John Edward Parker

Sir John Edward Parker (1904-1985) and Alan James Parker (1933-1982) were a father and son duo. Sir John, born on September 28, 1904, in Orbost, Victoria, was a civil engineer and public servant. He attended Wesley College, Melbourne, and the University of Melbourne, earning a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1927. He began his career with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and later joined the Country Roads Board. In 1930, he moved to Western Australia and joined the Main Roads Department. He later transferred to the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Department, where he rose to the position of engineer, 1st class. In 1932, he married Winifred Mary Becher. During World War II, he served in the Australian Imperial Force as a major, commanding the 21st Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers. After the war, he resumed his engineering career and played a crucial role in the development of Western Australia, particularly in the construction of ports and water-storage dams. He also contributed to mining ventures and major resource projects. Sir John retired in 1969 but continued to serve part-time in various capacities. He was knighted in 1975 and passed away on January 25, 1985.

Alan James Parker, born on December 21, 1933, in South Perth, was the elder son of Sir John Parker. He pursued a career in chemistry and mineral technology. He attended Wesley College, Perth, and the University of Western Australia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in 1954 and a Ph.D. in 1959. His research focused on chemistry, specifically the mechanism of aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions. He conducted postdoctoral studies in the United States and England, and upon his return to UWA in 1962, he became a senior lecturer in organic chemistry. He made significant contributions to the field, particularly in the study of solvent-solute interactions and the behavior of ions in different solvents. In 1968, he joined the Australian National University as a professorial fellow in the Research School of Chemistry, expanding his research to metal ions in aprotic solvents. In 1973, he became the inaugural professor of chemistry and director of the Mineral Chemistry Research Unit at Murdoch University. Alan James Parker held numerous patents, published extensively, and received several prestigious awards for his contributions to chemistry. He passed away suddenly on August 30, 1982. His legacy continues through the A. J. Parker Centre, named in his honor, which focuses on mineral extraction, metal purification, battery development, and solar cell production.