OBITUARY 
DR R. R. GARRAN 
DR RICHARD GARRAN, a life member of the 
Royal Society of Victoria, died on 8 April 1991, 
aged 88 years. 
Dick, a son of Sir Robert Garran, took his first 
degree in science at Trinity College, Melbourne 
University where, apart from his academic pur¬ 
suits, he distinguished himself by his rowing 
prowess. From Melbourne he crossed to Im¬ 
perial College, London to carry out his postgrad¬ 
uate research. From there, he joined what 
became the Alkali Division of ICI at Winning- 
ton, England, in a select group who were re¬ 
garded then as the scientific aristocrats of the 
company. 
In the early 1930s, Dick was involved in plans 
to establish alkali manufacture in Australia, and 
just before World War 2 came to Osborne in 
South Australia to take charge of what became a 
successful operation. There he earned quite a 
reputation for his hard work and his ability to 
work remarkably long hours without inter¬ 
mission. He spent his last two or three years with 
ICI at head office, Melbourne, in charge of per¬ 
sonnel. 
Dick joined the Royal Society of Victoria in 
1954, becoming a member of Council in 1957, 
and was President in 1961-62. From 1969 to 
1983 he acted as Honorary Executive Officer for 
the Society. In recognition of his services to the 
Society he was made a Life Member in 1983. 
At first encounter, Dick seemed a rather quiet, 
reserved man. On better acquaintance, he 
proved to be a very warm- hearted person, a cul¬ 
tured, gentle man in the very highest sense, with 
a delightful dry sense of humour. He will be 
missed very much by his friends. 
J. D. M. 
53 
