will speak on historical aspects of engineering in Australia, which develops an appreciation of some of the original and imaginative solutions which were applied to a range of projects. Australian engineering has a history of ingenuity and boldness which achieves remarkable solutions to seemingly insoluble problems. Whilst particular reference will be made to areas of interest to mechanical engineers, it is intended to demonstrate that many of the creative engineers required the appreciation and application of principles belong ing to disciplines other than their own.
Australian engineering in many ways has suffered from imported technology and the decline of our manufacturing industries. The leads shown by the early Australian engineering designs and initiatives appear to have been overlooked with the changing roles and limitations now placed on engineers. In order to improve the state and status of engineering in Australia, a greater emphasis must be placed on innovative and imaginative thinking.
D. J. Smith
Chairman
699 7199 (BH)