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Lectures And Short Courses, A Core Service To Members
I hope many of our members have taken the opportunity to catch Ian Longley's 2011 PESA Distinguished Lecture this month. I sat in on our version in Melbourne and I thought it was excellent. Given the funny title I knew I'd enjoy it but I didn't think I'd learn quite as much as I did. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Ian for doing this for us. Another worthy addition to a great tradition of PESA DLs. A great tradition I'd like to record, by the way, but we don't have a list or an honour board anywhere of our DLs and we should have one. My homemade list is incomplete. I'm appealing here and now: If you've been one, or can remember who have been PESA DLs in the past, please flick me an email.
We have a terrific international speaker organised for next year, and a short course or two, but we can squeeze in an Australian lecturer too. Feel free to drown your local committee in suggestions. It's always good to get the ball rolling early on these things. First cab off the rank in 2012 will be a terrific four-day short course on unconventional resources assessment by Jim Gouveia. This will be run as a one-off event in Canberra. This is a joint effort by SA and ACT and will be a significant technical contribution to local knowledge of this emerging area. Keep your eye out for more detailed announcements as it will come up very soon after Christmas (30 January–2 February 2012).
While we are on topics with member input potential, I have been thinking about the recent call for submissions by the ASX on Reserves and Resources Disclosure Rules. Many of our members, as individuals or as employees, spend time on reporting resource and reserve numbers, and also many of us have a bit of a stake in how these things are perceived out in the investment community. The call for submissions is at the ASX website. Look for it under ASX Compliance Information Centre, then Public Consultations. I am talking internally with a few people about a PESA response, but don't wait for us ... have a look and then if you feel strongly you should make a submission. I can't be the only one who raises just the occasional eyebrow at some of those numbers. One possible impact from one of the suggested new rules is the requirement for more regular updates of resource and resource numbers, so brush up on your crystal ball skills.
I can announce the inaugural AFL footy tipping comp winners were Katherine McKenna (140), who led from the front pretty much from day one, followed by Greg O'Neill (138), then your humble Fed Pres (136). Katherine was in front forever but the battle for places was hard-fought I can tell you. We ran through the finals but those scores are for regular season, so you can see how you might have gone. Thanks to all participants and see you again soon.
Also finishing in October was the first offshore bidding round. I hope this got even more participation than the footy tipping and that our shelf and slope remains covered with yellow squares, particularly in our part of the world: the southeast, where wells are a bit thin on the ground at the moment.
Around the branches
In Queensland planning for the Eastern Australian Basins Symposium continues. The venue is booked and the website will go live shortly. Keep your eye down for the call for papers. The dates are 12–14 September 2012, preceded by Gary Nichols' short course on 10–11 September. The Steering Committee is now formed. Places on the Technical Papers Committee and Sponsorship Committee are still available. These are prestigious and important roles in making one of PESA's flagship events live up to expectations, so dig deep. The contact is EABS2012@conferenceaction.com.au.
Finally, QLD branch hold its Christmas party on 25 November. I hope all you went along and had a good time and raised a glass to Sue who has worked ridiculously hard for PESA in a year that has been bloody difficult on other fronts. I'm going to say thank you here and now Sue. All of our committee people always put in an awful lot but I think you deserve special mention this year Sue.
In Vic/Tas Jim Driscoll is putting the finishing touches to the December Field Trip to the Gippsland Basin and a social with SPE is coming up in February.
In October the South Australian Branch presented a four-day course from internationally renowned structural geologist Ken McClay. The course consisted of lectures, practicals and case histories covering fault mechanics and geometries, extensional basin fault systems, inversion systems and strike-slip tectonics, with extensive illustration using world-class conceptual models, field examples, seismic sections and analogue models. The course was fully subscribed with many attendees travelling from interstate to participate. The course has received high praise from attendees and the SA Branch is always proud to host Ken, a member of the Adelaide University Alumni.
Upcoming events include the Annual Christmas Breakfast on Friday 2 December and a Field Trip on Friday 9 December. The field trip will examine the spectacular deglacial features of the Neoproterozoic snowball Earth in coastal exposures north of Hallett Cove.
WABS is taking shape with a large robust committee. Woodside and Chevron have signed on as foundation sponsors, and we are quite close to having the third remaining foundation sponsor spot filled. This is shaping up to be a major conference, and (I'm told) marking a turning point in our understanding of Western Australian geology.
PESA WA has joined the modern technology world by forming a LinkedIn group, which is growing exponentially. It is a great way to keep informed about upcoming events. The rest of the 'PESAverse' will watch developments with interest. Finally, the PESA-ASEG Annual Golf Classic was a resounding success, and this year WA introduced a fundraising element which resulted in a $500 donation to the Children's Leukaemia Foundation.
Christmas is coming up ... it must be, the shops are full of stuff in gold wrapping and I have a well about to spud. "It'll be over by Christmas". "Yes dear", says my other half, having heard it all before. I hope, in whatever beach, forest, departure lounge or rigfloor the Christmas period finds you, that you enjoy it thoroughly, and that you take a break from writing that PESA News item to renew your membership of our mighty organisation, and that you come back to work safely and ready to do it all again in 2012.
