Mary Fuller, an entomologist with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research 1929-1938, published in 1934, The Insect Inhabitants of Carrion: a study in Animal Ecology as Volume 82 of the CSIR Bulletin. She was a key member of Blowfly Research Investigation team. Her death, by suicide in 1938, was a tragedy that reverberated within CSIR and the wider community.
For a list of works produced as a result of employment by CSIRO or its predecessors go the CSIRO Research Publications Repository (1917-) and search or browse by name. For newspaper articles check TROVE Newspapers & Gazettes (1903-Present less 70 years) and search by name.
From Collis "Field of Discovery" page 497, note 8:
"Many women with professional qualifications, especially within the CSIR were mindful of the case of Mary Fuller, a highly respected and widely published researcher with the Division of Entomology (sic). In 1937 she had secretly married, but was found out some months later. Despite pleas by the CSIR Executive for her retention, the office of the Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, ordered her dismissal under the Public Service Act. Two days after being told her employment was to be terminated she committed suicide."
"Daily Mercury (Mackay, Queensland) Wednesday 9 November 1938, page 2 (Trove):
" Entomologist's suicide. . . "Edgar Harold Kipps, husband of the dead woman, said that they had taken up residence at Deewhy, following the birth of a baby. At the beginning of September he left for West Australia. His wife was then in good health. He was advised of her death in West Australia. He had been told that she worried about her position. He had learned, too, that she thought the baby was in poor health. Her concern in both instances was quite unnecessary. The Coroner (says the 'Herald') said that it was hard to find a reason for some of these happenings."
For information on CSIR/O career positions and research work see CSIROpedia CSIRO (and predecessor) Annual Reports 1916 - 2000.
August 1922
1966
Event - The marriage bar, which was in force under the Public Service Act No. 21 from 1922 to 1966, had a significant impact on the careers of women scientists at the CSIR. [Alvarez, A.J. Thesis (1993) Synopsis and pages 17-43]
1925
1925
Award - Public Exhibition, University of Sydney. Awarded on results of NSW Leaving Certificate Examination, November 1924
1925
1928
Education - Undergraduate, University of Sydney, Faculty of Science with subjects including botany, entomology and chemistry
1927
1927
Award - G.S. Caird Scholarship for Botany III, Faculty of Science University of Sydney enabling her to proceed to fourth year honours
1929
1929
Education - Graduated BSc, University of Sydney
March 1929
1930
Career position - Assistant Entomologist, in blowfly research, CSIR Division of Economic Entomology
2 October 1929
2 October 1929
Operational event - CSIR Eleventh Monthly Conference of Senior Officers, note from male staff of the Division of Economic Entomology detailing four points why women should not be appointed to scientific positions. Attendees: R.J. Tillyard, G.F. Hill, I.M Mackerras, G.A. Waterhouse, G.A. Currie, A.L. Tonnoir
1930
1933
Career position - Junior Entomologist, CSIR Division of Economic Entomology
1931
1931
Publication - Fuller, ME. The larvae of the Australian sheep blowflies. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1932; 57:77-91. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339961?index=1
1932
1932
Publication - Fuller, ME. The blowfly problem - notes on the effect of carcass burial. Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. 1932; 5:162-164. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339964?index=1
1932
1932
Publication - Fuller, ME. The larvae of the Australian sheep blowflies. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1932; 57:77-91. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339961?index=1
1933
1933
Publication - Fuller, ME. The life history of Onesia accepta Malloch (Diptera, Calliphoridae). Parasitology. 1933; 25:342-52. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339881?index=1
1934
1934
Publication - Fuller, ME. The insect habitants of carrion:a study in animal ecology. Bulletin (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Australia)). 1934; 82:1-62. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339735?index=1
1934
1934
Publication - Fuller, ME. Observations on the flies responsible for striking sheep in Western Australia. Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. 1934; 7:150-2.http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339729?index=1
1934
1934
Publication - Fuller, ME. The early stages of Sciadocera rufomaculata White (Dipt.:Phoridae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1934; 59:9-15. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339728?index=1
1934
1934
Publication - Fuller, ME. Sheep blowfly investigations. Some field tests of baits treated with sodium sulphide. Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. 1934; 7:147-9. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339733?index=1
1934
1936
Career position - Assistant Entomologist, CSIR Division of Economic Entomology
1936
1936
Publication - Mackerras, IM; Fuller, ME; Austin, KM; Lefroy, EHB. Sheep blowfly investigations. The effect of trapping on the incidence of strike in sheep. Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. 1936; 9(3):153-162.http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339617?index=1
1936
1936
Publication - Fuller, ME. Notes on the biology of Scaptia auriflua Don. (Diptera,Tabanidae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1936; 61:1-9. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339616?index=1
1937
1937
Publication - Fuller, ME. Notes on the biology of Tabanus froggatti, T. gentilis and T. neobasalis (Diptera). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1937; 62:217-29. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339554?index=1
1937
1937
Publication - Mackerras, IM; Fuller, ME. A survey of the Australian sheep blowflies. Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. 1937; 10:261-70. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339545?index=1
1937
1938
Career position - Assistant Research Officer, CSIR Division of Economic Entomology
20 November 1937
20 November 1937
Life event - Married Edgar Harold Kipps - undisclosed to CSIR
1938
1938
Publication - Fuller, ME. Notes on Trichopsidea oestracea (Nemestrinidae) and Cyrtomorpha flaviscutellaris (Bombyliidae) - two dipterous enemies of grasshoppers. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1938; 63:95-104. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339470?index=1
1938
1938
Publication - Fuller, ME. On the biology and early stages of Helicobia australis (sacrophaginae), a dipterous insect associated with grasshoppers. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1938; 63:133-8. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339468?index=1
April 1938
April 1938
Career event - Takes six months leave for family reasons
22 June 1938
22 June 1938
Life event - Birth of daughter, Lucille Ellen Kipps (1938-1987) - undisclosed to CSIR
August 1938
August 1938
Career event - CSIR becomes aware that the reason for her leave of absence was that she had married and had a child.
September 1938
September 1938
Career event - "The Council consulted with the Minister, and the Minister's response in mid September 1938 was to inform the Council that her position should be advertised. The Council Executive observed that although she came highly recommended by Dr Mackerras, she should not have withheld the fact of her marriage from the Council. The next piece of correspondence was a telegram from Dr Mackerras stating that Mary Fuller had died." [Alvarez, A.J. Thesis (1993) page 28]
29 September 1938
29 September 1938
Event - Death notice The Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 29 September 1938 page 10: "KIPPS.-September 25, 1938, at her residence, Deewhy, Mary Ellen, beloved wife of E. G. Kipps and loving mother of Lucille and loving daughter of Elizabeth and the late James Fuller, and sister of Angela. Aged 31 years. R.I.P."
14 October 1938
14 October 1938
Operational event - CSIR Executive Committee Minutes item 3 "Deceased. Mrs Kipps (nee Mary Fuller) - died 25.9.38"
9 November 1938
9 November 1938
Event - Newspaper report of Coroner's verdict Daily Mercury (Mackay, Queesland) Wednesday, page 2: "A verdict of suicide by poison followed an inquiry by the Sydney Coroner, Mr. Oram, into the death at Dee-why on September 24 of Mrs. Mary Ellen Kipps (32), an entomologist, employed for the past nine years by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research."
22 November 1938
22 November 1938
Operational event - CSIR Executive Committee Minutes item 1 noted that "the position rendered vacant by the death of Mrs Kipps had been referred to Dr Mackerras who had sent a reply stating that he did not desire to proceed immediately to fill the position."
13 December 1938
13 December 1938
Operational event - CSIR Executive Committee Minutes item 8 (iii) Sheep Blowfly Investigations - Temporary Assistant Research Officer. Dr Mackerras "had now heard from Mr D.A. Gill that a recent graduate of the University of Sydney (Mr K.L. Taylor) seemed to be an appropriate appointee."
1942
1942
Publication - Mackerras, IM; Fuller, ME. The genus Pelecorhynchus (Diptera, Tabanoidea). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW. 1942; 67:9-76. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339143?index=1
1946
1946
Publication - Waterhouse, DF; Fuller, ME. The use of borax for the prevention of fly breeding in trap baits. Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. 1946; 19:321-329. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/338756?index=1