Ewen Cameron, Auckland Museum Cheeseman Herbarium Curator Wins 2005 Allan Mere
The Allan Mere, a pounamu (greenstone) Maori hand club, was gifted in 1982 to the former DSIR Botany Division by the late Dr Lucy Moore to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the birthday of Harry Howard Allan - the first Director of the former DSIR Botany Division, and author of New Zealand’s first Flora volume. It was Lucy’s intention that the award be presented to that staff member who had made the most significant contribution to New Zealand Botany.With the demise of the DSIR Botany Division the Allan Mere was passed over to the New Zealand Botanical Society who yearly award it to the nominated candidate they consider most suitable. This year Mr Cameron was nominated by Mr Peter de Lange and Dr David Galloway, with a supporting cast of over 24 eminent New Zealand botanists, the Auckland Botanical Society and the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.
Last night Ewen stated that “I have to pinch myself to see if this is all real, its been an incredible year”. The NZPCN offer their hearty congratulations to Ewen, its an honour richly deserved.
Posted: 03/11/2005