by David Munzberg
“Ian will always be remembered as an extraordinary man, a man of quiet words, kind deeds, inquisitive mind and with an engaging sense of humour. He has had a very positive influence on me and many, and will be remembered as the finest of humanity. ” From the perspective of an IWCS member, his work in salvaging the remnants of the Dadswell collection from the ANU and converting (with the assistance of others) those timbers to be shared with many members in Australia and overseas, was a huge undertaking and methodically handled by Ian. Ian’s instruction of wood identification was gentle and effective and greatly appreciated by those of us who had that opportunity. For this and other contributions, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the IWCS in 2015/6. The citation that I wrote when we as members, nominated him for this worthy acknowledgement of outstanding service is as follows:
Joined 1996 #6624L Australasian Trustee 2008-2010.
Attended the Annual Meeting in the Netherlands in 2009. Meetings organized included Beechworth Victoria 1999, Daylesford Victoria 2004, Neerim South Victoria 2007, Port Sorell Tasmania 2010 and attended 10 other Regional meetings in Australia and New Zealand.
With a background in Forestry and a former student of Dr H.E. Dadswell,* Ian has brought to Australian members his knowledge of wood identification and has led seminars on this aspect since 2001. He is an active specimen collector, promoter and organizer of the IWCS at exhibitions over many years. A turner of note, he has been successful in Victorian competitions.
Has been instrumental in the collection, preparation and sale of a large wood collecting IWCS bequest with substantial benefit to members and financially to the Society. Ian located the Dr H.E. Dadswell (Wood scientist with the C.S.I.R.O. – Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Division of Forest Products) vouchered collection, weighing around 5 tons, which had been gathered by Dr Dadswell’s extensive field work from 1928-1971 and lay in a high risk neglected state. With the assistance of just a few members, this collection of 364 species was saved from destruction and meticulously converted to standard specimens, carefully labeled, delivered and sold to the Society members around the world with proceeds benefiting the Society. Without doubt this achievement yielding 3500 items was the IWCS’s most outstanding recovery of specimens to date. Ian’s contribution to the IWCS is most worthy of acknowledgement as an Honorary Life Member.
* Herbert Eric Dadswell was employed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, in its Forest Products Division where he was put in charge of collecting wood which was a necessary basis for research work. He liaised with various International and national Forest agencies to build the collection. The bulk of this collection was collected from about 1929 to the mid 1930’s. It consisted of wood from all states, in particular 39% from New South Wales, 36 % from Queensland, 10% from Victoria and the remaining 15% from South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and from the ACT and Northern Territory. To cater for variation within species, more than one tree was needed as a resource, and between 6 and 10 different trees were sourced for many species. Blocks were taken from the base of the tree, from its top and from a limb. All told there were about 2400 blocks collected, representing 380 species, weighing an estimated 10 tons. Dadswell was the driving force behind this collecting. https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/cchc/items/show/1009
** Chinese model sailboat restoration Photo credit: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/708311/great-sail-of-china/
RESTORED: Bob Mason, Virginia Bell, Dominic Pan, Ian McLaughin and Tom Shatwell with the new display cabinet, which houses the Chinese model sailboat.