Hateley, Ronald Francis (1948 - 2011)

Summary

Ronald Francis lectured in Native Forest Silviculture, Forest Ecology and Forest Botany at Melbourne University's Creswick campus for 31 years, from 1976 to 2006. He introduced a generation of students to the eucalypts and associated flora, as well as to the principles of forest ecology and silviculture, developing the first Forest Ecology course for Creswick degree students. For his students and other interested people, he maintained an up-to-date list of all eucalypt species in Victoria for many years.

Details

From the late 1980s, Ronald Francis promoted new Field Studies programs which were largely focussed on silvicultural operations in the School's native eucalypt 'demonstration' forest. He was also closely involved in various forestry courses such as the Certificate of Applied Science and the Diploma of Forestry. His ability to guide students to a deeper understanding of forests and their ecology was valued by many.

Before his death in 2011, Ron Francis' research interests were focused on forest history, especially Victoria's forests before they were significantly disturbed by European settlement; how they were - or were not - managed by Aboriginal people, and natural phenomena that may have been significant influences on them. His book The Victorian Bush: its 'original and natural' condition is a result of that research.

Chronology

1968

Education - Diploma of Forestry, Victorian School of Forestry, Creswick

1972

Education - Bachelor of Science (Forestry)(Hons), University of Melbourne

1976 - 2006

Career position - Lecturer, Creswick Campus, University of Melbourne

Related entries

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

• McCarthy, Gavan; Smith, Ailie; Moje, Christine; Rigby, Rebecca, The Study of Australian Eucalypts, eScholarship Research Centre, 2013, http://www.eoas.info/eucalypts/index.html. Details

Books

• Hateley, Ron Francis, The Victorian bush : its 'original and natural' condition (South Melbourne, Vic.: Polybractea Press, 2010), 209 pp. Details
• Murphy, S.; Hateley, R.; and Fagg, P., Low Elevation Mixed Species in Victoria's State Forests. Silviculture Reference Manual No. 3. (Melbourne, Vic.: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, 2013). Details
• Youl, Rob; Fry, Brian and Hateley, Ron, Circumspice: One Hunded Years of Forestry Education centred on Creswick, Victoria (South Melbourne: Forest Education Centenary Committee, 2010), 278 pp. Details

Conference Papers

• Kellas, J. D.; and Hateley, R. F., 'Management of dry sclerophyll forests in Victoria 1. Low elevation mixed species forests.', in Forest Management in Australia edited by McKinnell, Hopkins and Fox (Sydney, NSW: Surrey Beatty & Sons, 1991), pp. 146-162.. Details
• Squire, R. O.; Campbell, R. G.; Wareing, K. J.; and Featherston, G. R., 'The mountain ash forests of Victoria: ecology, silviculture and management for wood production.', in Forest Management in Australia edited by McKinnell, Hopkins and Fox (Sydney, NSW: Surrey Beatty & Sons, 1991), pp. 38-57.. Details

Conference Proceedings

• Forest Management in Australia edited by McKinnell, E.R. Hopkins, Fox, J.E.D. (Chipping Norton, NSW: Surrey Beatty &​ Sons in association with Institute of Foresters of Australia, Western Australian Division, 1991). Chapter 8: Management of dry sclerophyll forests in Victoria. 1. Low elevation mixed species forests. Details

Resources

• 'Hateley, Ronald Francis (19480220-20110824)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1540502. Details

Reviews

• Lennon, Jane, 'Review of 'Circumspice: One Hundred Years of Forestry Education centred on Creswick, Victoria'. (2010) Youl, R; Fry, B. and Hateley, R.', Australian Forest History Society Newsletter, 57, (2011), 6. Details