[Aqualist] AQUA origins

[David Lowe]

Jim Bowler is quite right regarding the founding of the Australasian
Quaternary Association (AQUA) 30 years ago in 1982, and I agree that 30
years is definitely a very worthy milestone. Well done to all those who
have kept the organisation running all those years. The first AQUA
newsletter (Vol. 1, nos. 1-2), edited by Martin Williams, appeared in
August 1983. The terrific INQUA Congress held in Cairns in 2007 marked the
25th anniversary of AQUA, something I hadn't appreciated until compiling a
report.

Prior to AQUA we had the Australian (cf. *Australasian*) Quaternary
(?)Association and the last newsletter of that organisation, No. 15, was
published in August 1980. I don't know anything about the origins of this
group but I joined it in 1979 after a survey was run by Mike Macphail
encouraging New Zealanders to join. The newsletter in 1979 included a
section entitled "Quaternary research in New Zealand: after INQUA '73" with
contributions from K Berryman, M Macphail, M McGlone, D Mildenhall, D
Pocknall, J Soons, and C Vucetich. Lots of famous names there!

Kind regards and best wishes for the Tekapo meeting.

David Lowe
(Waikato Univ., Hamilton)

-- 
*Professor David J. Lowe *PhD, FRSNZ, FNZSSS
*President, INQUA International Focus Group on Tephrochronology and
Volcanism (INTAV)
http://www.arch.ox.ac.uk/intav/INQUA-INTAV.html
<http://www.geog.auckland.ac.nz/about_us/intav.shtml>Associate Editor Soil
Science Society of America Journal
Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences,
University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105,
Hamilton 3240, NEW ZEALAND
(Street address: Hillcrest Rd, Hamilton)

Work Ph + 64 7 838-4438 (Direct dial)
Work Ph + 64 7 856-2889 ext 4438 (Uni operator)
Work Fax + 64 7 856-0115, Home Ph + 64 7 855-0692
Mobile 021 027 727 07
E-mail d.lowe at waikato.ac.nz*