Blakers

Larry Blakers was presented his award at the Australian Mathematical Society's Annual Dinner at its 1992 Conference, which appears to have been held in Perth. In his speech Peter O'Halloran noted that Larry had directed the AAMT/ANU Summer School for 24 years. On the evening Larry was too ill to attend and Cheryl Praeger received it on his behalf.

AL (Larry) Blakers (1917-1995)

Larry Blakers was a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Western Australia for 30 years and head of the mathematics department for 29. He had key roles in founding of the Mathematics Association of Western Australia and the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, and was a foundation member of the Council of the Australian Mathematical Society. But he is best known on an ongoing basis as the founder of the National Mathematics Summer School.

On his death the following note appears as part of Derek Robinson's President's column in the Australian Mathematical Society's Gazette.

It is with deep regret that I have to announce the death of Emeritus Professor Larry Blakers on the 6th March 1995. Larry played an important role in the foundation of the Australian Mathematical Society, the Australian Association of Mathematical Teachers and the Mathematical Association of Western Australia. He was also the founder and long term Director of the National Mathematics Summer School for gifted high school students which takes place in Canberra each year.

Returning to Australia in 1952 after an absence of 12 years Larry was aware of the lack of any formal infrastructure linking the mathematics profession. In 1953 he set about establishing personal contact with the other Heads of Mathematics Departments in the universities. This he achieved by driving overland from Perth to pay personal visits to his colleagues in the east. His mission was to obtain agreement on the establishment of a mathematical society and the publication of a mathematical journal. Despite the considerable doubt and hesitation that he encountered these aims were achieved with the Society formally founded on 15 August, 1956 and the Journal appearing for the first time in 1959.

Larry was a Foundation Member of the Council of the Australian Mathematical Society and served on it for many years. He was Vice-President from 1961 to 1963 and 1976 to 1978 then President from 1980 to 1982.

Larry wrote the Foreword to the AMOC Australian Scene in 1986 and it is reproduced below, indicating some of his philosopies and background.

The first International Mathematical Olympiad was held in 1959. In that year I participated (in the USA) in my first residential summer school for mathematically talented High School students. Stimulated by the experience I returned to Australia to found both state and national mathematics summer schools, with the broad object of recognising and fostering mathematical talent in the upper secondary level.

Other Australian mathematicians and educators have picked up the olympiad concept and have developed it into a vigorous and dedicated Australian program, leading to participation in the IMO. The general objectives of this program are distinctly similar to those of the National Mathematics Summer School.

In view of these common objectives, it is not surprising that IMO and NMSS frequently have common students, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the two activities are complementary, each in some way supports the other. There is also common ground in the difficulty that both programs have experienced in securing long-term financial sponsorship!

A few years ago there was a naive view abroad that the increasing sophistication and availability of computers would progressively diminish the need for a strong and universal education in mathematics. In fact precisely the opposite is happening, with more and more aspects of our society becoming amenable to mathematical modelling and analysis. It is now clear that there is a need for a stronger mathematical education at all levels. In addition to the need for programs such as the Mathematical Olympiads for students at all levels across the ability spectrum. Too many of our present school leavers have had unsatisfactory mathematics experiences which leave them with negligible skills and understanding, and with an unhealthy dislike and fear of mathematics. In a recent talk to the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers the Chairman of the Commonwealth Schools Commission, Mr Garth Boomer said:

"The present state of (school) mathematics is a threat to democracy. Too many are denied full access to it, too many fail it, and too many come to rely on those few who have been initiated. Human dignity is undermined by the submerged guilt about inadequacy that resides with so many of our citizens."

To improve the situation is a nontrivial educational problem to whose solution I hope that our Mathematical Olympians will eventually contribute, for such a solution would have tremendous benefit for our society.

The next two years promise to be very exciting ones for all who are involved in Mathematical Olympiads, with Australia hosting the 1988 IMO. I am confident that in both mathematical and human terms this will be one of the outstanding successes of our bicentennial year and I commend the efforts of all those who have worked so hard to bring it about.