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Prominent People

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This section lists industry people who have made a significant contribution to the achievements and success of agriculture in South Australia and Australia. Where information is available from a readily available source, a link is provided.

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Lewis AO CB, Keith William 1927 - 2013

Keith Lewis was head of Engineering and Water Supply Dept (now SA Water) and was instrumental in introducing River Murray salinity control programs and a single Water Resources Act. He helped create the Dept of Environment and Planning, was on the SA Commission for the River Murray and chair of the SA Land Trust.

Image: The Advertiser

Lothian OBE, Thomas Robert Noel 1915 - 2004

Noel Lothian was the Director of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens from 1948 to 1980. He was a passionate advocate for farmers and pastoralists to plant native vegetation.

Image: Mt Lofty Historical Society

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Maier, Norbert 1950 - 2007

Norbert was one of South Australia’s leading horticultural research scientists. His career was marked by ground breaking insights in horticultural crop nutrition research. With qualifications from Adelaide University Norbert served the States horticultural industries with distinction and was nationally recognised for his work.

Image: The Advertiser

Marshall, Theo John (Tim) 1907 - 2008

Soil scientist. Marshall joined the new CSIR (now CSIRO) Division of Soils in Adelaide in February, 1929, working on irrigated soils of the River Murray system. He was instrumental in the formation of the Australian Society of Soil Science in 1955. As leader of the Soil Physics Section of CSIRO Soils Division in 1945, he was a great mentor for many Australian soil scientists and had a high international reputation.

Image: https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/csiroalumni.site-ym.com/

Marston, Hedley Ralph 1900 - 1965

Biochemist. On 1 March 1928 he joined Robertson's staff in the division of animal nutrition, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Adelaide. On 14 August 1944 he was appointed chief, division of biochemistry and general nutrition. The most publicised research of Marston's division dealt with deficiencies of trace elements in the soils of South Australia and led to the discovery that 'coast disease'—a wasting malady of sheep pastured in the south-east coastal region and other areas—was caused by a lack of cobalt in their diet. This research substantially changed Australian agriculture, and had a significant impact on many hitherto marginal lands throughout the world.

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedley_Marston

May AM, Dr Peter 1922 - 2007

Peter May spent his working life with CSIRO and became one of Australia’s foremost viticultural researchers. His work revised viticultural practices and were widely adopted and he was a great mentor to many other researchers.

Image: The Advertiser

McColl, AO, James Carvel 1933 - 2013

Jim was appointed as the director General of Agriculture in South Australia following work as a consultant in Victoria and overseas. His wide industry experience enabled him to engage with industry leaders and government colleagues to make many changes to improve the delivery of services to primary producers. These changes included regionalisation of services, introduction of corporate planning, a fundamental overhaul of research activities and the establishment of the exchange of technology to overseas countries. He is well renowned for his collaboration with the water supply agencies involved in irrigated horticulture along the River Murray resulting in significant advancements to the delivery and adoption of new technologies. After retiring from the Department of Agriculture Jim engage at the highest level in reviewing and promoting the primary industries sector through his role on the Industry Commission, Royal Commission into grain handling and review of agricultural education.

Image: PIRSA Ag History

Meinig, Donald William 1924 - 2020

Don Meinig was an American geographer who studied at the University of Adelaide and wrote an influential book on the South Australian wheat frontier during the 1800s

Image: The Advertiser

Melville, James 1908 - 1984

Agricultural scientist. After working in New Zealand, Melville was appointed director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, in January 1956. Melville vigorously encouraged colleagues to collaborate with researchers in the State Department of Agriculture, the CSIRO and with university staff located at North Terrace. Throughout his career Melville sought to contribute to the development of agricultural industries on a national rather than parochial basis.

Image: The University of Adelaide - Urrbrae House Historic Precinct Photograph Collection

Miller, Thomas Charles (Tom) 1917 - 2012

After a career interstate and overseas, Tom Miller was appointed as Chief Horticulturist in the Dept of Agriculture. He expertly managed the Horticulture Branch supporting the significant apple and citrus industries, the mixed horticulture industries and protecting those industries by managing the fruit fly eradication program.

Image: PIRSA Ag History

Mutze, Greg 1957 - 2022

Greg Mutze was an excellent researcher in the South Australian government who devoted his career to the control of mouse plagues and rabbits. The outcomes of his research significantly benefited the rural economy and the environment.

Image: Mutze Family

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Nelle, Susan 1942 - 2016

Susan came to South Australia from the US with experience in strategic planning and change management. While visiting she was appointed the Executive Director of the food for the Future Program, a collaboration between the food industry and government. With the support of senior industry leaders and government she revolutionised the food sector in SA, increasing value added food industries and increasing exports. She then headed up the Commonwealth Food Industry Strategy before returning to Adelaide as the Senior Research Fellow in the Global Food Resources program at Adelaide University.

Image: Winston Churchill Trust

Norrish AO, Keith 1924 - 2017

Keith Norrish made a major contribution to soil science and became Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO. He founded the Minerology Group within CSIRO and helped determine why fertilizers and trace elements did not work in some soils.

Image: CSIRO

Norton, Ray 1927 - 2016

Ray Norton was an excellent farm manager and lecturer who began his career at Roseworthy Agricultural College and then at the Waite Institute at Urrbrae. He was instrumental in planning and developing the farm business at the Martindale property once that property was bequeathed to the University of Adelaide.

Image: Roseworthy Old Collegians Assoc

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Perkins, Arthur James 1871 - 1944

Agricultural scientist and viticulturist. Arthur Perkins was appointed a member of South Australia's Central Agricultural Bureau and government viticulturist in 1892 based at Roseworthy Agricultural College. His appointment followed requests to the government for expert advice to farmers on viticulture, oenology and horticulture. His teaching of European viticultural methods, including pest and disease control and winemaking techniques, constituted Perkins' first major contribution to Australian agriculture. He also conducted many trials on cultivation of cereals, and was prominent in the improvement of cereals by systematic selection. In 1914 Perkins replaced William Lowrie as South Australian Director of Agriculture; his experience, persuasive powers and administrative skill were highly impressive and he was particularly concerned with agriculture economics.

Image: SLSA B6415 1928

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