Jack Brophy presented the inaugural Brodie-Hall WA Alumni Award

Mr John (Jack) Brophy was presented as the recipient of the inaugural Brodie-Hall WA Alumni Award at the 2011 Brodie-Hall Memorial Address on Wednesday 14th September 2011 at The University Club of WA by Lady Jean Brodie-Hall.

This peer nominated award was given to Jack in appreciation of the personal support he provided to members of staff whilst he managed the administration of the severall groups of scientific staff of CSIRO in WA and more specifically acknowledged Jack's substantial contributions to science in WA and to the welfare of former staff after he left the Organisation. 

Jack also continued to organise the Brodie-Hall Address for many years after his formal retirement as well as lunch meetings of former staff preceding the formation of the CSIRO Alumni.  These events provided an opportunity for networking by those who had moved on from the Organisation to work in the community and a wide variety of businesses.

On presenting the award, Lady Jean said "The submissions in support of this nomination for Brophy, reinforced my feelings of how we feel about John (Jack).  He and Brodie worked well together over the 20 years during which Brodie was a member and then Chairman of the State Committee. He was always a welcome visitor in our home, with or without Pat and during Brodie's last years, when he was too frail to leave the house, John became a regular weekly afternoon visitor.  When Brodie woke on Thursday mornings I would say to him. It's Thursday, Brophy's Day and Thursday to me will always be remembered as ‘ Brophy's day'.  So thank you John I am delighted to have been given the privilege of handing you this inaugural Brodie-Hall WA Alumni Award."

About the Brodie-Hall WA Alumni Award 

The WA Chapter of CSIRO Alumni is conscious of significant contributions to science in WA that have been made by members after their period of employment by CSIRO. The Organisation has a range of awards for significant work by its employees, but these are not intended to cater for contributions subsequent to CSIRO employment. Many former members of staff continue to be active as research fellows within CSIRO or a University, in business, in education support, and in the community. So the WA Chapter of the Alumni decided to create an award to recognise the sustained contributions of a member of the WA Chapter to science during and after a lengthy period of employment by CSIRO.

We are conscious of the fact that the business of CSIRO depends on contributions from many members of staff in support of scientific programs, and this broad spectrum of skills is represented within the WA Chapter of CSIRO Alumni. Therefore, we resolved that it would be appropriate to recognise exceptional work in the area of either science or the support of science.

With the enthusiastic support of Lady Jean Brodie-Hall, the award will be known as The Brodie-Hall WA Alumni Award.