Fellows' biographical memoirs

Professor Ralph Slatyer AC FAA FTSE FRS made foundational contributions to plant physiology and ecology. He was a towering figure in science policy as the nation's first Chief Scientist.

Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre was born in North London on the first day of April, 1905. He was the eldest of three children of Raymond James Le Fèvre, the managing clerk of a firm of London solicitors, and his wife Ethel May (née Wood). Of his four grandparents, three had died before 1910. Only his father's mother, née Louise Darby, of Bath survived into his childhood.

Ray Stalker was an aerospace engineer who designed the free piston shock tunnel – known as the "Stalker tube" – and designed the first scramjet to produce more thrust than drag, pioneering Australia's hypersonic research program.

Ray Martin was a talented and successful academic and leader, who won numerous awards and made discoveries that changed fundamental knowledge of the sub-discipline of physical inorganic chemistry.

Professor Ren Potts was a mathematician who made outstanding contributions to both theory and diverse applications, especially operations research. His work in statistical mechanics, and the 'Potts Model', was particularly influential.

Richard Gardiner Casey was elected to the fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science in 1966 in recognition of his conspicuous service to the cause of science. Initially trained as an engineer, he began, upon his return from the 1914-18 War, to practise the profession of mining geologist. Early in his life he was diverted from this occupation and, after a short period as a political representative of the Australian government in London, entered Federal politics as a member of Parliament.

Richard van der Riet Woolley was born on 24 April 1906 at Weymouth, Dorset, England. He was the fourth of five children of Paymaster Rear Admiral Charles Edward Allen Woolley, C.M.G., R.N. (1863-1940) and his wife Julia Marian Marguerite van der Riet. To Woolley, his parents' families appeared to be 'professional, with some contact with University circles'. To us now, however, the 'contact' adds up to rather a lot.

Robin Stokes was a chemist and Foundation Professor of Chemistry at the University of New England. He made outstanding contributions to the field of solution thermodynamics.

Robert Bruce Knox was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1989 and Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 1990, a rare honour for any one without a medical degree. He was elected President of the International Association of Sexual Plant Reproductive Research from 1990-1994. He was known internationally as an innovative plant scientist who published extensively on a wide range of topics.

Dr Bruce Fraser was a biophysicist who gained worldwide distinction for his extensive structural studies of fibrous proteins, particularly keratin.