Item 10A - Interview with Prof. Vernon Victor Hickman and Dr. Winifred Curtis

Vernon Victor Hickman OBE, zoologist, was born and educated in Hobart. After graduating in science from the University of Tasmania (1914) he lectured at the Zeehan School of Mines before joining the AIF during the First World War.
Upon his return, Hickman became Head of the Chemistry Department at the Launceston Technical College. In 1932, he was appointed Lecturer in Biology at the University of Tasmania and, in 1943, Professor of Biology, a position he held until retirement in 1959. Hickman's zoological knowledge was broad and he wrote on topics ranging from small invertebrates to mammals. His special interest was spiders and he discovered many new arachnid species. Hickman's honours include the Medal of the Royal Society of Tasmania, Medal of the Royal Physiographical Society (Lund) and the Clive Lord Memorial Medal (Royal Society of Tasmania).
More information see : http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hickman-vernon-victor-12631

Winifred Mary Curtis AM, botanist and teacher, was born in London and migrated to Tasmania in 1939. She was employed at the University of Tasmania, only the second woman appointed, until her retirement in 1966. Her major publications were Biology for Australian Students (1948–1962), a standard high school text for many years; The Student's Flora of Tasmania (1956–1994), the standard reference work on the flowering plants and conifers; and her most celebrated work, the six-volume Endemic Flora of Tasmania (1967–1975).

Winifred received extensive honours and recognition, with many plants named in her honour. Throughout her life she has worked with great humility and a dedication to precision, seeing her achievements simply as a job that needed to be done and a foundation for others to build on.