Biographical entry Pennefather, Reginald Richard (1905 - 1957)

Summary

Reginald Pennefather was an agricultural scientist who worked to find solutions to problems caused by salinity and declining soil fertility. His research into properties of soils in the Murrumbidgee irrigation area, and the infiltration of water through them, led him to formulate principles to guide irrigation techniques. Implementation of these principles prevented irreparable damage to the region's agricultural land. As foundation secretary of the CSIR's irrigation research and extension committee Pennefather was able to advocate for sustainable irrigation practices to the wider agricultural community. His extension work included regular articles published in farmers' magazines and radio broadcasts. He successfully forged closer relationships between farmers, scientists and public servants, narrowing the gap between research and its practical application.

Details

Events

1927

Education - Bachelor of Agricultural Science, The University of Melbourne

c. 1927 - c. 1932

Career position - Investigating Officer and Surveyor, Prime Ministers Department, Australian Federal Government

1932 - 1940

Career position - Field Research Assistant, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Griffith, New South Wales

1940 - 1944

Career position - Foundation Secretary of the Irrigation Research and Extension Committee, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research

1944

Career position - Research Officer-in-Charge, Soils and Irrigation Extension Service, CSIRO

1945 - 1951

Career position - Agricultural Extension Service, Department of Agriculture, New South Wales Government

1951 - 1957

Career position - Officer-in-Charge, Agricultural Research Liason Section, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne Victoria

Published resources

Book Sections

• Boardman, N. Keith, 'Pennefather, Reginald Richard (1905-1957), Agricultural Scientist', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 15, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 588-589. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150687b.htm. Details

Newspaper Articles

• 'Surveyors (Registered under the NSW Surveyors Act, No. 3 of 1929)', Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales, 3 January 1930, p. 26. Also available at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223072805. Details
• 'Death of C.S.I.R.O. Officer', The Canberra Times, 13 February 1957, p. 5. Also available at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91234192. Details