Tribute - Julie Evans
Rosemary Sutton, Diana Temple
As many of you already know, volume 59 was the last issue of the WISENET Journal edited by Julie Evans. Julie has been active on the Sydney WISENET scene since its very beginning in the mid-1980s. On her return from several years overseas, her enthusiasm for WISENET was re-ignited. Julie has been WISENET Journal Editor since Volume 49 issued in November 1998 and later that year, she became Honorary Editor.
Although there have been numerous contributors, several assistant editors and 4 guest editors to share some of the workload for those 11 issues Julie has made a very substantial and essential contribution to our society. She volunteered at one of the inaugural Sydney meetings to set up the membership database on her computer, and so became an early honorary Membership Secretary.
Together with Diana Temple and Andrew Netherwood, Julie has worked behind the scenes for 4 years to ensure that a high quality, enjoyable and informative Journal arrives regularly in our mail boxes three times a year. She has encouraged other centres periodically to host the production of issues of the Journal, but was always in the background as adviser. Julie recently produced, together with Andrew Netherwood, a WISENET Guide to Editors, which will assist with future plans to rotate the work of editor.
Julie has demonstrated a great capacity to convert the abstract into reality. More than once she has tactfully sifted all the “bright ideas” (produced by a number of us with more ideas than time to implement them, as well as herself), identified the best concept and made it really happen by finding the practical solutions to the problems and putting in the necessary hard work! We have always been able to depend on her.
It is a remarkable accomplishment particularly as a voluntary effort by a person who also has a busy career as a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology; is an active member of the Meteorological society and a dedicated mother of two teenagers!
Since she returned to full-time work in 2000 in a key role in the Olympics Weather section, Julie has had two changes of position including a recent promotion. It is great to see a woman who has put family first in her priorities, while still remaining committed to a career, finally getting the recognition she deserves at work for her undeniable talents!
"Julie is a great personal friend, who I’m proud to say I introduced to WISENET. At the time I remember thinking that WISENET would be very good for Julie, as it was for me, as a way of meeting like-minded wonderful women who have or are facing some of the same challenges in establishing and maintaining careers in science. In retrospect, it was Julie Evans who was exceptionally good for WISENET!!" Rosemary Sutton
On behalf of all WISENET members, I’d like to take this opportunity to express a very big thank you to Julie for all her contributions not only as the Journal Editor but also in managing the membership database and as active member of the Sydney link team for WISENET, and to wish her all the best for the future. We hope she might find time one day to return to the volunteer team.