Australasian Hydrographic Society

AHS held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 14th September 2006, kindly hosted by Sydney Ports Corporation at their historic facilities. Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie attended as Patron of the Society, and a number of strategic issues regarding the growth of AHS were discussed. These included the Hydro 2007 conference to be hosted by AHS, expansion of the Society’s website and e-business capability and the creation of a fourth region of the Society to capitalise on the success of the Australia On The Map programme. Paul Horns-by, Mal Jones and Ron Furness were re-elected respectively as president, secretary and honorary treasurer of the Society. The meeting also included the AGM of the East Australia Region, where John Maschke, Dave Garforth and Roger Harvey were re-elected respectively as EAR chairman, hon. secretary and hon. Treasurer.

In Perth on Thursday 26th October the AHS (West Australia Region) and the Society for Underwater Technology jointly hosted an extremely successful seminar and technical workshop entitled 'AUVs - Emerging Technologies' 2006. While in New Zealand, Kevin Smith, chairman of the AHS Awards Panel, has advised that nominations for the 2006-2007 Australasian awards will shortly be closing. This year the programme will include recognition for those who have contributed to the AOTM programme.



Several major events took place during October to celebrate Dutch and Spanish exploration in the Australasian area, including the world premier of Peter Sculthorpe's Quiros Orchestral Suite, hosted by H. E. Antonio Cosano, Ambassador of Spain. Concurrently, the Sydney Opera House hosted a major concert to celebrate the Netherlands-Australia 1606-2006 commemorative year. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jaap van Zweden played to a capacity audience in the presence of HRH the Prince of Orange and HRH Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. Later, in discussion with the IFHS chairman at a reception, both the Prince and Princess expressed their support for promoting the science of hydrography.