Biographical entry Tisdall, Alfred Leyster (1912 - 1999)

Summary

Alfred Leyster Tisdall was a world renowned irrigation expert. His salinity control and other measures introduced to Victoria helped improve the water distribution efficiency from 45% (1950s) to 73% (1974). He was regularly consulted by overseas agencies including the United Nations and the Thai and the British Governments. Tisdall was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in honour of his contributions to water supply and irrigation around the world.

Details

Events

1933

Education - Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSc) completed at the University of Melbourne

1933 - 1942

Career position - Scientist with the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) in Merbein, Victoria

1935

Career position - Foundation member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

1937

Education - Master of Science (MSc) completed at the University of Melbourne

1942 - 1945

Career position - Flight lieutenant with the Royal Australian Air Force

c. 1945 - c. 1951

Career position - Joined CSIRO in Deniliquin, New South Wales

1951 - 1962

Career position - Chief Irrigation Officer of the Water Commission of Victoria

1956

Career position - President of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, Victorian branch

1958

Career position - Commissioner and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Public Administration

1960

Career position - President of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

1961 -

Award - Fellow of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

1963 - c. 1965

Career position - Deputy Chairman of the Water Commission of Victoria

1965

Career position - Invited to the United kingdom by the British Government to discuss water supply matters

1965 - 1977

Career position - Chairman of the Water Commission of Victoria

1966

Career position - Invited guest speaker at the International Congress on irrigation and Drainage in Delhi, India

1968

Career position - Advised the United Nations on its water project, the Awash Valley Project, in Ethiopia

1975

Education - Doctor of Agricultural Science honoris causa (Hon DAgSc) received from the University of Melbourne

1978

Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Published resources

Newspaper Articles

• Sampson, William, 'Obituary: Alfred Leyster Tisdall. Water Commission Chief', The Age, 15 April 1999. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Tisdall, A L', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-464632. Details