OBITUARY

Alan Brown died on 19/05/2023.

Alan Brown was elected a Fellow in 1993 for his plant production and processing contributions. He was a former member of our Agriculture and Forestry Forums.

For just over two decades (1975-1996), Alan held various positions in the CSIRO Forestry Divisions, including Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief and Chief, after which he was appointed as an Honorary Research Fellow.

Alan was deeply involved in Forestry within the ACT, especially with research around the arboreta established in the ACT before the National Arboretum. He compiled arboreta maps with detailed plot information in 1960 and conducted trials on drought-tolerant pines such as P. attenuate.

Alan became a Member of the Order of Australia in 1998 for his service to the forestry industry, particularly through research into tree breeding and the development of plantation forestry in Australia.

For nearly twenty years, Alan contributed to the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), embracing and supporting forestry development internationally.

Alan was dearly loved by his wife Erika and extended family of children, daughter- in-law, stepsons and grandchildren. He was respected by many for his dedication and care for his family. 

Leadership and achievement in forestry research. He began to promote the concept of growing trees on farms in the late 1960s, more than a decade before industry and the community became concerned about this issue.

In 1978, when interest in intensive management of eucalypts for wood production was just beginning in this country, he and Dr WE Hillis FfS, an expert in forest products, joined forces to organise and edit the writing of the book "Eucalypts for Wood Production".

This publication did much to encourage the development of a national strategy for wood production in Australia.