Person
Sonsee, Cecil Allan (Allan) (1911 - 1985)
- Born
- 21 July 1911
Creswick, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 12 June 1985
Springmount, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Naturalist and Teacher
Summary
Allan Sonsee was a teacher who, although he never qualified as a teacher, taught in primary schools until seconded for over 20 years to the Ballarat Teachers College. He was a gifted and inspiring teacher who regularly took his students on botanical rambles at weekends. For many years he was known as "Mr Nature Man', presenting a children's segment on the local television station. Sonsee was the inaugural President of the Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat, holding office for 11 years, often leading excursions and giving talks. While living in Creswick, he set himself the task of identifying all the plants in the district listed by his friend, Jim Willis, as growing within ten miles of the town. Sonsee established an arboretum of conifers, eucalypts and native plants which was frequently visited by members of the Club, and of the Bird Observers Club. Sonsee was a member of the Royal Australasian Ornithological Union.
Details
Chronology
- 1941 - 1942
- Military service - Served in the Australian Army
- 1952 - 1962
- Career position - Inaugural President, Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat
- 1963 - 1985
- Award - Life member, Field Naturalists Club of Ballarat
- 1976
- Life event - Retired from the Ballarat teachers College
Related entries
Colleague
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Kruss, Susan, 'A passion for plants: the botanical contribution of P. J. Murphy', Muelleria, 36 (2018), 22-50. Details
Theses
- Kruss, Susan, 'A voice for nature: a history of the Field Naturalists' Club of Ballarat', PhD thesis, Federation University Australia, 2024, 594 pp. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 19 May 2026