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AGM 2003
Dinosaur dealers and the world of fossil-related crime
Fossils are the remains of past life. They take on many forms, from dinosaur bones, fossilised footprints, ancient shells, or opalised wood. Some fossils are of great scientific significance for what they tell us about the evolution of life on Earth or about past climate changes. Some have great aesthetic beauty, and many have high monetary value.
Collecting fossils is indeed a widespread hobby for many people, a business for some, and a crime for others. There are many kinds of fossil-related crimes, such as theft from major museums, smuggling of restricted or heritage items, desecration and pillage of protected sites, and large-scale fraud. John has documented case studies from around the world of fossil-related crimes.
In many cases, fossils illegally smuggled out of some countries are sold freely and openly in western countries, despite severe prison sentences or execution for those caught smuggling the items. Various case studies and their implications to local legislation and heritage issues are also presented.
Venue Lecture Theatre, Park Avenue Building, University of WA (old Zoology)
Date: MONDAY, December 8, 2003
Time: AGM – 1730 hrs start, Talk - 1800 hrs
RSVP: Suellen Blackaby 08 9299 6128 or email: blackaby@vianet.net.au
Snacks and refreshments will be available
Members free, non members $10
Two ANZFSS (WA) forms are now available in pdf format for download on this website. Select the document(s) you require from the list below. If necessary download a free copy of 'Adobe Reader' by clicking on the Adobe logo.
On October 8, this year, the following dedication was sent by Joy Jenkyn to our Society's current President, Suellen Blackaby. Joy reflects on the life and career of Allan Farquharson Drummond, who died on September 12, 2003.
Allan Farquharson Drummond
Allan Farquharson Drummond was born in Perth W.A. on 21 December, 1914 of Scottish parents, attended Subiaco Primary School, Perth Boys' School and obtained his Leaving Certificate by attending night school at Perth Technical College (also qualifying him for membership of the Royal Society of Health in London). In 1931, whilst still a very young man, he joined the Pathology Laboratory at the Perth Public Hospital, where he was sometimes employed as a post-mortem clerk for the Hospital Pathologist.
In July 1934 he transferred to the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) at 57 Murray Street, Perth. In that service he was employed continuously (apart from a break during World War II when he served with the RAAF and was involved in malarial control) until his retirement in June 1975.
Though he steadfastly remained in that laboratory service, the location of the laboratories changed a number of times, ultimately the central part of it becoming part of what came to be known as the QE II Medical Centre, in Hollywood.
The laboratory of the Central Board of Health was the first medical laboratory to function in WA. It opened in 1903 in a basement at the Central Government Buildings, Barrack Street, Perth. From as early as 1906-7 the PHL had been doing medico-legal serology; it is recorded in Report of the Principal Medical Officer on the Medical, Health and Factories Departments that seven such examinations were carried out that year.
From the early years medico-legal biology procedures, which involved blood and semen examinations, and hair and fibre identification associated with murder, assault and rape cases' the laboratory also provided animal species identification of various food items.
In the year 1933-4, immediately prior to Allan's appointment, the Director, Dr McGillivray, reported that the number of medico-legal examinations for the year was 21.
When Allan retired in 1975, the forensic biology laboratory was a separate entity staffed by a senior technologist, a technologist, a laboratory assistant and a part-time typist as well as Allan himself, and the specimens examined numbered 1,860.
In the early days at the Perth Public Hospital and for many years afterwards, the police or coroner's autopsies were done by the Police Medical Officer of the time. In the 1960's Forensic Pathologists, headed by Dr Laurie, took over this work). The Government Pathologist was responsible for the laboratory work only - not autopsies.
In the PHL, forensic laboratory bench work was done by laboratory assistants, as they were designated then, headed by the technical assistant and the Government Pathologist presented the test results in court. This was the scene presented to Allan when he commenced his employment there in 1934 as the new laboratory assistant. There, under the Director, Dr A.N. Kingsbury, the staff as well as carrying out routine medical and public health procedures was responsible for the preparation of a range of reagents, stains, anti-sera and agar plates for their own use and for the Perth Public Hospital laboratory.
In 1948 the PHL moved to the 4th Floor of the new Perth Hospital which was, at about that time, granted the title of Royal Perth Hospital. In that year Dr W. A. Young was appointed Director of Medical Laboratories, W.A., and led the combined hospital and public health laboratories. Sometime shortly after- late 40's or early 50's - he decided that since Allan was doing the medico-legal bench work then he should also present the report in court. This was duly arranged with the approval of the Public Health Commissioner of the day, Dr Henzell, and the Chief Justice, Sir Albert A. Wolff.
With the authority to present material in court but with no recognised forensic qualifications (there weren't any in those days, except for medical degrees) Allan was required to prove his expertise in every case, if called on. Dr Young considered this excessive but it wasn't really a problem as Allan had been doing the bench work for years. Dr Young urged Allan to get a qualification and, as it happened. Medical Laboratory personnel in Sydney and Melbourne were starting up the Society of Laboratory Technicians of Australia, At that time it was based on the English system. They were aiming at standardisation of qualifications, salaries etc., and Perth soon followed their lead. In that way Allan obtained an Associate Diploma in that Society in consideration of his extensive medical laboratory experience.
Dr Young's period in office was noted for the commencement of a cadet training scheme, which was aimed at relieving the serious shortage of technical staff? The scheme involved the participation of the Perth Technical College, nearly all the pathologists in the metropolitan area and the newly formed branch of the Society of Laboratory Technicians of Australia.
In the 1930's and 40's the laboratory demonstrated reactions for blood (Benzidine Test) and, when positive, precipitin tests for species followed, using anti- sera prepared by the staff in rabbits. As well as human, they made and used anti-sera for the common animals and one or two less common .such as camel and kangaroo. This was because the courts weren't always easily satisfied because they wanted to know, "If the blood wasn't human, what was it"? Records show that ABO grouping of blood stains was undertaken as early as 1939 - perhaps before.
It is stated that not long after Dr Young's arrival he introduced Allan to a 'small book' (name not recorded) that he had brought from the U.K. dealing with the typing of dried blood stains. Application of those methods enhanced the technique subsequently used for ABO grouping. Other work done in the 30's included animal species tests using the locally prepared anti-sera.
Apart from medico-legal work Allan had a wide range of laboratory responsibilities. As well as running the Serology Laboratory he had become Chief Technician of the whole complex at RPH and that involved many administrative duties as well as the technical ones. To help relieve him of some of the workload, a graduate technician was appointed to Serology in 1953 to assist with medico-legal bench work amongst other duties.
For the remainder of his service, technically qualified staff was made available for carrying out the forensic biology work. Allan still examined all exhibits, supervised the bench work and made court appearances. In the court rooms he was widely respected for his preparation and presentation of reports and for his response to court (legal) challenges as an expert witness. His words were always considered and well-chosen, reflecting as they did the Drummond motto "Gang Warily".
In 1959 Dr William Laune was appointed Director of the Public Health Laboratories, where he soon made an impact. He introduced a number of changes, which included moving a large part of the laboratories to the Perth Chest Hospital at Hollywood. The Public Health Laboratories were renamed State Health Laboratory Services in 1972.
In the 60's things became, perhaps, more enlightened, literature was more readily available, the volume and complexity of work increased, horizons widened and visits interstate and further afield became a feature. Visits to New Scotland Yard, London, became a reality. In the successive years of 1962 and 1963, Allan and a senior member of staff employed in forensic serology, separately studied for a short time in the forensic biology laboratory there. This was mainly to get first-hand experience of a new test, pioneered by Margaret Pereira, known as the 'additive method'. This technique enabled much more refined blood grouping to be undertaken .As a result the new method was adopted here in 1963 and M and N grouping was included.
During his U.K. visit Allan also sought advice at the North East Area Forensic Laboratory at Harrogate. As the police became more aware of the type of work that could be undertaken, the forensic work-load increased Allan established a very good working relationship with the C.I.B. officers was invited to lecture and demonstrate to police trainees and to participate m successive C.I.B. courses advising them on the technical scope - and limitations of the service. This practice has been maintained as has the practice of attending scenes of crime, on occasions, for selection of exhibits and samples.
From the early 1960's forensic biology became responsible for the preparation and sterilisation of Blood Alcohol Collection Sets for the Police Department. In the year 1968 as many as 760 sets were prepared and because of this increased workload the position of senior technologist in forensic serology was created. In that year a new appointee, Andrew Feeney, began developing some immunological and immuno- electrophoretic techniques. He was joined soon afterwards by a full-time technologist.
Over the years the forensic biology laboratory has been accommodated at various sites in the metropolitan area before down to its present base in Block J Q E II Medical Centre, Hollywood. In 1975 .^imminent retirement, Allan organised study- leave for Frank Vlatko-Rulo , medical laboratory technologist, to take up intensive training in advanced techniques at the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory, New Scotland Yard. London. The laboratory here greatly benefited with his return, equipped with the latest relevant technology.
Allan took a very active part in what was known as the Society of Laboratory Technicians and what evolved into the Australian Institute of Medical Laboratory Technologists and eventually the word Technologists was translated to Scientists. He helped advance technical training of personnel with cadetship training at Technical College. Then, successively, to students at WAIT, Curtin Institute of Technology, and finally Curtin University of Technology, where eventually the qualification "Associate Diploma" was upgraded to a "Degree" course.
In the Public Service qualified laboratory staff were moved from the 'General' to the 'Professional Division', gaining status and salary parity with the Government Chemical Laboratory staff. Allan played a major part in this considerable achievement.
With much effort and skill Dr Laurie and Allan developed a network of Branch Laboratories throughout the State. It became a source of great joy and pride to him. Pressure to provide laboratory facilities in the country had come from politicians, mining companies, CWA branches, local Government Authorities, hospital boards and medical officers. What resulted was a network, regarded by Dr Davidson, Public Health Commissioner of the time, as "the brightest jewel in the laboratories' crown".
In 1975, the year of Allan's retirement, the laboratories were well enough appreciated, Australia wide, that they were requested to supply three members to the Commonwealth Pathology Working Party on Laboratory Accreditation. One of the three was A.F. Drummond, he being the sole representative of the Australian Institute of Medical Laboratory Technologists. Praise, indeed, to AFD! Allan was a Foundation Member of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, became a Life Member and maintained an active interest in the Society until recent years.
'A History of the Public Health Laboratory Services 1903-1978' paid tribute to Allan after he had retired as its Principal Technologist in 1975. "It was difficult to imagine the Laboratories without his efficient and angular presence, for he had been the chief architect in the upgrading of the Service, its technological staffing and its spread throughout the State. A gentleman of quiet humour, he was sadly missed".
A family man, Allan's hobbies and interests included photography, carpentry, horse riding, collecting firearms, a love of animals especially horses and dogs, reading, history, sailing and Freemasonry. As a youth he was a keen sea-scout. His love of horses led him to enlist in the famous 10th Light Horse (Militia) as a young man.
Allan F. Drummond died on 12 September, 2003. He is remembered with fondness and respect by a wide range of people for his strength of character, his leadership, his support and consideration of others, his wisdom and his delightful dry humour.
