Australiasian Hydrographic Society

AHS Awards

The 2013 AHS Awards are now open for nominations. This scheme celebrates hydrography and is for the AHS to recognise those who contribute to improving the profession and enhancing community understanding.

The schedule is:
• Call for nominations: end of January 2013
• Nominations close: 30 April 2013
• Awardees notified: 28 May 2013
• Awards presented: World Hydrography Day 20 June 2013 or AHS AGM

Details about the awards as well as nomination forms are available from the AHS website: www.ahs.asn.au/awards.html

East Australian Region

The next meeting of the EAR is to be held on 12 February and will also include a farewell dinner for Commodore Rod Nairn AM RAN who retires mid-January as the Australian Hydrographer. Rod has been an active member of the AHS and his leadership chairing the ­accreditation panel for ­hydrographic surveyors has been influential in shaping this capability. The AHS wishes Rod all the very best in his retirement.

West Australia Region

The WAR is planning several technical meetings over the next few months. Two ­meetings are scheduled for 19 February (Multi-beam) and 20 March (Tides). The organising committee is spreading their influence amongst the offshore and underwater technology community resulting in increased numbers attending the meetings.

New Zealand Region

When Trimble Navigation New Zealand’s offices were ­devastated by fire in May 2011, so too were senior ­product manager Gary Chisholm’s prized Australian Hydrographic Society (AHS) Awards. The earthquake and fire destroyed the building along with much of the company’s ­equipment. Forty firefighters in 10 fire trucks were able to contain the blaze after several hours. Three firefighters were injured.

Gary’s AHS Award for ­­Scientific and Technological ­Achievement awarded in 2008 and his AHS Presidents Letter of Appreciation awarded in 2003 were replaced along with new wooden frames.

The awards were recently ­presented to Gary by Maurice Perwick from the AHS New Zealand Branch ­committee at a small function in Christchurch.