Person

Tisdall, Alfred Leyster (1912 - 1999)

CBE

Born
30 September 1912
Died
20 February 1999
Sandringham, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Engineer

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

Chronology

1933
Education - Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSc), 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, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
1937
Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Melbourne
1942 - 1945
Military service - 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, Water Commission of Victoria
1956
Career position - President, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, Victorian branch
1958
Career position - Commissioner and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Public Administration
1960
Career position - President, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
1961
Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
1963 - c. 1965
Career position - Deputy Chairman, 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, Water Commission of Victoria
1966
Career event - 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
Award - Doctor of Agricultural Science (DAgrSc), honoris causa, University of Melbourne
1978
Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Chairman - Victoria Water Supply Commission

Published resources

Newspaper Articles

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

Resources

Annette Alafaci

EOAS ID: biogs/P004734b.htm

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