Burns, Gordon George (1920 - 1990)

Summary

George Burns trained as an upholsterer, served with the Australian Infantry Forces, and ran several retail businesses in regional Victoria. While serving with the British Occupation Force in Japan he made a large collection of eggs of wading birds: this was later donated to CSIRO. His interests then turned to insects, particularly butterflies and jewel beetles (Buprestidae). He joined the Entomological Society of Victoria, and served as Honorary Treasurer. With his wife Joy, Burns undertook surveys of Bupestridae, especially in Victoria's arid areas, the specimens collected being lodged in the National Museum of Victoria (later Museum of Victoria). Records of these collections were added to ENTrecs, the database initiated and maintained by the Society. He volunteered at the Museum, for some years, curating the entomological material. As a result these collections are among the best curated at the Museum. The G. G. Burns Collection at Museum Victoria comprises significant specimens collected by Burns.

Details

Chronology

1939 - 1945?

Military service - Served with the Australian Infantry Forces

1947 - 1955

Military service - Served with the British Occupational Forces in Japan

1980

Life event - Retired

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Burns, G. and Burns, J., 'The distribution of Victorian jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Bupestridae) - an ENTrecs project', Occasional papers from the Museum of Victoria, 5 (1992), 1-53. Details
• Dunn, Kelvyn, 'Gordon George Burns (28 March 1920 - 12 December 1990)', Myrmecia: news bulletin of the Australian Entomological Society, 27 (1) (1991), 24-5. Details