Edwards

Mr Andy Edwards, Head of Mathematics at Ormiston College, Brisbane, received a BH Neumann Award from Professor Neumann at a function at the Lenzerheide Restaurant, Hawthorn, Adelaide on Friday 17 August 2001.

Andy Edwards receives his Award from Professor Neumann.

Andy Edwards with wife Genevieve, sons David and Kane and Professor Neumann.

Citation

Andy Edwards is a worthy winner having given sustained service to the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians ("The Challenge") Problems Committee as a foundation and continuing member. The Challenge is a significant Australian effect, with about 16,000 Australian school students annually attempting mathematics problems over a three week period.

The Challenge significantly enhances and enriches the mathematics skill and knowledge of these students each year, improving their thirst and capacity for further study.

Andy has proved to be the most prolific creator on this committee over the years. His problems not only require correct mathematical reasoning but also show a fertile imagination in placing such problems in a friendly, real-world sitution.

Many of Andy's problems have lead to unsolved and fascinating extensions. One of these is the one involving the O'Halloran numbers, named in honour of Peter O'Halloran, founder of the Australian Mathematics Trust.

Andy has an earthy, direct style, which has endeared him to colleagues and students alike.

Let us look at Andy's background. He was lucky to be born into a highly intellectual family, in which the home was liberally furnished with maps and similar devices which aroused his interest and developed his enthusiasm for further knowledge.

He had a satisfying education at both Surry Hills State School and later Scotch College, both in Melbourne, where there was a ready supply of teachers well able to continue to satisfy his quests for further knowledge and provide further challenge.

He went on to Monash University, where his brother Frank was studying Engineering, and he studied Economics, particularly enjoying the quantitative units, particularly Economic Statistics. However, instead of pursuing an Honours Degree, he decided to enrol in a Dip Ed.

His first posting was to Mornington, where he met his wife Genevieve and later Bruce Henry, with whom he developed a strong professional association, jointly producing books and other publications.

In the early 1980s he moved to Mildura, where he stayed for almost 20 years. Here he kept active not only teaching his normal classes but getting involved with many workshops and other activities organised by the MAV and AAMT, mainly in Victoria.

In the late 1980s he enriched his life by taking up marathon running, completing one race, and an exchange in Southern Ontario in Canada, which broadened his perspective greatly.

In 1991 he became a foundation member of the Challenge Problems Committee at the invitation of its Chairman Bruce Henry. The strength of his sustained involvement here are discussed in the introductory remarks.

In 1997 he was honoured with an invitation to present a keynote lecture at the MAV Annual congress, the largest congress for mathematics teachers in Australia each year.

In 1999 he moved on to a different career, as Head of Mathematics in a private school interstate. He moved to Ormiston College in Brisbane, where he further distinguished himself in his first year by coaching the first grade AFL team and taking it to its first ever premiership. (He is a dedicated Melbourne supporter.)

Finally, Andy's courage in fighting a very serious illness should be noted. At the end of 2000 and beginning of 2001 he showed typical character and disposition in encountering the worst period of this disease, and this has been a close, first-hand inspiration to his colleagues.

The fact that he is now back teaching, and in fact taught his classes in Brisbane this morning, says a lot for his determination.

Peter Taylor

Friday 17 August 2001