tasmania - Engineers Australia

EA Tasmania “newsletter of the Tasmania Division of Engineers Australia” | FEBRUARY 2013
1
Tasmania Division
TASMANIA
NOTE
Discover more information online for articles marked with
The newsletter will be going wholly electronic on 21st March 2013.
Find out more, and read this edition of the newsletter online at
www.engineersaustralia.org.au/TAS
EA Tasmania “newsletter of the Tasmania Division of Engineers Australia” | FEBRUARY 2013
President’s Message
Contents
President’s Message
2
Electronic newsletter
3
Director’s Message
4
Info and Reports
5
Education and Outreach
6
Event reports
8
Farewell to Staff 9
Awards and Vale
11
College reports
12
News15
Upcoming events
16
Editor:
Dr David Pointing PhD MIEAust
Director (acting),
Tasmania Division
Cover page photo:
2012 Division President
Keith Midson FIEAust CPEng
and Tammy Chu GradIEAust,
Division President for 2013.
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Produced by
Engineers Australia - Tasmania Division
2 Davey Street, Hobart TAS 7000
T: 03 6234 2228 F: 03 6234 2216
E: Tasmania@engineersaustralia.org.au
www.engineersaustralia.org.au/TAS
All information is correct at time of printing.
Please check the website for the most up-to-date listings of
events and programs.
Welcome to the first edition of the Engineering Tasmania
newsletter for 2013 and my first article as President.
in our profession. We will be
Firstly, I would like to thank Keith
Midson for his work as Engineering advocating for membership within
the engineering community and also
Australia Tasmania Division
working with the tertiary education
President for 2012. In a turbulent
providers in Tasmania to promote
year for the Division,
Keith kept the Division moving in a membership and explain how
this can be beneficial to student,
positive direction.
graduate and experienced engineers.
I look forward to working with
Another of my priorities for 2013
Keith (as Past President) and
is the advancement of Chartered
the other members of the 2013
Membership. I hope the series
Tasmania Division committee,
including Michael Sylvester (Deputy of workshops in late January on
Chartered Membership, led by the
President), Donald Vaughan, Ian
National Industry Team Manager
Cooper, David Brumby, Henk
Alexandra Sparvell, started the
Kremer, Michael Green, Dan O
year well for Members and their
‘Toole, Tim Sutton, Bruce Cole,
employers in understanding the
Alan Coote and Robert Lowther.
benefits of being Chartered and
For those of you who don’t know
how Professional Development
me, I am currently the Managing
Program (PDP) agreements with
Director of Entura, which is the
Engineers Australia can promote
consulting business of Hydro
growth both inside and outside the
Tasmania. Starting as a graduate, I
profession.
have held a range of positions at
Entura, from Technical Professional Other priorities for the year
include increased engagement
to Project Manager, Business
with the public, enhancing our
Development Manager and Water
partnerships with government at
& Environment Group Manager.
all levels, growth in the number
As a civil engineer, I specialised
of engineering professionals with
in the design and construction
Engineering Executive (EngExec)
of mini-hydro and hydropower
post-nominals for their leadership
systems, project management,
and management competencies,
hydropower investigations, presupporting international engineers,
feasibility and feasibility studies,
and exploring the creation of
environmental assessments and
an emergency volunteer register
approvals, resource investigations
for engineers in Tasmania. The
and resource water management.
Director and Division Committee
As Engineers Australia has no
and I are also working to review
formal theme for the year, 2013
the structure and operation of
in Tasmania will be about
the Committee and the Division’s
re-engineering our own state
units and groups to optimize
Division with a new Director
their performance.
and staff. The Director will be
Specific plans for the year to
appointed soon which will enable
achieve these goals include a
the Division to focus on achieving
“launch event” for 2013, to be held
our strategic goals.
in the near future, where the 2013
One of my goals is to grow our
Division Committee will engage
membership. Being a member
with Members to share our plans
of Engineers Australia is
for the year and the new Director
about networking, educational
will be introduced.
opportunities, mentoring and
Hobart will host the National
keeping abreast of the changes
3
Tasmania Division’s monthly newsletter
is going electronic
Committee of
Engineering
Technologists Australia
(NCETA) in April,
which is a great
opportunity for our
local members to
interact with their peers
from interstate.
Our National President, Dr Marlene Kanga FIEAust
CPEng, will also visit Tasmania in early May in
collaboration with the Royal Society of Tasmania.
She will be presenting a public lecture on “Systematic
methods for National Disaster Risk Management”, an
area that should be of interest to all of us.
The annual Australian Engineering Week will be held
in the middle of the year, with a range of activities to
promote engineering to the wider population and to
highlight what we, as engineers, do. Other activities
will focus on engaging with other professional bodies,
and providing high quality professional development
opportunities to our members directly and via online
options. We also plan an intergenerational function to
promote mentoring within the profession. This allows
our younger members to gain experience and our
longer term members to pass on their knowledge to
those engineers coming through.
On the topic of passing on knowledge, I was pleased
to present the Engineering Heritage Australia Award
of Merit to Allan Wilson at the 2012 Annual Division
Meeting in December. Allen is an active researcher,
collecting and cataloguing information about proposed
crossings of the River Derwent, including Hobart’s
novel Floating Bridge. He has also collected material on
the development of the Lyell Highway from Derwent
Bridge to Gormanston, linking Hobart to the West
Coast in 1932.
Finally, I am looking forward to the opportunity of
working with you to promote Engineering as a career.
With the growing need for engineers in all areas of
expertise, promoting our profession to young people
This first edition of Tasmania’s Division
newsletter for 2013 is representative of much of
the behind-the-scenes activities that have been
happening within the Division office – a mix of
the old, a lot of the new, and part of a process of
ongoing change.
The Division’s operating framework is evolving to
become more focused, efficient and strategic, and
also much more collaborative with other elements
of Engineers Australia. As part of this evolution,
this newsletter includes content from the usual
Tasmanian sources but also has a new look and
feel, uses online resources to deliver more and
richer content, and was produced in collaboration
with staff from across the country.
The newsletter is also a transition tool to the
near future, when we will take early advantage
of new digital resources that EA is deploying.
This includes a modern electronic newsletter
and a revised format for weekly event emails to
Members. Both products offer a range of benefits
to Members. Related changes are also coming to
other aspects of our operations, such as video
conference facilities that enable live webcasting
of CPD events (including to mobile devices), and
new staff with new roles and skills and links to
other EA Divisions.
Look out for the new electronic newsletter
– it will arrive via email on 21st March 2013.
Make sure we have the right email address
for you.
Find out more about the electronic newsletter,
and what you can do to ensure you receive it, at:
www.engineersaustralia.org.au/TAS.
David Pointing PhD MIEAust Director (acting)
as an exciting and challenging career opportunity,
with many different areas in which to specialise, is
important.
Tammy Chu GradIEAust
Division President
E: TasPresident@EngineersAustralia.org.au
Anyone for kick-starter coffee?
Join Tammy, the 2013 Committee, the new
Division Director, and representatives from our
Units and Groups, at our Kick-starter Breakfast
event in Hobart on Thursday 28th February 2013.
Bring a colleague to show them the new face of
EA in Tasmania.
The informal breakfast will be an opportunity to hear
the Tasmania Division’s plans and major events for
the year, network with colleagues, and celebrate the
achievements of several Members who have recently
become Chartered. Find out more and register @
www.engineersaustralia.org.au/TASevents
Director’s Report
Welcome to 2013 – I think it is
going to be a great year for EA
in Tasmania!
Whilst some disruption to our
operations has been unavoidable
following the loss of 77% of our
staff at the end of last year, I can
confidently say that the Division
is now in a very sound position
for providing quality services
to Members and for evolving
and optimising our operations
in 2013. I’m also very excited
by the feedback I’ve received
from Members about our plans
for the year, and the calibre of
the professionals serving on our
Division Committee and in other
Units, Groups and Colleges.
For the past month I’ve been
working with the President and
Division Committee to identify
how the Division will help
achieve EA’s Strategic Goals
for the next 12 months (from
July), with the details outlined
in the President’s article. I’ve
also been leading, with support
from EA staff from around the
country, the restructuring of the
office, creating our staffing plan,
reviewing our communications
strategy and products, and
establishing the first events of
the year. It has been a great
challenge, but also very rewarding
to be able to make such a positive
contribution to the Division.
From this experience and my
work to date with EA, I’ve
formulated my personal priorities
for 2013, all of which are
embedded in our Operational
Plan. My personal view is that the
issues we need to focus on this
year, ranked by priority (high to
low) and time frame (immediate
need to strategic impact) are
Engagement, eChartered
and Education.
My meaning of the 3 areas is:
Engagement: pro-actively
connecting with our Members,
potential members, key
stakeholders and the public
at events and via our evolving
communications tools;
eChartered: supporting the
development of engineering
professionals (including their
path to Chartered Membership
and other forms of status
and competency recognition,
and providing the professional
development opportunities
required to maintaining
Chartered Membership);
Education: supporting the
development and closer
alignment of our schools
programs and outreach activities,
and contributing to the significant
reviews underway in the tertiary
and VET sectors.
The recent bushfires in Tasmania,
and the serious flooding
and storm events across the
country, prompted me to begin
formulating an appropriate
contribution to the situation from
Tasmania Division, based on
EA’s experiences with similar
events in other States and the
situation in Tasmania. Options
range from financial contributions
to the public donation funding
schemes, to CPD events for
Members, and events for the
public (including the presentation
by our National President in early
May 2013). Further details will be
available soon but your input is
most welcome.
David Pointing PhD MIEAust
Director (acting)
DPointing@engineersaustralia.
org.au
UTAS Careers Fair information
UTAS invites employers who are interested in
graduates, and/or those who already have a UTAS
relationship, to get involved with the new format
Careers Fair for 2013. The fair will run for a whole
week, with a focus on the Science & Engineering
on Tuesday 19th March 2013. This includes the
opportunity to contribute to speaker panels and
at student info sessions.
An outline of the schedule and details of how to get
involved can be found here: www.utas.edu.au/
students/careers/careers-fair-2013
Science & Engineering will be on
Tuesday 19th March 2013
Information and reports:
Engineers Australia’s response
to the Tasmanian bushfires
Following the recent bush fires
in Tasmania and the significant
impacts that they have had
on individuals, infrastructure,
communities and the environment,
Engineers Australia is considering
how we can best contribute to the
response efforts and to assisting
Tasmanians to understand and learn
from the events. Further details
about our response will be provided
in the near future as we review the
organisation’s experiences with and
contributions to such incidents
in other States. In the short term,
however, we want to acknowledge
the efforts of Members and other
engineering professionals and their
contributions to the immediate
and on-going responses to the fires
and recovery. We also encourage
Members who wish to personally
contribute to consider the various
community-based options available,
which range from making financial
donations to assisting with building
farm fences. Details of some of
the options are available from the
Tasmanian Government’s Bushfire
Recovery website.
2012 Tasmania Division ADM
and Annual Report
The Division’s ADM was held on
the 10th of December with around
30 people attending.
eChartered is live!
enrol now
new online system for chartered membership and registration
For more information please visit www.engineersaustralia.org.au/echartered
eChartered
EA’s new online application and assessment system for
chartered membership and registration opened for enrolment
on 20th November. After the first week, over 1,000 engineers
had commenced their journey on eChartered.
Engineers Australia CEO Stephen Durkin considers the launch
a milestone:
“I am very excited to announce the launch of eChartered.
eChartered reflects our commitment to growing the uptake and
prominence of Chartered as a foundation of excellence across the
engineering profession.
eChartered delivers great efficiencies and enhancements to the
member experience, with submission, verification and assessment
now carried out on-line. Feedback from members during our
pilot phase and now since implementation has confirmed that the
web-based interface is intuitive and easy to use”.
Engineers Australia’s National Manager Business Development,
Alexandra Sparvell, visited Tasmania at the end of January to support
Tasmanians in pursuing their Chartered journey and delivered a
range of presentations in Hobart and Launceston. Many thanks to
Launceston City Council and Entura, who are valued Professional
Development Program (PDP) partners, for hosting sessions.
The Division’s Annual Report was
presented, including details of the
new Division Committee for 2013.
You can view a PDF of the Report
here, and you can view some
photos of the ADM here.
How are Tasmanians progressing with eChartered?
The National Annual Report 2012
is also available online.
Further presentations on eChartered will be offered in the future
and a range of resources are available on the eChartered web site.
The Young Engineers Tasmania group is also running Engineering
Competency Report Writing workshops, to share their own
experiences, on the 20th February and 15th March.
EA Policy Note: Changes in the
Tasmanian Engineering Labour
Market, November 2012
This Note examines the main
changes that have occurred in the
Tasmanian engineering labour
market between 2006 and 2011.
Available online here.
Almost 2000 people across Australia had enrolled on eChartered
(on all pathways) as of the 9th January, but only 17 individuals were
in Tasmania, and only 1 submission had been made from Tasmania.
Hopefully Alex’s visit has assisted more Tasmanians in kick-starting
their efforts with Chartered Membership in 2013.
Learn more about eChartered, and watch the eChartered
launch video at: www.engineersaustralia.org.au/eChartered
See page 13 for details, register online at
www.engineersaustralia.org.au/TasEvents
5
Tasmania Division’s education and outreach program for
students and the public
Discover more at www.EngineersAustralia.org.au/DET
Will you get involved
this year?
Tassie’s Futures in
Engineering program gets a
5 year review and upgrade
Tasmania Division’s unique
“Futures in Engineering”
mentoring program for students
in Year 10 has received a makeover after 5 years of successfully
influencing Tasmanian students
to study maths and science and
consider a career in engineering.
Volunteers sought for The
Tasmanian Science and
Engineering Challenge (TSEC)
Volunteers are sought for the
Challenge, an outreach program
aimed at changing student’s
perceptions of science and
engineering through team-based
competitions that bring up to teams
schools together on nominated
Challenge days. By participating
in the Challenge students see that
science and engineering involves
creativity, innovation, problem
solving and team work. Last year
a total 1600 students participated
from 41 schools in Tasmania; 17
private and 24 public.
In 2013 it will provide more
opportunities for more students
to get involved, and will be
more flexible to the needs of
the industry partners who
support this exciting program
by hosting site tours by students
groups or mentor individual or
groups of students.
Members of Engineers
Australia and their employers
are encouraged to consider
how they too could seize the
opportunity to engage with their
local communities and schools to
Volunteer Engineers (and
Rotarians) play an important
role as judges and mentors in
the Challenge. Volunteering is an
opportunity to encourage school
students to consider a future career
in science and engineering by
choosing to study subjects such as
maths, physics and chemistry (the
enabling sciences) in years 11 and
12. It is also a great opportunity
to advertise your business, or the
discipline of engineering you are
passionate about.
In 2013, we need 24 volunteers
each day, for 8 days of
competition. You would need
to be available from 8:30 am
to 3:00pm.
Are you able to help this year,
by volunteering one, two or
three days? The enthusiasm
shown by schools is wonderful;
stimulate interest in engineering
through the support mechanisms
provided by Engineers Australia
and the Education Department in
the FiE program.
Find out more about the FiE
program, including videos of the
experiences of past students, at
www.engineersaustralia.org.au/
FiE
Contact Dr David Pointing,
Education and Industry Manager
(and acting Director for Tasmania
Division) for further details via
DPointing@EngineersAustralia.
org.au
we anticipate full capacity of
8 teams competing per day.
Volunteers can register their
interest online here.
The 2013 Tasmanian Challenge
Series will be held on the following
dates in these regions:
• Devonport, 8th & 9th April at
Reece High School
• Launceston, 11th & 12th April
at Launceston Christian School
• Hobart, 16th, 17th & 18th April
on the UTAS campus in
Sandy Bay.
• Tasmanian Super Challenge, held
in Hobart 9th May 2013, on the
UTAS campus in Sandy Bay.
Find out more about the
Challenge in Tasmania and
contact details for Susie Haley, the
State Coordinator, Science and
Engineering Challenge, here.
Report on Tasmanian Science
Talent Search results for 2012
TSTS is an annual competition in
Tasmanian schools that promotes
quality science education in
government and non-government
schools through the recognition
of outstanding work in a variety
of fields by individual school
students and groups. Tasmania
Division has been a long-term
sponsor of prizes in the
Technology Challenge section and
now also sponsors the new (in
2012) Engineering section. Finalists
in the TSTS are also eligible for
entry in the BHP Billiton Science
and Engineering awards, giving
access to some great prizes.
The TSTS is pleased to announce
that two Tasmanian students were
finalists in the 10 national finalists
of the BHP Billiton Science and
Engineering awards: YaYa Lu from
Ogilvie HS with her robotic aid
for a wheelchair person (“Assisted
Technologies for Paraplegia”)
and Jonathan Robertson from
Rosny (with a prototype of an
arrangement of magnets which
moved with your body to generate
a small electric current; as an
example to power a mobile phone
for emergency contact whilst
bushwalking). The Primary school
entry from East Launceston PS,
“Swivel Window”, won a primary
award, and 2 entries from Taroona
High were semi-finalists. All
fantastic news!
International recognition for
a Tasmanian school student’s
engineering work
Yaya Lu, a high school student
from Hobart, was recently funded
by Google to travel and present
her paper on voice-controlled
wheelchair technology to the
5th Biomedical Engineering
International Conference in
Thailand. As a result of Yaya’s
work, quadriplegics speaking
any language will be able to use
a voice-controlled wheelchair
designed by 16-year-old Hobart
student, Yaya Lu.
Yaya’s works has earnt her
international recognition and a
top science award for school
students (the Gold Crest Award)
from the CSIRO.
Yaya was also a winner in the
Tasmanian Science Talent Search
and one of the 32 students selected
for the Tasmania Division’s Futures
in Engineering program in 2012.
Read more and watch the video
about Yaya’s work here
You can follow Yaya’s exploits on
her blog at www.yayalu.net/YayaLu-2013/Yaya-Lu-2013.htm
New Town High win the Australian-International Model
Solar Car Challenge in 2012
Participants at the Tasmanian Solar Challenge event in Hobart in
October 2012.
New Town High School overcame the odds to win the
Australian-International Model Solar Car Challenge late in 2012,
following victory in the Tasmanian championships. The seven
Year 9 and 10 students beat 31 other solar cars when racing in
the finals in Melbourne in November. Their two cars set new
track records in 100% and 45% sunlight conditions, surprising the
judges and competitors.
Bill Howard, a member of the winning team, reported to us “all 3
of our cars never lost a race to a competitor and only got knocked
out in the semi- finals where we had to race off against our other
cars, we won the event with the leviathan which in the finals won
3 in a row out of a best of 5, we also won best engineered solar
car, fastest lap of the day, track record lap time, best team effort
through the day and best achievement by a high school team. It is
the first time that New Town High School has won the event, and it
has been 8 years since a Tasmanian team has won the event, so we
were very pleased with our efforts”.
Engineers Australia Tasmania Division is a long-term sponsor of the
Tasmanian Model Solar Challenge. Visit the TMSC web site to see
photos, videos and news stories of the their winning car “Leviathan”
in the final against “Uber Speed” from Strathfield South High
School, NSW: www.tassolarchallenge.org
7
Event reports
Christmas Party
Around 60 people attended the Tasmania Division’s Christmas
event at the Observatory bar in Hobart in late December. It was
a fun night in a beautiful venue that stimulated lots of networking.
Thanks to the Young Engineers group for helping to organise the
event! See the photos from the Christmas party here.
Tasmanian Delegation to the National
Engineering Excellence Awards in Canberra
A small contingent of Tasmanians (about 10) attended the
Australian Engineering Excellence Awards event in Canberra in
November last year to support our 2012 Tasmanian individual
award winners Richard Herweynen MIEAust CPEng and Rachael
Cox MIEAust in their efforts to win the national individual
awards for engineering professionalism.
Richard, a Civil Engineer and Principal Consultant with Entura,
is the Tasmanian Professional Engineer of the Year; and Rachael,
an Electrical Engineer with SKM, is the Tasmanian Young
Professional Engineer of the Year category. The competition
on the national stage was very strong and neither Richard nor
Rachael were successful but the evening and networking were a
great pleasure regardless.
Women in Engineering Tasmania (WIETas)
Tasmania’s WIE Committee met on a Saturday morning in
December 2012 to plan their activities for this year.
Their message for us from the day: “Lots of great events and
seminars and site visits are coming up in 2013. Stay tuned!”
WIET are also pleased to announce that Sam (Samantha)
Connelly was elected Chair and Meredith McQueen as
Vice Chair of the Committee for 2013.
David Pointing (acting Director) and his 2 year old son Hugh
also attended the start of the meeting, which explains why the
Lego is out in the photo to the right (for Hugh, not David …
to his disappointment).
Follow the WIETas group on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/wietasmania
9
L-R Geoff Harper and Catherine Reading, with their Engineers Australia Medals, outside the iconic Royal Engineers Building in Hobart.
Farewell to our long-serving staff members:
Geoff Harper and Catherine Reading
“Dear Division Members,
The Division’s Christmas party last year was also an
informal farewell event for the Division’s long-serving
staff members (Geoff Harper and Catherine Reading)
who both left the Division in the final months of
2012. The Tasmania Division Committee of Engineers
Australia was pleased and honoured to award Geoff
and Catherine each with the Engineers Australia Medal
during the evening.
We would like to express our sincere thanks for your
ongoing friendship and support together with the
generous gifts and the recognition afforded to us at the
end of year event last December.
The Medal exists to recognise the efforts of an
external individual or group that has provided
conspicuous service to Engineers Australia and its
goals in a local context, and is awarded by the Division
Committee. Read more about the Medal and why the
Tasmania Division Committee chose to make the
awards to Geoff and Catherine here.
We wish you all the best for the future.
Approximately 60 individual members of the Tasmania
Division also contributed, with support from the
Our roles would not have been as enjoyable and
rewarding were it not for your willingness to
generously volunteer your time to assist whenever you
were called upon.
Geoff & Catherine”
Division office, to a farewell gift each for Geoff and
Catherine. These gifts were presented to them on
behalf of all members by 3 Past Presidents (Keith
Midson, David Brumby and Richard Bevan) on the
19th December 2012.
A few mechanisms were given on how to give negative
feedback. One being to state:
• How you felt
•Due to the actions of the other person and
•How you would like them to change/improve
•For the better working relationship/outcome for all
Using this strategy, the other person cannot argue with
what you feel.
It opens a path for discussion that is not as
confrontational.
Shirley Chiu, GradIEAust
The Art of Straight Talk
On Tuesday, 23 October 2013, Richard Day
(a consultant to the Institute of Chartered
Accountants) presented to the Young Professionals
Network Tasmania (YPNT) on the importance of
communication and feedback as essential in life and
work. Specifically, negative feedback. He identified
giving negative feedback as an opportunity for
improvement and that many people do not get the
constructive feedback from their supervisor, friends
or family members about what they are doing right
and what they could improve. Being NICE was just an
acronym for Nothing In me Cares Enough to tell you
the truth.
Heritage award for Allen Wilson
Allen Wilson was presented with an Engineering
Heritage Australia Award of Merit at the Division’s
Annual Division Meeting on the 10th December
2012. Engineering Heritage Australia established
its Awards of Merit program to recognise those
individuals who have made a significant contribution
to the conservation of our engineering heritage
over a considerable period of time, usually out of
the limelight, but invaluable to the cause. Further
details about Allen’s history of contributions to
the heritage arena are available online at
https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/news/
presentation-engineering-heritage-australia-awardmerit-allen-wilson-10th-december-2012.
(l-r) 2013 Tasmania Division President, Tammy Chu GradIEAust presenting Allen Wilson
with his Heritage Award of Merit
Another method was the sandwich method. Basically
start with something they do well. Stop. Then
something they could improve. Stop. Then something
they do well. This way you are giving them positive
feedback on two things as well as delivering an
opportunity for improvement. Quite positive. He
stressed that the three don’t blurr into each other, that
they were separate points.
Much more was explored. The session was quite useful
and gave many other helpful pointers on how to give
that necessary feedback and communicate effectively.
Engineers Australia Tasmania Division is a founding
partner of the YPNT and provides administrative
support to the Network, including facilitating
Professional Development opportunities such as this.
Learn more about the YPNT and follow their activities
on Facebook.
Contributed by Shirley Chiu GradIEAust
11
Fellow Membership Awards
Alan Coote, FIEAust CPEng and
Don Anderson, FIEAust CPEng
were awarded Fellow membership
and were presented with their
certificates in December 2012.
Fellows of Engineers Australia are
recognised as being amongst the
true leaders of the industry and
profession. Assessment is made by
a panel of peers and is moderated
nationally. Fellow membership
grades include Fellow (FIEAust),
Technologist Fellow (TFIEAust)
and Associate Fellow (AFIEAust).
1. (l-r) 2013 Tasmania Division President, Tammy Chu
GradIEAust presenting Alan Coote, FIEAust CPEng with his
Fellow Certificate at the Division’s Annual Meeting on Monday,
10 December 2012.
2. (l-r) Rowan Sharman AMIEAust (North West Group Chair)
presenting Don Anderson, FIEAust CPEng with his Fellow
Certificate at the North West Group’s Christmas function on
Friday, 14 December 2012.
Find out more about applying for Fellow
Membership at:
www.engineersaustralia.org.au/
membership/apply-fellowmembership
Vale to Keith Drewitt, FIEAust CPEng 1924 - 2012
Keith was educated at the Hobart Junior Technical College.
In 1940 he began a five year apprenticeship as an electrical
mechanic with G C Adams Pty Ltd. His apprenticeship was
interrupted for 3 years by war service in the RAAF as an
Instrument Technician, mainly in the Northern Territory. He
had wanted to be a pilot but that was unfortunately prevented
by colour blindness.
In 1947 the purchase of a
new 350cc AJS motorbike
became imperative because
he had “girl friends in
Swansea, Launceston
and Hobart.”
At the end of his
apprenticeship, he joined
the Hydro-Electric
Commission of Tasmania
as a Technical Officer and
married Olive in 1948. Through
study at the Hobart Technical
College at night, he obtained
a Certificate in Electrical
Engineering in 1949 and
transferred to the Hydrology
Section where he stayed. The
Section was responsible for river
gauging, flood estimation, turbine
efficiency testing and maintaining
hydrographic records. He
continued to study and obtained
a Diploma in Structural
Engineering in 1953. Presumably
this qualification came in handy
when he designed and installed
cableways at river gauging
sites. In 1974 he was appointed
Hydrographic Engineer in charge
of the Hydrology Section of 40
people, the position he held until
his retirement in 1984.
He joined the Tasmania
Division heritage group when it
was formed by Henry McFie in
1978. Keith succeeded Henry
as Chairman in 1988 and held
that position for the next
18 years. He represented
Tasmania on the National
Committee on Engineering
Heritage for eleven years.
Keith prepared nominations
for the recognition of five
historic engineering works in
Tasmania, arranged the formal
award ceremonies and acted
as the MC, introducing the
speakers, often including the
Governor of Tasmania.
In 1992, for the first time, the
biennial National Engineering
Heritage Conference was held
in Hobart and Keith led the
organising committee. He
told me he reviewed all the
conference papers himself.
He also attracted an eminent
keynote speaker from the UK
and made the arrangements for
him to visit and speak in all the
other Divisions.
In recognition of his major
contribution to the conservation
of engineering heritage over
28 years, the National Committee
on Engineering Heritage
presented him with an Award
of Merit in 2004.
Keith is survived by his wife
Olive, daughter Julianne and
grandson Callan.
Contributed by Bruce Cole,
FIEAust CPEng (Ret)
History and Future
Directions of the
International Council on
Large Electric Systems
(CIGRE)
Richard Bevan
FIEAust CPEng FAICD
Richard Bevan is an electrical
engineer, senior executive and
independent director with 40
years experience in the electricity,
mining and consulting engineering
industries. Richard was Managing
Director of Transend Networks
Pty Ltd for 12 years until 2010,
is a past President of Engineers
Australia Tasmania Division (2003)
and is currently a member of
Engineers Australia Accreditation
Board. Richard is the immediate
past chairman of CIGRE’s
Australian National Committee
and was recently elected
International Treasurer.
History of Electricity –
some key dates
•1873 - Hippolyte Fontaine,
Vienna Exhibition “long distance transmission”
•1878 - Edison, patent for the
electric lamp
•1884 - electrical transformer
principle defined
(secondary generator)
•1906 - IEC established (for
electrotechnical standards)
•1921 - Cigre established,
post WW1 recognition of
the need for International
cooperation for
Richard Bevan commenced his
address to the October Joint
Electrical Meeting by providing
an overview of CIGRE (Conseil
International des Grands Reseaux
Electriques, the English translation
being International Council on
Large Electric Systems). He said
the organization was established in
1921 as a forum where technical
expertise regarding the emerging
high voltage electricity industry
could be shared and now has
over 11,500 members worldwide
representing 82 countries. Fifty
seven National Committees make
up the Administrative Council
which is the governing body.
Fifteen Administrative Council
members together with the
executive positions of President,
Treasurer and Technical Committee
Chairman plus the Secretary
General make up the Steering
Committee which meets twice
annually. The Administrative
Committee meets annually and the
General Session (Paris) biennially.
CIGRE maintains its independence
Strategic Directions of
Cigre
•SD1 - Power system of
the future
•SD2 - Best use of
existing systems
•SD3 - Environment and
sustainability
•SD4 - Unbiased information
for technical and
non-technical readers
•activities at Distribution levels
- MV/LV system aspects
(Smart Grid)
• energy efficiency
and has no sponsorships. The
organisation’s vision statement
is “CIGRE shall be recognised
as the leading worldwide
organisation on Electric Power
Systems, covering their technical,
economic and environmental
aspects, and taking into account
the impact of organisational and
regulatory aspects.”
Within the organization there are
16 study committees divided into 4
groups, A - Primary equipment (3
groups), B - Sub systems (5),
Number of Experts/Positions & Working Groups by Country
C - Electricity Systems and Markets
(6) and D - New Technologies,
IT&C (2). There are currently
213 working bodies.
On the Australian scene Bevan
said there are 176 members, an
Australian National Committee of
Cigre Ltd with its own board of
directors, 16 Australian Panels (APs
mirror Study Committees) and an
Australian Technical Committee.
The annual revenue of the
Australian section of CIGRE is
around $750,000 and is derived
from Subscriptions and seminars.
The strategic directions of CIGRE
include the power systems of the
future, the best use of existing
power systems, environmental
and sustainability aspects, and
the provision of unbiased
information for technical and
non-technical readers. Activities
at distribution levels of supply
(MV and LV system aspects and
the development of Smart Grid)
together with energy efficiency
are also areas of interest and
study. In elaborating on the power
systems of the future Bevan posed
the question “What is the power
Why should I join CIGRE?
•direct access to unbiased
world expertise
•opportunity to network with
world experts
•opportunity to contribute at a
global level
•access to technical brochures
and seminars
•very cost effective
How do I find out more?
www.cigre.org.au
www.cigre.org
system going to look like?” The
developing system will incorporate
new sources of power generation,
many of these being distributed
to areas of power usage. To
ensure the best use of systems
intelligent devices will switch on
appliances during cheaper off
peak power times. To do this will
require the development of smart
communication systems but the
power system of the future will be
a totally new “beast”. He gave as
an example the typical American
school bus which is powered by
solar cells on its roof. During
holiday periods the buses may well
be plugged into the network as
sources of power.
He said that although there is
considerable standardisation in
the technical aspects, there is no
standardisation between countries
in the product marketing.
Bevan noted that Australia is a
significant player in the industry
and that Tasmania similarly is at
the leading edge as its size makes it
a laboratory to try changes before
Europe commences to incorporate
them. King Island is an even better
test bed.
He concluded his talk by
expressing his view of future
networks as an equation:
Technical Systems + ‘smart’ IT
+ ‘smart’ communications = the
System of the Future.
Contributed by: David Brumby
FIEAust CPEng (Ret)
Want to get moving on your
Chartered application?
….Think the luck of the Irish might help?
Come to Young Engineers Tasmania’s first events for 2013:
Peer-to-Peer workshops on Engineering Competency Report Writing.
Workshops will be held:
in Hobart on 20th February,
followed by dinner at the
New Sydney Hotel (user pays),
and in Launceston on
15th March (St Patricks Day).
Register at www.engineers
australia.org.au/TasEvents
What else should
YEAT do in 2013?
Contribute to the conversation
on Facebook here.
13
Heritage event
Mount Morgan Gold & Copper Mine.
The final two presentations by Engineering Heritage Tasmania for this year were two thought provoking ones
about Mount Lyell Mine in Tasmania, and The Mount Morgan Mine in Queensland. Mt. Lyell was by Mr. Lou
Rae, and Mt.Morgan by Mr. Tony Hope. The two presentations showed that these mines had similar histories
and were managed by managers that were really big fish in small ponds. Both mines were isolated and therefore
governed almost as a fiefdom, though this practice gave the workers, employment, health care, housing &
education for the families. Both mines were the economic powerhouse of their regions.
Tony Hope’s beautifully illustrated talk on the Mount Morgan Mine in Queensland included the remarkable
parallel between Mt Morgan and the Mt Lyell Mine in Tasmania. The details are set out below:
Mt Morgan Mine
Mt Lyell Mine
• Formed 1886, closed 1981.
• Formed 1893, still going.
•Became the richest and most profitable gold mine in
Australia.
• Became Australia’s greatest copper field.
•Produced 400,000 tons of copper, 21 tons silver and 220
tons gold.
•Supergene fine gold in gossan after pyrite averaging
6-20 oz gold per ton.
•First named Ironstone Mountain due to presence of iron
oxide (goethite).
•Early underground operations: crown shaft reached
1587 ft below Mt Morgan summit or 1304 ft below No.1
tunnel.
•Pyritic smelting was used to extract the copper.
•The Abt railway operated from 1898 to 1952, climbing
a grade of 1 in 16.5 over 2.4 km.
•There were two mine disasters: in September 1908, a
rock fall on the 850 level killed 7 miners. Another in
November 1908 killed 5.
•Produced 1 million tons copper, 750 tons silver and
4.5 tons of gold.
•Super fine grained gold in gossan after pyrite. Assayed
15 oz gold per ton.
•First named the Iron blow due to presence of iron oxide
(goethite).
•Early underground operations: main shaft to 1100 ft and
mining down to 1300 ft.
•Pyritic smelting was used to extract the copper until the
late 1930s.
•The Abt railway operated from 1996 to 1963,
climbing grades of 1 in 16 over 2 km and 1 in 20
on King River side.
•Mine disaster in October 1912 due to a fire trapped
92 miners on the 1000 ft level, 42 died.
• Mine waste and effluent polluted the Dee River.
•Mine waste and effluent dumped into the Queen River:
100 million tons of tailings.
Mount Lyell Smelters, c. 1897, soon after completion
Gold ingots weighing 5488 ounces worth over $6m each today
Lou Rae, FAPI CPV
Tony Hope
15
News from industry and stakeholders
Do you have news you’d like to share? Send details to
Tasmania@engineersaustralia.org.au
The ‘Merlo’ wins WorkSafe Award
Grange Resources together with pitt&sherry received
the WorkSafe Tasmania Award 2012 for the Best
Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety
Issue. The Merlo Remote Explosive Blasting Unit
delivers an innovative solution to keep mine personnel
safely away from the hazards of open pit mining.
More information is available online here.
“Sharing renewable energy expertise with the world” with
the launch of the Entura Clean Energy and Water Institute
Tasmania’s reputation as an international leader in
renewable energy has been further strengthened in
December 2012 with the opening of the Entura
Clean Energy and Water Institute by the Premier,
Lara Giddings, and Minister for Energy and Resources,
Bryan Green. The centre at Cambridge is expected
to be a drawcard for international energy and water
businesses looking to upskill their workforces.
YPNT Christmas Party
The Young Professionals Network of Tasmania
(YPNT) had a very successful end of year function,
with more than 150 young professionals (including
many engineers) attending a great night of music,
food, drinks and good company.
Aside from the multi-discipline networking on offer, a
highlight of the evening was a short presentation from
Guy Robertson (a young businessman/farmer from
the North West who runs a successful and sustainable
rare breed pig farm). Guy spoke about commitment,
innovation and leadership, and his experience in the
Tasmanian Leaders Program in 2012.
The YPNT is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to
foster links among young professionals from a broad
variety of backgrounds. Engineers Australia Tasmania
Division is a founding partner of the YPNT and
provides administrative support to the Network.
Find out more about the YPNT and see the photos
from the event here.
Read more in the Premier’s media release here.
Calling all Northern Tasmanians
Did you know that regional engineering team
members comprise more than 15% of all of
Engineers Australia’s membership, and so form an
important part of our professional community?
Do you live in the Launceston regional area, and
want to get involved with Engineers Australia?
Tasmania Division’s Northern Group is
seeking an injection of new members
and ideas to join their Committee and
potentially to take a leadership role in the EA
Member community in northern Tasmania.
Enquiries and comments should be directed to
Royce Aldred, current Chair of the Northern
Group, via Tasmania@EngineersAustralia.org.au.
Attendees at the YPNT Christmas Party, including Hannah Atkins GradIEAust from
Young Engineers (3rd from the left) and the guest speaker Guy Robertson (right).
EA Tasmania “newsletter of the Tasmania Division of Engineers Australia” | FEBRUARY 2013
Keep up to date with CPD events in Tasmania online and via our weekly emails.
www.EngineersAustralia.org.au/TasEvents
Upcoming CPD events – register now!
Wednesday 13 February 2013;
3.50pm – 6:00pm; TasRails’
Capital Investment Program –
4 North West Bridges Challenges
in revitalising neglected
infrastructure. Leven River Rail
Bridge, Ulverstone.
Wednesday 20 February 2013;
5:00 pm – 6:00pm; Engineering
Competency Report Writing
Workshop with Young Engineers
Tasmania (YEAT). Location:
SKM, Ground Floor, 100 Melville
Street, Hobart; Followed by
Dinner at the New Sydney Hotel
(self funded).
Wednesday 27 February 2013;
5.30pm - 8:30pm; NW Group
AGM and a presentation by Ross
Proud, Managing Director of
R.E. Proud and Associates, on
“Housing and Infrastructure in
the developing world, a personal
perspective”. “Pier 01” Restaurant
at 3 Wharf Rd, Ulverstone.
Thursday 28 February 2013;
7.30am – 8.45am; Tasmania
Division’s Kick-starter Launch
Breakfast for 2013, in Hobart
(venue TBC). Meet the President,
Committee, reps from our units
and groups, and the new Director.
Bring a colleague (a new face) to
see the new faces of the Tasmania
Division. Register online.
Friday 15 March 2013;
Pre-St Patricks Day ECR Report
Writing Workshop followed by
Networking drinks and nibbles
with Young Engineers Tasmania
(YEAT). Location: Launceston,
Time and Venue TBC; Register
online to be informed of details
when confirmed.
Tuesday 19 March 2013;
UTAS Careers Fair - Science
& Engineering Day. Events
and online activities in Burnie,
Launceston, and Hobart. Find
out more, including volunteering
to speak at a careers session, at:
http://www.utas.edu.au/students/
careers/careers-fair-2013
Thursday 21 March 2013; launch
of the Tasmania Division’s new
eNewsletter, distributed via email
to all Tasmania Division members.
Please check that you are receiving
weekly event alert emails from
Tasmania@EngineersAustralia.
org.au. Read more about the
eNewsletter here.
Monday 29 April 2013; National
Committee of Engineering
Technologists Australia (NCETA)
meeting in Hobart. The Division
will host a networking and CPD
event on the evening of the 29th
for all members, potentially with a
relevant site tour on the morning
of the 30th April. Ideas for site
tours for the Committee are
welcome and should be sent to
Tasmania@engineersaustralia.org.au
6-7 May 2013; Engineers Australia’s
National President visit to Tasmania;
Dr Marlene Kanga FIEAust CPEng
will deliver a presentation in Hobart
on the 7th, in collaboration with
the Royal Society of Tasmania, on
“Systematic methods for Natural
Disaster Risk Management”.
A number of other events for
Members will be arranged in
association with the President’s visit.
2-11 August 2013; Australian
Engineering Week activities across
Tasmania.
Schools and Outreach
program Volunteering
Opportunities:
Science and Engineering
Challenge events are being
held across Tasmania in April/
May 2013:
Volunteers are invited to get
involved as mentors and judges
on the 8-9 April (Devonport),
11-12 April (Launceston),
16-18 April (Hobart), and
9 May (Hobart) for the finals
(Tasmanian Super Challenge).
“Discover Engineering”
Tasters Days for the Futures
in Engineering program (our
Year 10 mentoring program)
events are being held across
Tasmania this year: 21-22 May
(Hobart), 3 July (Burnie) and later
in the year in Launceston.
Engineering Education
Australia online CPD activities
Monday 11 February 2013;
Persuasive Tender/Proposal
Writing Masterclass Online.
Click here for more information
Thursday 14 February 4-6pm;
Manager’s Toolkit - Taking
your people to higher levels
of performance. Click here for
more information.
Thursday 21 February 3-4.30pm;
Maintenance Engineering
Analysis Session 1A Taxonomy
of Maintenance. Click here for
more information.
Monday 25 February 12:00 2:00pm; Business Development
for Engineers, Presenting
Solutions, Handling price
objections and closing the Sale.
Click here for more information.