting of the Society of OAFs held on 21st May 2019, 1100-1300 at University House
1. Present: OAFs Barlow, Falvey, Larkins and Lee Dow. Guest: Dean Prof John Fazakerley
2. Apologies: OAFs Beard, Hickey, Tija, Topp, White and Wood
3. Previous Minutes: of 10 April 2019 were not mentioned, thus deemed accepted as read.
4. Activities since last meeting: OAF Barlow has planned a revival of the Academy’s Agricultural Forum, and recently found himself dispensing how-to-vote cards; OAF Larkins applied for a grant for the Yea Wetlands of which he is Chair and has advised Deli on some surface chemistry for significant lignite-based nitrogen capture; OAF Lee Dow has again been at UTas and spoke of their campuses each migrating to city centres; OAF Falvey has chaired the ILRI Board meeting in Ethiopia, and was belated conferred Emeritus status by Unimelb.
5. Matters Arising:
Invitation to the Head of School, Prof Herbert Kronzucker, to join for lunch or dinner: Actioned by OAF White, but no further response. To be carried forward.
5th anniversary of the founding of the OAFS (early March): the meeting duly celebrated the anniversary in the company of the Dean who graciously provided the muffin on which the ‘5’ candle was mounted before the oldest OAF cut and served the celebrants. The event was recorded photographically for the OAF Annals.

ICM Agrifood Award: OAFs motivated contacts, late applications were accepted and unsuccessful applicants from 2018 were encouraged to reapply. A suitable line-up resulted from which two outstanding laureates were selected who will receive their awards at the Clunies Ross Award Dinner on June 13 in Sydney.
OAFS Meeting in Building 125: to be carried forward.
6. General business:
The meeting was variously attended, beginning early with discussions about means of further enhancing AgriFood Award, and the value or otherwise of a well-funded national teacher award related to agriculture. Thereafter some discussions about the federal election ensued to no particular conclusion. The meeting ended in time for a lecture by a new Professorial appointment to the Faculty, Prof Pablo Zarco-Tejada, on remote sensing.
7. Date of next meeting
To be determined by the Honorary Secretary.

Minutes of a meeting of the Society of OAFs held on 10 April 2019 at noon at University House
1. Present. OAFs Barlow, Beard, Falvey, Hickey, Larkins, Lee Dow, and White
2. Apologies. OAFs Tija, Topp and Wood
3. Minutes of the meeting of 20 February 2019 were accepted as read.
4. Activities since last meeting
We offer sincere sympathy to OAF Falvey on the death of his mother aged 97. He has been preoccupied with his mother’s final days and then the funeral, so travelling had been postponed.
OAF Lee Dow has continued his responsibilities on the University of Tasmania council. He reported that a decision had been taken to relocate the Sandy Bay campus to a site in the Hobart CBD.
OAF Hickey continues his duties as a grandparent and with tending to the vegetation on his estate. He is also keeping his hand (feet?) in with ice-skating when the opportunity arises.
OAF Barlow is now an advisor to Farmers for Climate Action, a group formed a couple of years ago that has now grown in numbers considerably. He has also become an apprentice winemaker.
OAF Beard has also been involved in grandparenting, as well as continuing her work with the Melbourne School of Engineering. She is also involved with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
OAF Larkins has returned from two weeks with family in Ballina. He has become president of the Port Phillip Probus Club. His main domicile is in Yea now where he is chairman of a local Wetlands Trust. He has also written an opinion piece on the ERA, amongst other things, for the THES. In the course of his research he found that 80% of Australian university faculties assessed in the ERA are now above ‘world standard’. This observation provoked much discussion among the OAFs, with the questions being asked – had the world standard slipped over the past years or had Australian universities got much better; has the ERA in its present form outlived its usefulness?
OAF White’s new book ‘Healthy Soils for Healthy Vines’, with Mark Krstic of AWRI, is now at the page-proof stage. He and OAF Lee Dow attended the official opening of the new Building 125 on 25 March, an auspicious occasion attended by the state Minister for Higher Education, Training and Skills, the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Deans of the three faculties with space in the new building. He noted that there was no space for honorary fellows (such as some of the OAFs) in the new building nor in the refurbished Old Agriculture building.2
5. Matters Arising
OAF White reported that he had invited the Head of Agriculture and Food, Professor Herbert Kronzucker, to join us for lunch or dinner but had received no response. The Secretary will attempt to contact his Executive Assistant.
OAFs should also note that the Secretary overlooked recording that the 5th anniversary of the founding of the OAFS occurred in early March.
6. Other business
It was noted there was a dearth of applicants for the ICM Agrifood Award. OAFs were urged to approach their contacts to say that although the closing date was nigh, late applications would be accepted, and that unsuccessful applicants from 2018 should be encouraged to reapply if they so desired. It was also noted that there had been inquiries about the Agriculture Fellows’ Travel Award that was offered through the Faculty.
Apropos of the open spaces to encourage interaction and collaboration in Building 125, the suggestion was made that perhaps the OAFS should hold its next meeting in that building. In responding to the attached calendar, could you please indicate (yes or no) whether this is what you want to do?
7. Date of next meeting
Please see the calendar below.
OAF White
Hon. Secretary

Minutes of a meeting of the Society of OAFs held on 20 February 2019 at noon at University House
1. Present. OAFs Barlow, Beard, Falvey, Hickey, Lee Dow, Tija and White
2. Apologies. OAFs Larkins, Topp and Wood
3. Minutes of the meeting of 24 October 2018 and the Christmas meeting of 19 December 2018 were accepted.
4. Activities since last meeting
OAF Barlow endured a very hot January on his property in the Strathbogies. The vines survived well because they were kept well-watered. He also enjoyed a tour of South China. The NSW Planning Commission, of which he is a member, is having to consider a recent court decision refusing permission for the development of a new coal mine in the Hunter Valley because of climate change impacts.
OAF Hickey has been kept busy harvesting fruit on his property. He and Suzanne have also visited family in Perth and returned on a relaxing cruise to Melbourne on the Queen Elizabeth.
OAF Tija has spent time in the Rutherglen district and also stayed at the RACV resort at Cresswick. She reported that the Forestry School there is alive and well.
OAF Falvey has been travelling on business (Thaksin University and a CGIAR meeting) and for pleasure (a visit to an ancient Buddhist temple in Java). He is also contemplating writing a book on the links between philosophy and agriculture, past and present.
OAF Beard reported that her knee surgery had been a success and that she was walking without pain. She is also a first-time grandmother.
OAF Lee Dow has had a quiet time, being somewhat preoccupied with his wife’s health. He also found that he was still being asked to provide references for a number of people being considered for employment.
OAF White has completed the copyediting of his new book ‘Healthy soils for healthy vines’, with Mark Krstic of AWRI. It is due to be published by CSIRO Publishing later this year. He has also been involved in consulting work on vineyard soils in the Yarra Valley.
5. Matters Arising
None
6. Other business
2
OAF Falvey noted that the 5th anniversary of the founding of the Society was coming up in early
April.
OAFs Falvey and Barlow are in discussion with the executive team of ATSE about the value of the
ICM AgriFood Award and its public promotion.
OAF White reported that he had told the new Head of Agriculture and Food of the existence of
the OAFS and had invited him to join us for lunch or dinner. Since there had been no response, it
was agreed that another approach be made with a view to having the Head of SAF join us for
lunch at our next meeting, or at a mutually convenient date.
7. Date of next gathering
Please see the calendar below.
OAF White
Hon. Secretary