The illustrated talk will be held at the Armidale Tree Group Woodland Centre, 80 Mann St.

Dr Smith was a lecturer at the University of New England in the Geography Department from 1974, teaching and researching in biogeography, and more broadly, physical geography and environmental science. His main research areas included the biogeography of high tropical mountains, seed dispersal, and invasions by alien woody plants.

In 1995-96 he took unpaid leave to be station leader at Macquarie Island, and Dr Smith resigned from UNE in 2000 to do the same job at Davis in 2001 and 2003, and Casey in 2005 and the 2007/08 summer. He has just accepted the same position at Macquarie Island for 2010 where a big pest eradication program is planned next year.

The Armidale meeting opens at 6.30pm with nourishing soup, breads and drinks by the fire, then a brief annual general meeting at 7 o’clock followed by Dr Smith’s talk from 7.45.

All are welcome to attend and learn about the vast, cold region lying to the south of Australia, which is of enormous significance as a driver of global climate. Dr Smith’s pictures of Antarctica and the sub-antarctic islands will delight.