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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-05 Daily Xml
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JOHNS, MR K.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:56): My question is to the Leader of the Government, the Minister for Mineral Resources Development.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: It is nice to see people from the government reaching the heights they deserve.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: It is the first time I have been called 'little' for a while. Is the minister aware of any recent honours bestowed on former South Australian public servants in the area of mines and energy?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:56): I am pleased to inform members that Keith Johns, the former director of mines and energy in South Australia, was awarded an Order of Australia medal for services to the mineral resources and energy sector in the recent Australia Day honours. Mr Keith Johns was born at Port Pirie on 24 April 1927 and educated at Crystal Brook West and Port Pirie District and Adelaide high schools. In 1947 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in geology at the University of Adelaide, and added a Master's in Science degree 13 years later in 1960 to his academic qualifications.

Initially he was employed in the geological survey of South Australia as an assistant geologist before moving up through the ranks to supervising geologist. His main interests were in regional mapping and in exploring for and assessing a variety of the state's mineral resources. His contribution to the geological understanding of this state includes regional mapping on Eyre Peninsula, in the Flinders Ranges, Willouran, the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Stuart Shelf. These maps were published in the Geological Atlas of South Australia.

The results and reports on delineating coal resources and other commodities were published in departmental publications, including the Mining Review, Bulletins of the Geological Survey and Reports of Investigations. Through the Government Geologists' Conference, Mr Johns edited History and Role of Government Geological Surveys in Australia. His booklets Cornish Mining Heritage and Mineral Resources of the Adelaide Geosyncline were published as departmental special publications, and 'Mineral Exploration and Development in South Australia 1836 to 1991' was published in the Mineral Industry Quarterly in 1991.

His work included visits to major mineral development projects in other states, the Northern Territory and overseas, and some examples of these investigations include: exploration for and development of phosphate, evaporites, brines and sulphur in South America, UK, Europe and Israel; aspects of the development and management of energy resources in the UK, Europe and North America; and, energy resource development and management in Canada, the UK, Europe, Israel and Japan, particularly in relation to uranium.

In December 1973 Mr Johns was appointed deputy director of mines and deputy government geologist in the department of mines. A major project then was the discovery and development of the Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs. He succeeded Mr Bruce Webb as the director-general of the mines and energy department in June 1983, and served until his retirement on 24 April 1992. Further to his duties as director-general, Mr Johns served as a member of the Pipelines Authority of South Australia (PASA) Board, the Amdel Council and the South Australian Water Resources Council, was a director of the South Australian Oil and Gas Corporation and was deputy chairman of the Uranium Advisory Committee.

Mr Johns was also a member of numerous ministerial committees, including the State Energy Committee, the State Energy Research Advisory Committee (SENRAC), the Advisory Committee on Future Electricity Generating Options, the Steering Committee to Review Energy Planning Processes, the Future Energy Action Committee, the Coalfield Selection Committee, the Natural Gas Task Force, the Energy Planning Executive and the Standing Committee of Officials for the Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council (ANZMEC).

Keith was a foundation member of the Geological Society of Australia and served for a term on the committee of the South Australian division. He is a longstanding member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and was a key contributor to the AusIMM Centenary Conference in Adelaide in 1993. In retirement, Keith has published numerous papers relating to historical aspects of mineral development and promoting the state's mining heritage.

These publications include: Sir Henry Ayers, First President of the Institute and the Burra Burra Mines in the Proceedings of the AusIMM Centenary Conference; Uranium in South Australia—politics and reality in the Journal of Australasian Mining History; and The Cornish at Burra, South Australia in the AMHA Journal.

In addition, Mr Johns is an occasional contributor to The Australian Geologist and the Earth Sciences History Group Newsletter. Currently, he is preparing a history of the discovery, opening and development of the Olympic Dam mine for publication. Keith has maintained his passion for the geological and mining professions, continuing to be a keen supporter of the state's mining industry and an advocate for its future.

I congratulate Mr Johns on being awarded an Order of Australia medal and hope that members will join me in acknowledging the great body of work that he has produced which has increased our knowledge and appreciation of this state's history and its mineral wealth.

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