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A.K. DENMEAD LECTURE |
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In 1991 the Division established the annual A.K. Denmead Lecture in recognition of the contribution that Alan Knox Denmead made to the understanding of geology in Queensland. The lecture provides a forum for the presentation of significant advances in the geology of Queensland. More recently we have expanded the forum to include general advances in economic geology which would, of course, be applicable to areas like Queensland. |
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Last year (2000) our Denmead lecturer was Nick Oliver who presented a lecture on the geology of Mt Whaleback. |
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This is the first year where we are organising the Denmead lecture presentation in both Brisbane (Wednesday 10th of October) and Townsville (Thursday 11th of October), in an attempt to afford our North Queensland-based members the same opportunity to hear the Denmead lecture as our more spoilt Brisbane-based members. See the October/November newsletter to get details about the 2001 lecture. |
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A.K. DENMEAD |
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Alan Knox Denmead who was born in Melbourne on 5th December 1902. He was educated at the Brisbane Church of England Grammar School, and later graduated from the University of Queensland with a Master of Science Degree. His scholastic achievements were notable and included the award of a University Gold Medal. Alan became a pioneer geologist with his public service contributing significantly to the discovery and development of Queensland's rich and diverse mineral and energy resources. |
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Alan joined the staff of the Geological Survey of Queensland in 1927, and over the ensuing 40 years, worked in most parts of the state. He was appointed District Geologist, Charters Towers in 1946 and Assistant Chief Government Geologist in 1950. During his time as Assistant Chief Government Geologist, Alan carried forward the expansion of the Geological Survey, with the launching of programs of regional geological mapping and coal resource evaluation. This included the systematic mapping of the State in conjunction with the Commonwealth Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics (now AGSO), and the enhancement of the understanding of coal resources, especially those of the Bowen Basin. This work fuelled the subsequent growth of the State's mineral industry during the next decades. |
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In 1956 he became Chief Government Geologist, a position that he held until his retirement in 1967 at age 65. During this reign Alan saw the foundations of Queensland's huge coal export industry soundly laid, the State's important aluminium industry come into being with the commencement of bauxite mining and alumina refining, and Australia's first commercial oil and gas production established. A search of the geological literature in Queensland for the period 1927 to 1967 will find the name Denmead attached to publications on minerals, coal, fossils, mapping and mining history. After retirement Alan was a regular guest at Geological Survey Christmas lunches into his 90s. Sadly A.K. Denmead died in Brisbane on August 30, 1994 aged 91. (Adapted from an article in the Queensland Government Mining Journal September 1994). |
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Alan Knox Denmead was one of the founding members of the Queensland Division of the Geological Society of Australia in 1953. He was the second chairman of the Queensland Division 1954 and President of the GSA from 1962-1964. He was elected an Honorary member of the society in 1976 in recognition of his services to the Society. Alan served on the committee from 1952 to 1954 was Chair of the Division in 1954 and President of the society in 1965. Although he retired in 1968 he was a regular contributor to Society's publications until 1987 and until 1991 he often attended the monthly meetings. |
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