van Altena, August Constant ('Van')   (1920 - 2015)

Born on 21 November, 1920 in Assen, The Netherlands; died on 6 September, 2015, Beerwah, Queensland.

He began his tertiary studies in Forestry and Forestry Engineering at the Landbouw Hoge School, Wageningen (now Wageningen University and Research) with a view to practicing forestry in Indonesia, then a Dutch colony.

He completed his degree in The Netherlands after a sojourn as a conscripted worker in the Black Forest, Germany, during WWII.

Since Indonesia had gained its independence during this time, he and his wife decided to emigrate to Australia, arriving in 1952.

From 28th April 1952 until the start of the 1953 academic year, Van undertook data analysis in connection with "The Water Relations of the Murray Red Gum" for The Forestry Office, Murray Management Survey, Mathoura, NSW.

He then attended the Australian Forestry School, Canberra, where he successfully completed the Diploma of Forestry which was awarded on 15th April 1954.

In early 1954, he was offered employment with The Forestry Commission of NSW as well as the Department of Forestry, Queensland with whom he accepted the position of "Assistant to Foresters" in Brisbane.

After a short period working in Southeast Queensland, he was transferred to Atherton.

He was granted Australian Citizenship on 11 October 1957.

In November 1960, his tertiary qualifications gained in The Netherlands was recognised by the University of Queensland to be equivalent to Bachelor of Science in Forestry. At the same time, he gained a position as Forester, Division 1, Department of Forestry.

His early working life was spent in Atherton, FNQ, where he worked largely as a silviculturist engaging in research with a view to the establishment and improvement of plantation pines (Hoop pine, Araucaria cunninghamii, and Pinus caribaea varieties).

Research plantations were established on the Atherton Tablelands and on the coast from Cairns as far south as Townsville. In addition, genetic material was collected throughout this region from locally established stands, typically associated with state schools.

In 1979 he published two papers: "Growth comparisons of slash pine and Honduras Caribbean pine at Toolara" and "Control of stinging trees (Dendrocnide spp: Urticaceae) in North Queensland rainforests by a high-volume foliar spraying".

He loved being 'in the bush' and was intensely interested in, in particular, the plant life that occurred there.

In later life he worked out of forestry offices in Cardwell, Far North Queensland, and Beerwah, South Queensland, from where he retired in 1980.

Source: Extracted from:
The Ryerson Index: VAN ALTENA August (Van)
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Thu 29 May 1958 [Issue No.31], Page 1767, CERTIFICATES OF NATURALIZATION
https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/search?authorIds=7554A3qmL5aB2
Pers.com, Dr Ian van Altena (son) (2024)
Portrait Photo: no date, supplied by Ian van Altena (PhD), The University of Newcastle, Australia.

Collecting localities for 'van Altena, A.C.' from AVH (2024)

Data from 373 specimens