Society News

Vale John Scott 1944-2025

04/12/2025 Posted by Rachel

Dr John Scott was an internationally known and respected geologist, knownespecially in Australia for his Curtin professorship and geochemical studies. Hiscareer across half a century was wide-ranging, enlivened by the adventure of foreignassignments and enriched by coincidences that brought new directions, lifelongfriends and a lifetime partner. He loved rocks, books and a glass or two of red wine,not necessarily in that order, his daughter wrote recently, and all who knew himwould agree.

Born in England in August 1944, John attended primary and secondary school inEssex and, on his father’s advice to spread his wings, studied geology at theUniversity of Wales (Aberystwyth), gaining a BSc in 1965 and an MSc and Diplomain Micropalaeontology in 1966.

Henry Posamentier touches down in WA

04/12/2025 Posted by Rachel

Henry Posamentier presented a 2-day course in Perth on 6-7th November at PanPacific. His workshop delivered a masterclass on seismic stratigraphy and seismicgeomorphology and was based on Henry’s over 50 years of global experience andpioneering work in developing the contemporary approach to sequence stratigraphicanalyses. This attracted 18 attendees.

He also spoke at Faradays in Perth on evening of 6 th November.

Vale Vincent Paul St John Ph.D.

04/12/2025 Posted by Rachel

Vale Vincent Paul St John. Ph.D. 19.10.1947 to 16.11.2025

Long-standing PESA VIC/TAS Member, Geophysicist, Company Founder, and Mentor

PESA notes with deep sadness the passing of Dr Vincent Paul St John (“Paul”), who died peacefully at home in Albert Park, Victoria, on 16 November 2025, aged 84. Paul was a PESA VIC/TAS member for more than fifty years, first joining the Society in 1974. During that time, he contributed as an explorer, a quiet volunteer, a vigorous debater, and a distinctive and memorable presence at countless lunchtime meetings.

Paul was born in Western Australia in 1941 and after gaining a first class Honours Degree at UWA, completed his PhD at the University of Tasmania in 1967 under the guidance of Professor S.W.

Vale Christopher R. Porter

10/11/2025 Posted by Rachel

Sadly, we bid farewell to Chris Porter a geologist with over 60 years’ experience in the petroleum industry, who passed away in Adelaide recently. Chris received a BSc (Honours) in Geology from the University of Adelaide in 1961, and a MSc in Geophysical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 1968. Chris’ first job was as a geophysical “jug hustler" on seismic crews in New South Wales, West Texas and the swamps of Louisiana. His career progressed with companies including Australian Aquitaine, Phillips Petroleum, Western Mining (WMC) and Santos Limited.

Vale Rowley Butters

22/10/2025 Posted by Helen

Article prepared by Don Poynton who first met Rowley in 1972

(Accompanying photo from PESA News No 75, April/May 2005)

PESA Meritorious Service Awardee, Rowley Edward Butters passed away peacefully on Sunday 12 October, aged 87.

In the April/May 2005 issue of PESA News, newly elected PESA Federal President Dave Cliff wrote, “The biggest change for PESA will be the retirement of Rowley Butters as the society’s Secretariat. Rowley has been with the organization since its inception as the APEA Profession Division in 1968 when he was press-ganged into being WA Branch Treasurer”.

Rowley joined the industry as accountant with WAPET in the mid-1960s.

Geopitch Winner Courtney Berry Reflects on AEGC Experience

13/10/2025 Posted by Rachel

The PESA AEGC Student Travel Bursaries have been designed to provide financial assistance to students and early career geoscientists to attend the AEGC by helping to cover travel expenses and conference registration fees. Open to PESA members giving an oral, poster or Geopitch competition presentation, they offer a member per state the chance to attend this conference for a significantly reduced price.

This year, Courtney Berry, a student at Curtin University currently based in Brisbane was one of the lucky winners of the award. Read on to hear more about Courtney’s experience at AEGC.

“The highlight of my AEGC experience in Perth this year was taking part in the GeoPitch competition.

Notice of Membership Fee Increase

10/10/2025 Posted by Rachel

The PESA board advises that there will be a small membership fee increase, effective from December 2025. The fee increase of approximately 2.5% will account for CPI increase and will ensure that PESA can continue to provide members with a range of high value services. Small fee increases, consistent with inflation, ensure that larger more impactful fee increases are not required in the future.

The fees below will apply to both new and renewing members.

Please note that there are no changes to Retired or Graduate membership fees, and Student membership will continue to be free.

OPINION PIECE – Climate Change and the Demise of PESA – By Dennis Morton

10/10/2025 Posted by Helen

By Dennis Morton - Member NSW branch https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-morton-a7587121/

Australia’s petroleum exploration and production industry has been in decline for decades and professional societies like PESA-Australia are suffering. Membership is falling, meeting and conference attendance is low and branch budgets are under pressure. Without significant change branches in Victoria and NSW may fold. The ACT branch merged with NSW after Geoscience Australia discouraged employee involvement, citing federal government policies that demonise fossil fuels.

Academia has also been affected with most Earth Science faculties in Australian universities closing.

New PESA Webinar Library and Pete’s Webinar Picks

09/09/2025 Posted by Helen

Peter Hoiles – PESA Webinar Coordinator

PESA Webinar Library

It is hard to believe that we have nearly five years under the PESA Webinar Series belt. Over this time, we have heard from many speakers on a number of topics of interest to PESA members, from oil and gas exploration in Australia and from across the World, to visiting several facets of the “Energy Trilemma”. Many of these speakers have graciously given their permission for their video recordings to be made available to PESA members for viewing at their leisure.

WA branch volunteers man the PESA booth at AEGC

08/09/2025 Posted by Helen

PESA are proud to be joint organisers of the Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference (AEGC) 2025, taking place in the beautiful city of Perth, Australia from 8-11 September 2025. AEGC is the premier event for petroleum and mineral geoscience in Australasia and promises to be an exciting and enriching experience, bringing geologists, geophysicists, geochemists and industry professionals from across the globe.