Obituary – Bill Keating

Mr Keating was a very important, dedicated and committed member of the strong and vibrant Australian Branch of the Institute of Wood Science (IWSc), from the very beginning, and was synonymous with the advancement of wood science.

In particular, the Australian forest products industry today has much to be grateful for his work.

As secretary and later chairman of the branch (from 1985-1989), he had a great and wide influence and contribution to the advancement of wood science.

Mr Keating accepted the nomination as branch honorary secretary on the formation of the branch in 1973. His considerable organisational skills and initiatives in his duties, particularly in the various seminars, conferences and workshops arranged by the branch resulted in it being established as a serious base for the furtherance of wood science and technology. Coupled with this was Mr Keating’s worldwide reputation and particularly contacts with the UK’s leading wood scientists.

Mr Keating was elected vice-president of the IWSc in 1984, and this today means that he is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. This was in recognition of his long and close association with the IWSc, particularly his interests in timber technology education, which provided the impetus for the (Australian) National Common Core Curriculum in Timber Technology.

He worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and PMG (Postmaster General’s Department) involved in the fields of timber utilisation, standards for timber grading and general dissemination of information of wood properties. He was ideally suited to develop the forementioned curriculum.

Mr Keating was a prolific author and contributor on wood science and technology. He had six books (some co-authored with Eleanor Bolza), for example, The Trade Flow of Timber in Australia, The Twisting of Corsican and Radiata Pine Telegraph Poles, and Characteristics, Properties and Uses of Timbers. He has over 68 Citations of which eight were highly influential.

On retirement from CSIRO Mr Keating continued to take an active and leading role in the furtherance of wood science.