74 
years and a great advocate for the protection of our native birds. At the 
time of his death in 1952, at the age of 84, he was the Club's oldest 
surviving member. 
Another pioneer was our third President, Dr. John Shirley, who 
served during 1908. When he was 70 and over, he went on long excursions 
and thought nothing of steep climbs in pursuit of plants or land shells, 
his foremost interests. He published a series of papers on "The Lichen 
Flora of Queensland". After reaching the retiring age he was appointed 
Conchologist to the Queensland Museum for a time. He died in 1922. 
Mr. Heber Longman, President in 1913, was another member with 
very diverse interests in the field of natural history. Initially he was a 
keen collector of plants. Later he gained an International reputation for 
his contributions to vertebrate palaeontology. Professor D. A. Herbert 
wrote of him — "There were, too, important contributions to the living 
fauna of the States. Members . . . remember with pleasure the numerous 
occasions on which ... he lectured on zoological and palaeontological 
topics. . . . Aboriginal skulls, native weapons, live reptiles, insects, fish, 
birds. Barrier Reef specimens, artifacts and fossils took on a new interest 
as he spoke." In 1917 he became Director of the Queensland Museum 
and held that post for 28 years. Once a year he invited members of the 
Club to the Museum where they spent a most interesting afternoon. 
Among honours bestowed on him were the Australian Natural History 
Medallion In 1946, and in 1952, the Mueller Memorial Medal. His 
death in 1954 removed a great naturalist from our midst. 
Mr. Rowland lllidge was a foundation member and over the yeors 
held most offices in the Club. Although essentially an entomologist, he 
knew a great deal about our native birds and also something of our native 
plants, which he introduced into his garden at Bulimba. He became the 
first Hon. Member of the Entomological Society of Queensland, and was 
the first Hon. Associate Member of the Royal Zoological Society of 
New South Woles. 
Mr. W. R. Colledge, President in 1910, was a kindly, genial soul, 
always ready to help others from his store of knowledge, which was 
particularly great on the subject of pond life — Rotifers and mosquitoes 
especially. He rarely missed either a meeting or an excursion in all 
the years he was a member and tried to present something new at 
each meeting. 
Dr. Jefferis Turner was a foundation member and an outstanding 
field naturalist. He became a world authority on Australian Lepidoptera, 
specializing in the Micro-Lepidoptera. His very valuable and large collec- 
tion Is now housed in the National Museum at Canberra. He died in 1947 
at the age of 86. 
Many other members deserve mention, but my time will not allow it. 
We now come to Mr. C. T. White. When formed, the Club was 
intended for adults only, but two years later, in 1908, that rule was 
suspended to allow, as Professor Skertchly described him, "an incipient 
genius, young Cyril White," to become o member. He was a member for 
42 years and led innumerable excursions at which he rarely failed to find 
something of botanical interest. He also gave addresses at many meetings, 
usually accompanied by interesting specimens or slides, and was frequently 
called upon to comment on exhibits tobled by other members. Apart from 
serving as President (3 times), Hon. Secretary, Excursion Secretary and 
Treasurer, he was Editor of "The Queensland Naturalist" for about 20 
years, and contributed many papers to it. 
Mr. White learnt his botany from his grandfather, Mr. F. Manson 
Bailey, Colonial Botanist, and an Honorary Member of this Club. He 
became Government Botanist in 1918 at the age of 28 and fulfilled that 
office with distinction till his death. 
