OBITUARY

Brian Cherry died on 27/4/2018.

Australia has Professor Brian Cherry FACA FIEAust FTSE to thank for keeping important infrastructure functioning, despite the dilapidating effects of corrosion.

Professor Cherry was a world-renowned expert in corrosion, whose lifelong commitment to engineering extended the life of the Snowy Mountain Hydroelectric Scheme, Tasmanian bridges and dams, the Sydney Harbour tunnel and many freeways around the country, among other projects.

Professor Cherry dedicated his career to understanding corrosion and how to prevent it. He received a grant from the then Federal Department of Science and Technology in 1981 to investigate the practical effect of corrosion on the Australian economy.

In his career, he also studied polymers and adhesives, and in 1981 he published a book Polymer Surfaces.

In 2012, it was estimated that the financial benefit of his work for Australia equated to savings of $21 billion a year. His research has, more generally, led to a greater understanding of processes critical to sustainment of Australia's infrastructure.

Professor Cherry developed and taught engineering courses at Monash University, and trained generations of engineers in corrosion since 1970. He was appointed as Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University.

Some of his other appointments include editor of the journal Corrosion and Materials (1996-2012), Vice-Chair of the Australasian Corrosion Centre (1982-2001) and President of the Victorian Division of the Australian Corrosion Association (1985-87).

Among his many accolades, Professor Cherry was awarded the Corrosion Medal from the Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA) in 1995, and in 2010 the ACA Brian Cherry Award was established in his honour.

One of his last PhD students, Professor Nick Birbilis, provided a comment on Professor Cherry's passing for the ACA. He said Professor Cherry was instrumental in establishing modern postgraduate research degrees at Monash as a whole.

"Above all, he was a gentleman, an educator and a mentor to generations. He richly deserved the title of "Mr Corrosion" (actually, "Professor Corrosion"!!) in Australia and he will be greatly missed."