Phillip Law
Encyclopedia
Phillip Garth Law AC
, CBE
, FAA (21 April 1912 – 28 February 2010) was an Australia
n scientist and explorer who served as director of Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions
(ANARE) from 1949 to 1966.
, Victoria
, the second of six children of Arthur and Lily Law. After attending Hamilton High School, he taught in secondary schools, including Melbourne High School where he taught physics and boxing, while studying part time at the University of Melbourne
, earning an MSc in 1941. He was the Melbourne University lightweight boxing champion and also lectured in physics there from 1943 to 1948.
During the Second World War he enlisted in the RAAF
, though the university physics department, which was involved in weapons research, insisted that he continue his work there. He did however manage to visit the battle areas of New Guinea on a four-month scientific mission for the Australian Army.
, Davis
and Casey
, and led expeditions that explored more than 5000 kilometres (3,106.9 mi) of coastline and some 1000000 square kilometres (386,102.2 sq mi) of territory.
After retiring from the directorship, he chaired the Australian National Committee on Antarctic Research from 1966 to 1980.
Law's wife, Nel, a secondary school teacher, professional artist and writer, was the first Australian woman to visit Antarctica. Nel died in 1990.
He attended the launch of the Fourth International Polar Year
on 1 March 2007 in the hall of the Royal Society of Victoria
in Melbourne
. He died on 28 February 2010, aged 97.
(CBE) in the New Year's Honours of 1961.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1975 and a Companion of the Order (AC) in the Australia Day
Honours of 1995.
In 1988, he was awarded the Australian Geographic's Adventurer of the Year Award. On 1st January 2001, he was also awarded the Centenary Medal
.
's Geographical Journal, including:
Books or booklets authored or coauthored by Law include:
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FAA (21 April 1912 – 28 February 2010) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n scientist and explorer who served as director of Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions
Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions
The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions is the historical name for the Australian Antarctic Program administered for Australia by the Australian Antarctic Division .-The ANARE Name:...
(ANARE) from 1949 to 1966.
Early life
Law was born in TallangattaTallangatta, Victoria
Tallangatta is a small town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Tallangatta had a population of 950.The town is situated on the banks of the Mitta Arm of Lake Hume, approximately south-east of Albury-Wodonga along the Murray Valley Highway.-History:Tallangatta was founded in...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, the second of six children of Arthur and Lily Law. After attending Hamilton High School, he taught in secondary schools, including Melbourne High School where he taught physics and boxing, while studying part time at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, earning an MSc in 1941. He was the Melbourne University lightweight boxing champion and also lectured in physics there from 1943 to 1948.
During the Second World War he enlisted in the RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, though the university physics department, which was involved in weapons research, insisted that he continue his work there. He did however manage to visit the battle areas of New Guinea on a four-month scientific mission for the Australian Army.
Antarctic exploration
He spent the first of many summers in Antarctica in 1947–8 as a senior research officer on ANARE. He soon became director due to his strong belief in the value of management and educational techniques that ensured that each individual had more than one role. During his directorship, he established bases in MawsonMawson Station
Mawson Station is one of three permanent Australian bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory of East Antarctica. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the base is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division...
, Davis
Davis Station
Davis Station is a permanent base in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division . It is the busiest Australian scientific research station...
and Casey
Casey Station
Casey Station is a permanent base in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division located on Vincennes Bay in the Australian Antarctic Territory.- History :...
, and led expeditions that explored more than 5000 kilometres (3,106.9 mi) of coastline and some 1000000 square kilometres (386,102.2 sq mi) of territory.
After retiring from the directorship, he chaired the Australian National Committee on Antarctic Research from 1966 to 1980.
Law's wife, Nel, a secondary school teacher, professional artist and writer, was the first Australian woman to visit Antarctica. Nel died in 1990.
He attended the launch of the Fourth International Polar Year
International Polar Year
The International Polar Year is a collaborative, international effort researching the polar regions. Karl Weyprecht, an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, motivated the endeavor, but died before it first occurred in 1882-1883. Fifty years later a second IPY occurred...
on 1 March 2007 in the hall of the Royal Society of Victoria
Royal Society of Victoria
The Royal Society of Victoria is the oldest learned society in the state of Victoria in Australia.The Royal Society of Victoria was formed in 1859 from a merger between The Philosophical Society of Victoria and The Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science , both founded...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He died on 28 February 2010, aged 97.
Honours
Phillip Law was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in the New Year's Honours of 1961.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1975 and a Companion of the Order (AC) in the Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
Honours of 1995.
In 1988, he was awarded the Australian Geographic's Adventurer of the Year Award. On 1st January 2001, he was also awarded the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
.
Publications
Law published several papers on his exploration work in the Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
's Geographical Journal, including:
- 1954 – Australian Antarctic Expedition to Mac-Robertson Land 1954. Geographical Journal Vol. 120, Part 4, pp.409-422.
- 1956 – Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition, 1955. Geographical Journal, Vol. 122.
- 1958 – The Antarctic voyage of MV Thala Dan, 1958. Geographical Journal.
- 1958 – Australian coastal exploration in Antarctica. Geographical Journal. Vol 124, Part 2.
- 1960 – New ANARE landings in Australian Antarctic Territory 1960. Geographical Joirnal.
- 1961 – Australian coastal explorations in Antarctica, 1957. Geographical Journal. Vol 127, Part 4.
- 1961 – Australian coastal explorations in Antarctica, 1959. Geographical Journal.
Books or booklets authored or coauthored by Law include:
- 1957 – ANARE: Australia's Antarctic Outposts. (With John BéchervaiseJohn BéchervaiseJohn Mayston Béchervaise OAM, MBE was an Australian writer, photographer, artist, historian and explorer. He is especially notable for his work and achievements in Antarctica. Béchervaise was married to Lorna Fearn Wannan; the couple had one son and three daughters...
). OUP: Melbourne. - 1962 – Australia and the Antarctic. (John Murtagh MacrossanJohn Murtagh MacrossanJohn Murtagh Macrossan was Queensland’s 16th Chief Justice and the third person from the Macrossan family to occupy that position. He was also a distinguished barrister, chancellor and judge...
Memorial Lectures 1960). University of Queensland Press: Brisbane. - 1964 – Antarctica – 1984. (Sir John Morris Memorial Lecture 1964). Adult Education Board of Tasmania: Hobart
- 1983 – Antarctic Odyssey. Heinemann: Melbourne. ISBN 0434406880
- 1995 – The Antarctic Voyage of HMAS Wyatt Earp. Allen & Unwin Australia. ISBN 1863738037
- 1995 – You Have to be Lucky: Antarctic and Other Adventures. Kangaroo Press: Kenthurst. ISBN 0864177437