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Edwin James Semmens

January 01, 1970

Edwin James Semmens, MBE was the Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick, Victoria, Australia for 23 years from 1928 to 1951, as well as local historian and prominent community leader.

Edwin James Semmens
Edwin James (E.J.) Semmens - Principal - Victorian School of Forestry, 1928-1951
Born(1886-01-20)20 January 1886
Toongabbie, Victoria, Australia
Died31 December 1980(1980-12-31) (aged 94)
Creswick, Victoria, Australia
Alma materMelbourne Teachers College
University of Melbourne
Occupation(s)Schoolteacher
Historian
Parents
  • Josiah Semmens (father)
  • Agnes Veitch (mother)

Edwin was born on 20 January 1886 at the small Gippsland township of Toongabbie in eastern Victoria, as the eldest of nine children of Josiah Semmens, and his wife Agnes, née Veitch.[1]

His father Josiah, worked as an Inspector of Forests in the Lands Department at the time and the family moved at some stage to Maryborough in northwest Victoria where Edwin attended elementary school and later the nearby Bendigo School of Mines.[1]

Edwin started his career as a primary school teacher in 1902 and attended the Melbourne Teachers College. During 1925, he undertook more part-time study at the University of Melbourne towards a Bachelor of Science where he won the prestigious Godfrey Howitt prize with exhibitions in botany and zoology.[1][2]

Later in 1927, while teaching at Shepparton High School, he was invited by the Forests Commission Victoria to become Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry at Creswick when the institution was going through a difficult period and was in danger of closing.[3]

Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry 1928-1951 edit

Known fondly to his students as E.J. or Teddo, he immediately introduced a new and broad curriculum of subjects and set high personal standards. The academic rigour of the course was ensured by a Board of Examiners headed by the Professor of Botany at the University of Melbourne, Professor Alfred James Ewart (1872–1937).[3] Semmens had studied under Ewart at University and its believed that Ewart put Semmens name forward to the Forests Commission as candidate for Principal of VSF in 1927. Semmens also enjoyed strong support from the Chairman of the Forests Commission, Alfred Vernon Galbraith after the acrimonious split between Victoria and the Australian Forestry School in Canberra in 1930.

E.J generously made himself available to guide his pupil's study and sporting habits and also cultivate their diverse interests.[2] Many of his students later established themselves as notable leaders with the Forests Commission after graduating from VSF. Two students, James Hamlin Willis, and Richard Bond[4] became outstanding botanists, while many others established prominent careers within the National Parks Service, Fisheries and Wildlife, Soil Conservation Authority, teaching at tertiary institutions or the private forestry sector. Some like Alfred John Leslie[5] became truly international foresters.[2]

An active field-botanist himself, E.J. accumulated a large and valuable collection of plant specimens and personal sketches[6] for the expanding school herbarium and was elected a Fellow honoris causa of the prestigious Linnean Society of London (FLS) in 1935 for his outstanding work.[1] In addition, Semmens also conducted some pioneering research into the composition of eucalyptus oils and his steam kilns are part the University of Melbourne museum collection at Creswick.[7][8]

Edwin James Semmens retired after 23 as Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry at the end of 1951, aged 65 years, after having made a lasting impression on hundreds of young forestry graduates.[2]

Francis (Frank) Robert Moulds then replaced Semmens as the Principal until the end of 1956.

Local historian and community leader edit

During the 1940s and 50s, very few people seemed interested in preserving and cataloguing Australia's history, but Semmens prodigiously collected an eclectic range of materials relating to the local region.[9]

An avid archivist, Semmens later donated some of his collection of early documents, photos, paintings and artefacts to the Creswick museum[10] which he helped establish, but the bulk of his collection was bequeathed to the University of Melbourne Archives. This vast and diverse collection has been described as "one of the most important collections of local history source material assembled in Australia".[9]

Semmens was always active in his local community, working not only to establish the fledgling Creswick Museum, but presiding over the Creswick District Hospital between 1948 and 1951,[11] as well as serving 24 years as a councillor of the Shire of Creswick (1951–75), with a stint at Shire President in 1956.[12]

On 8 June 1968, Edwin James Semmens was honoured in the Queen's Birthday List with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to local government.[13]

Later in 1977, in recognition of his outstanding and lasting legacy to forestry and local history, the University of Melbourne conferred a Doctorate of Forest Science honoris causa.[1]

A new accommodation block at the forestry school was named in his honour.[14]

He remained active in his local Creswick community after retirement and died on 31 December 1980 aged nearly 93.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Moulds, Francis Robert (2002). "Semmens, Edwin James (1886–1980)',". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Rob Youl, Brian Fry and Ron Hately (eds), Circumspice: One Hundred Year of Forestry Education Centred on Creswick, Victoria, South Melbourne: Forest Education Centenary Committee, 2010
  3. ^ a b Carron, L T (1985). A History of Forestry in Australia. Aust National University. ISBN 0080298745.
  4. ^ "'Bond, Richard Wallace (Dick) (1914–1976)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University".
  5. ^ "Ian Ferguson, 'Leslie, Alfred John (Alf) (1921–2009)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University".
  6. ^ "E. J. Semmens, "Sketch books by E.J. Semmens," Creswick Campus Historical Collection".
  7. ^ ""Steam distillation box for extraction of essential oils from wood or sawdust and leaves,"".
  8. ^ "Equipment - Steam distillation unit".
  9. ^ a b Faithfull (December 2014). "The Creswick Campus Historical Collection - University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 15," (PDF).
  10. ^ "Creswick Museum".
  11. ^ Orr, Robert G (2013). History of Creswick District Hospital 1863-2013. Hepburn Health Service. ISBN 9780959489200.
  12. ^ "Honour Roll and Creswick Historical Society".
  13. ^ "SEMMENS, Edwin James, The Order of the British Empire - Member (Civil)". 8 June 1968. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Semmens Hall. ," Creswick Campus Historical Collection".

External links edit

January 01, 1970
edwin, james, semmens, principal, victorian, school, forestry, creswick, victoria, australia, years, from, 1928, 1951, well, local, historian, prominent, community, leader, edwin, james, semmens, principal, victorian, school, forestry, 1928, 1951born, 1886, ja. Edwin James Semmens MBE was the Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry VSF at Creswick Victoria Australia for 23 years from 1928 to 1951 as well as local historian and prominent community leader Edwin James SemmensEdwin James E J Semmens Principal Victorian School of Forestry 1928 1951Born 1886 01 20 20 January 1886Toongabbie Victoria AustraliaDied31 December 1980 1980 12 31 aged 94 Creswick Victoria AustraliaAlma materMelbourne Teachers CollegeUniversity of MelbourneOccupation s SchoolteacherHistorianParentsJosiah Semmens father Agnes Veitch mother Edwin was born on 20 January 1886 at the small Gippsland township of Toongabbie in eastern Victoria as the eldest of nine children of Josiah Semmens and his wife Agnes nee Veitch 1 His father Josiah worked as an Inspector of Forests in the Lands Department at the time and the family moved at some stage to Maryborough in northwest Victoria where Edwin attended elementary school and later the nearby Bendigo School of Mines 1 Edwin started his career as a primary school teacher in 1902 and attended the Melbourne Teachers College During 1925 he undertook more part time study at the University of Melbourne towards a Bachelor of Science where he won the prestigious Godfrey Howitt prize with exhibitions in botany and zoology 1 2 Later in 1927 while teaching at Shepparton High School he was invited by the Forests Commission Victoria to become Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry at Creswick when the institution was going through a difficult period and was in danger of closing 3 Contents 1 Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry 1928 1951 2 Local historian and community leader 3 References 4 External linksPrincipal of the Victorian School of Forestry 1928 1951 editKnown fondly to his students as E J or Teddo he immediately introduced a new and broad curriculum of subjects and set high personal standards The academic rigour of the course was ensured by a Board of Examiners headed by the Professor of Botany at the University of Melbourne Professor Alfred James Ewart 1872 1937 3 Semmens had studied under Ewart at University and its believed that Ewart put Semmens name forward to the Forests Commission as candidate for Principal of VSF in 1927 Semmens also enjoyed strong support from the Chairman of the Forests Commission Alfred Vernon Galbraith after the acrimonious split between Victoria and the Australian Forestry School in Canberra in 1930 E J generously made himself available to guide his pupil s study and sporting habits and also cultivate their diverse interests 2 Many of his students later established themselves as notable leaders with the Forests Commission after graduating from VSF Two students James Hamlin Willis and Richard Bond 4 became outstanding botanists while many others established prominent careers within the National Parks Service Fisheries and Wildlife Soil Conservation Authority teaching at tertiary institutions or the private forestry sector Some like Alfred John Leslie 5 became truly international foresters 2 An active field botanist himself E J accumulated a large and valuable collection of plant specimens and personal sketches 6 for the expanding school herbarium and was elected a Fellow honoris causa of the prestigious Linnean Society of London FLS in 1935 for his outstanding work 1 In addition Semmens also conducted some pioneering research into the composition of eucalyptus oils and his steam kilns are part the University of Melbourne museum collection at Creswick 7 8 Edwin James Semmens retired after 23 as Principal of the Victorian School of Forestry at the end of 1951 aged 65 years after having made a lasting impression on hundreds of young forestry graduates 2 Francis Frank Robert Moulds then replaced Semmens as the Principal until the end of 1956 Local historian and community leader editDuring the 1940s and 50s very few people seemed interested in preserving and cataloguing Australia s history but Semmens prodigiously collected an eclectic range of materials relating to the local region 9 An avid archivist Semmens later donated some of his collection of early documents photos paintings and artefacts to the Creswick museum 10 which he helped establish but the bulk of his collection was bequeathed to the University of Melbourne Archives This vast and diverse collection has been described as one of the most important collections of local history source material assembled in Australia 9 Semmens was always active in his local community working not only to establish the fledgling Creswick Museum but presiding over the Creswick District Hospital between 1948 and 1951 11 as well as serving 24 years as a councillor of the Shire of Creswick 1951 75 with a stint at Shire President in 1956 12 On 8 June 1968 Edwin James Semmens was honoured in the Queen s Birthday List with a Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE for services to local government 13 Later in 1977 in recognition of his outstanding and lasting legacy to forestry and local history the University of Melbourne conferred a Doctorate of Forest Science honoris causa 1 A new accommodation block at the forestry school was named in his honour 14 He remained active in his local Creswick community after retirement and died on 31 December 1980 aged nearly 93 1 References edit a b c d e f Moulds Francis Robert 2002 Semmens Edwin James 1886 1980 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University Retrieved 2 April 2018 a b c d Rob Youl Brian Fry and Ron Hately eds Circumspice One Hundred Year of Forestry Education Centred on Creswick Victoria South Melbourne Forest Education Centenary Committee 2010 a b Carron L T 1985 A History of Forestry in Australia Aust National University ISBN 0080298745 Bond Richard Wallace Dick 1914 1976 Obituaries Australia National Centre of Biography Australian National University Ian Ferguson Leslie Alfred John Alf 1921 2009 Obituaries Australia National Centre of Biography Australian National University E J Semmens Sketch books by E J Semmens Creswick Campus Historical Collection Steam distillation box for extraction of essential oils from wood or sawdust and leaves Equipment Steam distillation unit a b Faithfull December 2014 The Creswick Campus Historical Collection University of Melbourne Collections Issue 15 PDF Creswick Museum Orr Robert G 2013 History of Creswick District Hospital 1863 2013 Hepburn Health Service ISBN 9780959489200 Honour Roll and Creswick Historical Society SEMMENS Edwin James The Order of the British Empire Member Civil 8 June 1968 Retrieved 17 April 2018 Semmens Hall Creswick Campus Historical Collection External links editMcHugh Peter 2020 Forests and Bushfire History of Victoria A compilation of short stories Victoria https nla gov au nla obj 2899074696 view FCRPA Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association Peter McHugh https www victoriasforestryheritage org au https ecosystemforest unimelb edu au about creswick https omeka cloud unimelb edu au cchc Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edwin James Semmens amp oldid 1213399233, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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