Bishop

Fred Bishop (pictured below with the silver tray part of his BH Neumann Award) was the founder of the Hunter Region Primary Mathematics Competition, a high quality competition for students in the Newcastle region. The Award was made by Professor Neumann at a dinner in Newcastle on Friday 04 February 1994.

Citation

Fred Bishop's was instrumental in developing the Hunter Region Mathematics Competition for the NSW Department of School Education, Hunter Region and has been its guiding force and chief executive for thirteen years. He was inspired by the early outstanding success of the Australian Mathematics Competition. In 1981, when the competition started, some 70 schools and 2000 students were involved. This year 233 schools took part and 13,067 pupils participated, drawn from year 5 and year 6 classes in state and private schools in the Hunter Valley region.

Mr Bishop's contribution does not end with the competition. Each year the one hundred best performing students from year 5 are invited to attend a mathematics camp early in their year 6. Thus the talented mathematical youth of the region, as identified by the competition, are further nurtured and encouraged. Mr Bishop is responsible along with his committee for the logistical and academic organisation of this camp.

He has not only contributed to the well-being of this region's primary school children but has forged useful links between mathematics, the children's parents and the wider community.