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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1955-56 
Ladies and Gentlemen, 
Your Council has pleasure in submitting the 50th Annual Report. 
On the 6th April, 1956, the Club passed another major milestone — 
the 50th year of its life. It is pleasing to be able to record that, despite 
the many obstacles that have arisen since its formation, the Club still 
remains an active one and during the past year has continued to engage 
in all of its customary activities. 
MEETINGS — There have been 10 meetings and 13 field excursions. 
The Council held 9 meetings. 
COUNCIL MEETINGS — Attendance at Council meetings was as 
follows: — Mr. L. S. Smith, Miss M. Hawken, 9; Miss M. Holland, Mrs. 
I. Waddle, 8; Mr. F. S. Colliver, Mr. A, B. Cribb, Mr, E. J. Smith, 7; 
Dr. E. N. Marks, Mrs. A. B. Cribb, Mr. S. T. Blake, Mr. K. T. Cameron, 
6; Mrs. E. M. Jackson, 3; Mr. T. E, Hunt, 1. 
EVENING MEETINGS — Attendance at evening meetings has averaged 
47 and ranged up to 78 members. Lectures throughout the year have 
catered for a variety of interests and the majority were illustrated by 
Kodachrome transparencies. Illustrated talks on the subjects indicated 
were given by Dr. H. E. Young (Ceylon), Messrs. G. H. Barker (Birds of the 
Riverina), R. Endean (Echinoderms), J. Mann (Mexico), and J. T. Woods 
(A Collecting Trip to Central Queensland). Mr. Mann also showed a film 
prepared by the Department of Public Lands showing the conquest of 
prickly-pear. Mr. K. B. Walker gave an address on the birds of the 
Darling Downs. The final meeting for 1955 was devoted to the showing 
of Kodachromes of natural history and taken by Club members. At the 
September meeting, one of the most extensive collections of wildflowers 
seen for some years was tabled. This included a contribution received from 
the Barrier Naturalists' Club, Broken Hill. 
Exhibits of specimens, varied in nature, have been numerous through- 
out the year, and have contributed to the interest of meetings. 
50th ANNIVERSARY MEETING — To mark the occasion of the Club's 
50th Anniversary, at the April meeting, Mr. J. Cossar Smith delivered the 
fifth C. T. White Memo:ial Lecture entitled "Our first fifty years." This 
was illustrated by the display of early photographs. Further, to focus 
attention on the published work of the Club, a manuscript copy of an 
index to the Queensland Naturalist, prepared by tour members of the 
Council, was tabled. On this occasion we were happy to welcome a 
number of early members, including a Foundation Member, Mr. J. C. 
.McMinn. Supper, at which an anniversary cake was cut, terminated the 
evening. 
EXCURSIONS — In an unusually wet year, we were fortunate to hold 
1 3 excursions and have good weather for most of them. The attendance 
of school children has been noted with particular pleasure because early 
encouragement of a love of nature is one of our aims. 
Full-day Saturday outings, which enabled us to reach more interesting 
areas, were the most popular. Transport for these remain a problem. 
The number requiring it makes hire of a bus a financial hazard. On two 
outings, private cars could have seated the whole party, yet an attempt 
to organize transport by this means for one of them proved unsuccessful. 
Apparently some car-owners do not decide to attend until the day of the 
excursion. 
Attendance at the five half-day excursions averaged 17. These were 
held as follows: — In July to Clontarf, where a jabiru was seen; in August 
to Albion quarry to view the dinosaur footprints; in October to Brighton 
reserve, where we found the ranger, Mr. Franklin, doing a good job in 
protecting this accessible area of bushland; in February to the University 
Department of Geology, St. Lucia; in March to Sherwood Arboretum, where 
