Chapter 34

Monday morning Rob took off for East Perth. I went to the University. Mary and Weena were still dithering around before going shopping. That didn't matter much, as I expected the downtown shops didn't open till at least 9:30 or 10.

Both Shirl and Des were in. Shirl was bubbling over because she's received a letter from Maggie asking just what she was interested in and asking for a letter of reference from someone "other than Dr. Hollister." I pointed out that Maggie already knew my opinion. Des wanted to know whether I could wave my magic wand where his studies were concerned.

"Not before I really know what you want."

"Yeah. That is a poser."

"Well, the study of entomology in Australia is dying. Queensland used to have a big programme and a super department. But it got merged into Biology and several staff left. Including the professor. Cook, in Townsville, has a Ph.D., I know. Monash does forensic entomology and Sydney does medical entomology. John Jennings in Adelaide is in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I think those are your choices. You might write Jennings. He's an officer of the Entomological Society and might have up-to-date advice."

"You make it sound depressing," said Shirl.

"Oh. No. There are lots of jobs out there. The problem is the way the government funds things at the Universities. On a per student basis. So subjects where there are lots of students like political economy and nursing get enough cash, but areas with smaller enrolments, like entomology or art history get merged together into combinations so that the enrolments look larger. This place and Queensland are good examples. And then people flee. The Professor at Queensland took a job in the States — for more dosh, I'm sure. Others go into industry: the insecticide companies, the agricultural firms, the police departments. But try to convince an appropriations committee that it's important to know about bugs! And remember, the most successful animals on the planet are the arthropods. They have conquered land, sea and air, and make up over three-fourths of all currently known living and fossil organisms, or over one million species in all. And they range in size from microscopic insects to the giant crabs, four metres across."

"We believe you, Gordy. It's just where can I go to study?"

"I don't know. Cook, Monash, Sydney. Clemson University in the States has a wonderful collection. Look at their site. Write Jennings. You can probably find an email address on the web."

"The States?"

"There are funds for study abroad, if you're interested in travel. Do you speak any language besides English?"

"I can read German. I don't know whether I can 'speak' it with any confidence."

"Well, hop to combing the web. And Shirl..."

"Yes?"

"Let me see what you're going to send or fax to Alice Springs before you do so. And let me see who the 'possible' referees are."

"Right, boss."

"And cut that out!" They both went next door, laughing.

I went to lunch alone, thinking about whether I could do anything. I came up with no solution.

In the afternoon Shirl brought me her 'proposal.' It wasn't bad, but I did emend it in a few places. She read my changes and said: "I get it. You made it sharper and less tentative. Thanks."

"Now, who are your possible referees?"

She named two people. I'd met one at the quasi-departmental barbecue. "Who's this?" I pointed to the other name.

"Oh. He's in agriculture. I took a course on native vegetation with him."

"Does he remember you?"

"I think so."

"OK. Call, make an appointment and talk to him. Explain that you're applying for an internship in the Alice and ask whether he'd be willing to write on your behalf. Got that?"

"Yes."

"Call now. The sooner the better."

I felt somewhat better. I'd lose both Des and Shirl, but they be embarking on their careers. I guess that would be the educational part of my job.

I went home early to find Rob already there.

"How did it go?"

"Quite well, I think. We'll just wait and see. It's lovely out here."

"Yes. I like it too. Want a drink?"

"Something non-alcoholic, please."

I got us each a large glass of water with a few cubes and a half lemon in each.

"Thanks. Just what I needed."

"So what was going on in Kwinana?"

"Unification problems. There was a nickel plant and an alumina plant. Then the companies merged."

"Alumina?"

"Aluminum oxide. Corundum. Made from bauxite by the Bayer process. Basically, aluminum hydroxide precipitate is calcined, gives off water and then the resulting alumina is smelted."

"You make it sound simple."

"You make identifying insects simple. Weena makes medical treatment simple. That's the power of knowledge."

"So you went down there is get the kids to play nice together?"

"Partly. Those two plants both need to run well. They need to run together. It's not as though I owned a grocery store and a shoe store, which could be run independently. There are huge advantages to be gained from cooperation. Common ordering. That sort of stuff."

"And you talked to folks, thought about it and made suggestions?"

"Recommendations."

"Right. Here are the girls. We'd better help with the freight."

"Rob, I spent far too much money. But it's Weena's fault she took me to such nice shops and the prices were so high!"

"OK. Blame me. I'm the youngest, after all. Gordy, this bag's mine; the rest is Mary's. Can we got to that steak place with the peanut shells on the floor? We've got the best things for there."