The Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Australia
History
The Society for Engineering in Agriculture had its origins in the Agricultural Engineering Society (Australia), which was formed in Melbourne, in May, 1950. In 1953, it was registered as a non-profit Society under the Companies Act in Victoria. In 1969, Branches were formalised in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, followed by Queensland in 1977, and Western Australia in 1985.
The Society was formed to provide a meeting place for the exchange of views and the gathering and dissemination of the latest information relating to farm mechanisation and agricultural engineering.
The Agricultural Engineering Society (Australia) functioned until 1991, when the AESA was disbanded and the Society for Engineering in Agriculture (SEAg) was formed. SEAg is a Technical Society of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, and was formed to promote and support the application of engineering in agriculture.
Publications
The Society’s journal, 'Agricultural Engineering Australia', was launched in March 1970, and continued publication until 1996. In more recent years, research reports and topics of interest related to engineering in agriculture have been disseminated through the publication "Leading Edge", which is a joint venture with the Australian Centre for Precision Agriculture. "Leading Edge" appears as a feature insert in three rural magazines (Australian Grain, Australian Sugarcane and Australian Cotton) which are published six times per year. Publication of peer reviewed papers is available to members through the CIGR Journal of Agricultural Engineering Scientific Research and Development, which is available on-line at the CIGR and accessible through the SEAg web site.
Organisational Structure
A National Committee manages the affairs of the Society on a national basis. This committee is comprised of 6 elected members, with each member being eligible to hold office for two terms of two years each. State Branches have their own committees, and are responsible for the organisation of events, such as meetings, seminars etc. at a regional level. The Chairperson of each State Branch holds an ex-officio position on the National Committee. While the Society receives administrative support from the Institution of Engineers, Australia, the work of the National and State committees is carried out by volunteers.
Past Winners of the SEAg Agricultural Engineering Award
The SEAg may award an Agricultural Engineering Award at its biennial conference.
Past winners are shown below.
NB The following conferences were held prior to the inception of the SEAg award:
29-31 August 1978, Toowoomba, Qld
30 September - 2 October 1980, Geelong, Vic
22-24 August 1982, Armidale, NSW
27-30 August 1984, Bundaberg, Qld
|
Year |
Date |
Location |
Winner of Ag Eng Award |
Title |
|
1986 |
24 – 28 August |
Roseworthy, South Australia |
Mittze Bros. |
Development of two row green cane harvester |
|
1988 |
25 – 30 September |
Hawkesbury, New South Wales |
Trevor Fuelling |
Prawn aquaculture facility |
|
1990 |
11 – 14 November |
Toowoomba, Queensland |
Bob Freeman |
Shearing shed improvements |
|
1992 |
4 – 7 October |
Albury, New South Wales |
Chris Norris |
Coffee harvester design and development |
|
1994 |
|
Christchurch, New Zealand |
Graham Thorpe |
Grain drying |
|
1996 |
24-27 November |
Gatton, Queensland |
Roger Lund |
Sheep jetting equipment |
|
1998 |
27 – 30 September |
Perth, Western Australia |
Kevin Bligh |
Conservation tillage |
|
2000 |
2 – 5 April |
Adelaide, South Australia |
John Fielke and AMRDC |
Design and development consultancy to Horwood Bagshaw |
