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June/July 2003 |
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External
pic of the Yale Columbia Dome. Photo taken by Matthew Colless at Mount
Stromlo on Tuesday, January 21st 2003
PESA people inside the dome.
Natalie Sinclair receiving her award. |
ACT PESA
Christmas Party One Of The Last Functions At Mt Stromlo Observatory While growing up I was fortunate enough to live in the shadow of the Anglo Australian Observatory that sat within the remains of the Warrumbungle shield volcano. So I felt a great deal of anticipation when the ACT branch of PESA decided to hold the annual Christmas party at Mt Stromlo – under the shadow of one of the telescopes no less. Packing ourselves into a bus, we trundled up through the pine forests of Mount Stromolo to the south west of Canberra in weather that for the middle of summer was surprisingly chilly (many of us swore we could smell snow). The lunch was held in the Yale-Columbia observatory, which was wonderfully decked out with chic tables and a fully stocked bar, all under a beautiful telescope that resonated with a sophisticated engineering elegance of another age. The food provided by Red Belly Black was magnificent, the company great, and with members' partners attending many of us finally had an opportunity to meet the next generation of geoscientists with some sort of oil in their veins. However, this was not just an occasion to catch up and enjoy a long, hard-worked year, but in line with PESA's primary focus to promote professional and technical excellence amongst its current and future members, there was an award to be handed out. Therefore, it was with great pleasure that ACT member Natalie Sinclair was presented with her certificate and cheque for $5000 for winning the 2002 PESA Postgraduate Scholarship for research in petroleum geoscience. There was little doubt that an excellent time was had by all and I think we can be confident in saying that one thing we did not expect as we left was that we would be one of the last groups to ever use the facilities. January 18th did not start well. Most people were well awake early in the morning even as a bone dry northwesterly gnawed on the face. So much has been written about the firestorms that took the lives of four people and destroyed over 500 homes that there is little we can add except to say that the pictures and reports can't even begin the describe what it was like in the middle of it. Even while the media incited the blame game while the flames licked at the edges of suburbs still under threat, the citizens of Canberra pulled together in a way that once and for all dispelled the myth that it is a city without a soul, and confirmed that it is one in which we all take some pride in living in. In the end, no PESA ACT members lost their homes, though other people employed at Geoscience Australia and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources did lose everything. I take a great sense of pride in being part of an organisation that did not hesitate to do its bit, and even though we are one of the smallest branches within PESA, we managed to find $500 out of the branch's funds to donate to the primary bushfire appeal. We would also like to thank those of you, who contacted us with their concerns and checked in to see if we were all right. If
you would like to donate some money to the Bushfire Recovery Appeal, please
follow the link below. |
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ECL's Ian (Hawkeye) Hawkshaw (left) and Newfield Exploration's Andy Padman with the new look. |
Kojak Look For Cancer Research Two West Australian PESA members have had their heads shaved for a good cause, raising about $5,000 between them for the Cancer Foundation of WA. And they want other PESA members to help raise more money in next year's event. Newfield Exploration's Andy Padman and ECL's Ian (Hawkeye) Hawkshaw decided to lose their locks for cancer research earlier this year. "Ian came to visit and over a bottle of red or two we eventually decided that it would be a good thing to do to shave our heads", Andy said. "I said I've got $100 that says you are going to have your hair off and so I had to reciprocate." Ian said he had previously seen a poster in WesternGeco's Perth office advertising a Me No Hair Day for men's cancer research. "So I found the brochure and sent Andy an SMS to set it up and away we went", he said. The men were given access to Princess Margaret Hospital's oncology ward where several children helped to shave their heads on February 25th. "They all had a go with the clippers and then they also lathered us up", Ian said. "We stopped short of handing them the razor as well. We figured that would have been a bit too brave." "We were lucky enough to have contacts that allowed us into Princess Margaret Hospital into the oncology ward and that was fantastic" Ian said fundraising efforts for cancer research have had a tremendous impact in recent years. He said the occupational therapist at PMH told him that about 75% of children with leukemia 20 years ago would not have survived, but now 80% survive the disease. "So that's a tremendous statistic", he said. The campaign has a close personal relevance for both men as they have been touched by the effects of cancer, each having lost close family members to the disease. Andy raised about $2,500 helped by the company he works for, Newfield Exploration where there is a policy of matching contributions by employees to qualifying charities. This is something he would like to see other companies commit to, especially if more PESA members get their locks lopped next year. Ian raised about $1,500, with a significant amount of this contribution also being paid by companies on $1 for $1 contribution. Andy said the reaction he had received from colleagues to donate had been awesome. "One person initially offered $25 which I was very pleased with, and then he saw some of the photos that we had taken at the hospital and said it's got to be worth more than that and gave me $200", he said. "People have been fantastic." PESA News publisher Brian Wickins said he hoped WA branch members would support the event. "I'm quite keen to promote this heavily through PESA and I would like to see the individual branches take it up as well", Brian said. Ian backed the PESA suggestion, saying that as well as providing much-needed funds for cancer research, it would also be a good community relations initiative for the industry. "I know that individual companies like Woodside are very strong on community involvement and BHP are the same", he said. "But those of us that work for smaller companies or as individual consultants don't really have as much of an opportunity to take part in this sort of activity, so I think a PESA involvement would be pretty valuable." Andy challenged Brian to get his hair shaved, offering $100 to get the ball rolling. "You're on", Brian said. "What I am trying to do is get Adriana (Wickins) to cut hers." Ian said the three groups that were most reluctant to have their heads shaved were women, men with a lush crop of hair and men with not-so-much hair. "I
think a woman's hair should be at an absolute premium, but I love women
with shaved heads I must say", he said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Men who have a gorgeous head of hair and just couldn't conceive
of ever taking it off because they are so proud of the hair that they've
got, again probably deserve a premium. And the other group is basically
people like me who are starting to lose it anyway but they are kind of
fearful of that, so they are hanging on to it for all they're worth."
Brian said he felt that past Presidents could play an important role in ensuring a high level of branch participation. "I'm sure Wal Muir and John Carmody will be two of the first to put their hands up to participate", said Brian, throwing out the challenge. Andy is hoping that all PESA members can get involved next year and suggests a figure of about $50,000 could be achieved to help cancer research. Andy and Ian recommend February is the best month for PESA members to organise their mass 'shave for cancer' day. Andy is keen to act as the coordinator of the event for 2004. Anyone interested in taking part and wanting further information can contact him by email at: Andy_Padman@newfld.com.au. |
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SA Meritorious Service Award - Barry Goldstein Barry has had a long and distinguished career in the petroleum industry after completing education at the University of New York (BA Geology '75) and the University of Missouri (MA Geology '77). He has worked for 25 years in the upstream industry for Phillips, IEDC / KUFPEC, Bridge Oil / Parker & Parsley, Santos and PIRSA. He first joined PESA-SA Branch in 1996. (See page 18) Barry has always shown an exceptional commitment and enthusiasm towards the aims and ideals of PESA. His ability to encourage collaboration and communication at all levels is very much appreciated. He is specifically being nominated for this award because of his leadership in winning the right for PESA-SA Branch to host the EABS II Conference in 2004, as well as his initiation of the PESA Federal Education Committee. Barry served five years with the PESA-SA Branch Committee, commencing in 1998 as Vice President. He then served a two year term as SA Branch President 2000 - 2002. He was also a member of the PESA Federal Executive serving as Vice President in 2001 and 2002. During his time as State Vice President and then President of PESA-SA, Barry has maintained an extremely active interest and positive influence on the training and education of petroleum professionals in South Australia. This interest led him to initiate the PESA Federal Education Committee, which he has chaired for the last two years. In recent times, Barry has `led the charge' for PESA-SA to win the right to host the Eastern Australian Basins Symposium II in Adelaide in September 2004. He is the chair of the EABS II organising committee. There is no such thing as a `silent figurehead' where Barry is concerned. He has always shown his fine leadership skills as a communicator and pro-active facilitator. These skills have certainly come to the fore in the pre-organisation and day to day running of the committee of the EABS II conference. Commencing at this year's Federal AGM (March 2003) Barry will begin a two year term as Federal President, whilst continuing in his roles as EABS II Chair and as an ongoing member of the PESA-SA Committee. |
