Both new editors welcome suggestions or comments from Members.
We hope that the web page and bulletin are a valuable source of
communication within the ACT mapping and geomatics industry.
Please do not hesitate to tell us what you would like to see in
YOUR publications, they can only improve with your input. Enjoy!
The MSIA 1999 Annual General Meeting was held at the University of Sydney on
Friday 18 June. Colin Midford, from the NSW Division, is the
incoming National President, replacing Bill Cartwright (Vic). Colin,
in his acceptance address, said his primary objective was to improve
membership through promotion of the Association.
The Council Meeting was held the following day at the office of
the NSW Division of the Institution of Surveyors, Australia, in Pitt
Street. Some highlights of the meeting were:
Ron Furness (NSW) was elevated to Honorary Fellow and Peter Bowen (WA) and Brian Hannigan (Qld) to the position of Fellow.
The Bathurst 2000 Conference will now be held from 18-23 June. The change has been made to fit in with the semester dates at Charles Sturt University, which have been changed to fit in with the Olympics.
Planning is underway for Melbourne 2002 Conference, which will coincide with the Golden Anniversary of the formation of the MSIA (or Australian Institute of Cartographers, as it was then called) which occurred in Melbourne.
Council endorsed the action of the ACT Division in co-hosting a Centenary of Federation Surveying and Mapping Conference in Canberra on 11-13 May 2001 in conjunction with the principal organiser, the Canberra Division of the Institution of Surveyors, Australia.
A draft constitution to replace the existing Memorandum and Articles of Association was considered and it is hoped to have this completed by the end of the year.
A proposal by John Hillier (ACT) to re-name the BHP Technology Research and Development Award the John McCarthy Award in honour of our late Fellow is to be raised with BHP.
The following people were endorsed as theme Program Managers:
Education - temporarily Bill Cartwright (Vic)
Research & Development - Suzette Miller (Vic)
Management - John McCormack (Qld)
International - Ron Furness (NSW)
Promotion - Anthony Stephens (SA)
Heritage - Trevor Menzies (NT) & John Hillier (ACT)
Community Services - Jemmy Ghobrial (NSW)
Publication - Graeme Wright (WA)
Membership - Alan Unkles (QLD)
Equity - Andrea Herklots (Qld) to be approached
Geospatial Information Infrastructure - Peter Bowen
The National Museum of Australia is opening its new facility on Acton
Peninsula in early 2001. A component of one gallery space will be a large
three-dimensional map of the Australian continent upon which, thematic data
will be projected. Supporting material will be displayed around the base of
the map illustrating the Museums three main themes of Land, Nation and People.
The exhibition aims to highlight the various ways the Australian continent,
and its population, have been mapped and explored over time.
Negotiations are under way with Denis Shephard, Senior Curator at the
National Museum, for a brief on the project followed by a tour of one
of their Mitchell Repositories. Artefacts include geophysical surveying
instruments, Frances Birtle’s Bean car, several aircraft and a comprehensive
collection of agricultural machinery. Keep watching for details!
The group’s ongoing task is the maintenance of maps, for the major Canberra
town centres and shopping complexes. Belconnen, Woden and Tuggeranong have
all been extended over the last 12 months or so. This has necessitated a
program of amendments to the existing tactual and bold prints maps of these
complexes.
A film crew from the 'Beyond 2000' program spent a day in Canberra filming
an episode for an upcoming series on a tactual project the Group is undertaking
for the National Gallery of Australia.
The Group is also presently exploring, with ACT Government, their need for
tactual maps of the Canberra 2000 Olympic Venues. If you would like to become
involved in any of these projects, contact: John Knight,
email:Johnknight@auslig.gov.au
Ian O'Donnell has been following up a suggestion by John Hillier
that the Division considers adding some early one mile to one inch maps
to the Facsimile Maps collection. The Canberra one mile to one inch
published in 1913 by the Survey Section, RAE has been obtained from Maura
O'Connor at the National Library and scanned at 500dpi as a trial.
Further investigation into appropriate paper stock and print prices will be
done over the coming weeks. This and similar maps could prove popular
collectors items for locals and former Survey Corp personnel and can be
promoted at upcoming conferences.
Preparations for the Federation 2001 conference on 11-13 May 2001 are continuing.
A professional conference organizer has been appointed. A budget is being
worked out and an outline program is being developed.
The Rydges Canberra Hotel has been booked for the conference and Old
Parliament House has been booked for the conference dinner.
AURISA is planning a workshop on 10 May. The Institution of Surveyors will
organize the main conference activity. And MSIA is planning a map and
chart exhibition representing the role that maps and plans have played in
the development of Australia.
The conference program will compromise invited speakers delivering papers
addressing the past, present and future contribution of surveying and
mapping to the development of the nation. The list of speakers is
gradually being fleshed out. The Institution of Surveyors is
underwriting the conference and is bearing the main financial risk,
such as deposits on venues and other up-front costs. Consequently,
they chair the organizing committee. Regular meetings are held to
monitor progress of the planning for the conference. A brochure will
be the first piece of publicity. For further information, contact
Graham Baker (gbaker@dynamite.com.au)