Cromer, D'Arcy Ananda Neil   (1910 - 2003)

Born in SA, 1910, died 28 December, 2003 (aged ~ 93)

Neil Cromer was born in 1910 in South Australia and attended both the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide, as well as the Australian Forestry School to achieve BSc (For.) and MSc degrees.

Neil commenced work with the NSW Forestry Commission at Coffs Harbour, where he found himself the only professional forester between Kempsey and Queensland.

Neil served with distinction in the Air Force in WW2, discharged with the rank of Squadron Leader. Shortly after he joined the Commonwealth Forestry and Timber Bureau based in Sydney.

By 1954 he was stationed in Canberra.

From 1958-68 Neil was voluntary 'Press Officer' contributing untold hours of work to the Australian Institute of Forestry, as well as earning a DSc from the University of Queensland.

In 1960/61 he was elected Chairman ACT Division, as well as the Presidency. Throughout he continued a highly successful career in research in forest inventory at the Forest Research Institute of which he became Director in 1963.

From 1970-1975 he was Director General of the Forestry and Timber Bureau, retiring in 1975.

On retirement Neil remained active in Institute affairs. To round out a remarkably full career he became a convenor of a committee to establish a National Woodcraft organisation and was a life member of the Woodcraft Guild of the ACT.

He is not known to have made many herbarium collections.

Source: Extracted from: https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/cromer-darcy-ananda-neil-18193
Portrait Photo: from above