Lumen Winter 2016 - Flipbook - Page 32
story by Genevieve Sanchez
The couple behind an
‘aggie dynasty’
When Geo昀昀rey and Mary Thomas graduated from the
University of Adelaide in agricultural science 51 years ago,
little did they know they were starting an ‘aggie dynasty’.
I
t was agricultural science that first
brought them together and it has
remained an important feature of their
family since – with five more ‘aggies’
among their sons and daughters-in-law.
Back in 1964, Mary (nee Wauchope) and
friend Primula Haas were the only women
30 Lumen | Winter 2016
among the fourth-year agricultural science
students at the University and they were
only the second and third to graduate with
a Bachelor of Agricultural Science.
“It was a small group and we were always
treated with respect and as equals,” says
Mary. “I originally thought I would like to
study medicine but the broad subjects
offered in agricultural science were exciting
and I was always interested in insects,
fungi and plants so the choice was easy.
“We were fortunate to have Professor
Morton who was working in the then
cutting edge area of DNA. I was
captivated by his work and so started my
interest in agricultural biochemistry.”
In her fourth year Mary was the first
woman to be granted a cadetship with
the Department of Agriculture, giving her
career certainty.
“This provided acceptance in what was
a male-dominated field and gave me the
opportunity to do practical research which
I enjoyed,” she says.
Mary started in the horticulture branch
of the department, working across all
fields as a plant pathologist. She was
instrumental in solving the problem of
ryegrass staggers and recorded work on
onion smut and prune rust in stone fruits.
