AHS

News
A meeting of the AHS Council was held in Sydney during the afternoon of Friday 11th March 2005. In the evening, AHS president and IFHS chairman Commander Paul Hornsby hosted a very successful, inaugural ‘Hydrographers' Dinner’ in The Wardroom, HMAS Kuttabul which was attended by 46 members and guests from as far afield as New Zealand and Western Australia. The guest of honour was Ron Whitmore, who was celebrating his 80th birthday and was accompanied by friend Sue Bonner. To commemorate the occasion Ron was presented by the Society with a framed replica of Chart AUS 625, China Strait & Approaches, South Eastern Papua, believed to be the last AUS chart to bear the surveyor's name in the title block - in this case, his name! The dinner was also an opportunity for the president to present AHS Awards of Recognition to the following members:

• Larry Robbins - Membership Emeritus (in absentia). The award was accepted by Maurice Perwick who came over from New Zealand to attend the event and Council Meeting and with his wife Carol
  
• Mike Calder - Career Achievement
  
• David Garforth - Service Achievement in Administration
  
• Wayne Jones - Certificate of Appreciation

New Zealand Region
On Friday 8th April the chairman of the New Zealand Region of the Australasian Hydrographic Society, Kevin Smith, at the New Zealand Maritime Museum in Auckland, conferred the award of Membership Emeritus upon Larry Robbins, OBE, chief executive officer of the Museum. Membership Emeritus is the Australasian Hydrographic Society's highest award and Larry is the only New Zealander to date to receive it. In congratulating Larry, Kevin Smith said, “This is a great honour for both Larry and New Zealand. The award is rarely conferred and is granted only for the most significant and prolonged service to the Society and for the promotion of Hydrography and related sciences. This award deservedly acknowledges Larry's work across Australasia and the International community.”

Cdr Robbins served for 26 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy Hydrographic Service before joining the New Zealand National Maritime Museum in 2000. He commanded HMNZ Surveying Ship Monowai and at his retirement was Hydrographer of the RNZN. He was instrumental in establishing the NZ Region of the Australasian Branch of the former Hydrographic Society, subsequently the NZ Region of the AHS and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Hydro International.

School of Surveying - University of Otago
Peter Knight reports that the IHO/FIG Category A Programme in Hydrographic Surveying at the University of Otago, Dunedin, accredited in September 2003 is flourishing. Although the programme can be delivered both as an undergraduate and as a graduate course of study, most students are completing their studies in hydrography as part of a graduate degree. In addition, two overseas students are currently enrolled to complete a Master of Science (Category A) by the end of 2005, whilst two students have already graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Science (Category A). Due to a very high level of interest in ocean charting by the government sector at this time, it is expected that the Cat A programme at Otago will continue to be well supported. Refer to www.surveying.otago.ac.nz/hydrographic.

NZ Region AGM and Seminar
Planning is currently underway to hold the NZ Region 2005 AGM and seminar on Wednesday 12th October, hosted by the School of Surveying, University of Otago in Dunedin. The theme for the seminar will be ‘Foreshore & Coast’. Key dates for those interested in attending, seminar registration and presentations are due 9th September 2005. Jerome Sheppard from LINZ will be the guest speaker for the seminar, discussing the new Ocean Survey 2020 initiative being driven by LINZ. It is our plan to encourage as many surveying students and land surveyors attending the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Conference being held at the same time to come along and see what Hydrography and its data processing is all about. For further detail www.hydrographicsociety.org.nz.

Contact
Australasian Hydrographic Society
Att. E. R. Whitmore
4/6 Carrington Street
Wahroonga, New South Wales
2076
Australia
Tel: +61 2 94892091
Fax: +61 2 94892048