The CRC is sad to report the death of project leader, Prof.
Geoff McDonald. Geoff joined the current CRC in 2001-02 and
led our project on Savanna Planning Systems. In that time he and
his team were responsible for far-reaching research on regional
land management throughout the savannas. Geoff was a CSIRO Honorary
Fellow and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Queensland
and was also Head of Department of Geographical Sciences and
Planning at the University of Queensland.
According to Dan Walker at CSIRO Geoff's influence on people,
thinking and research in CSIRO was only one facet of his legacy,
with deep connections in academia, State and Federal agencies and
internationally. Perhaps more importantly, he made innumerable
direct contributions to planning practice and outcomes from the
urbaninising landscapes of south east Queensland through many areas
of rural Queensland (notably the Wet Tropics) through the Northern
Territory and beyond into south-east Asia. As a passionate devotee
of his favourite adage “there's nothing as practical as a
good theory” Geoff was absolutely in his element in what he
always described as “hot town halls” bringing research
rigour to challenging local issues.
We extend our condolences to Geoff’s family and
friends.
