Vale - Don Girvan

Donald James Don Girvan passed away on 5 January 2017 after a long battle with illness.

Don joined National Mapping in 1965. As a Field Assistant he participated in many second order traverse and other more precise control surveys, mainly in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, during the field seasons of 1966, 1967 and 1968.

Both Reg Ford and Peter Langhorne led ground and helicopter supported Tellurometer traversing parties and used Don on many occasions as an observer, where he proved to be up there with the best of them. In 1967, Don attended the Basic Survey Course run by the Royal Australian Survey Corps, School of Military Survey then at Balcombe, Victoria. Peter Langhorne recalls that while Don was a good solid operator who had the qualities to progress beyond Field Assistant, he was always happiest behind the wheel of a truck, clearing lines or recording observations rather than taking them.

Andrew Porteous recalls that around 1973 or 1974, Don worked briefly with AAM Surveys in Western Australia. Later around 2001 he had moved to Western Australia, after his wife died, to be near his son. At a 2003 meeting Don told Andrew that he had spent many of the previous years driving long distance trucks.

A Memorial Service to Celebrate the Don’s Life was held at the Heritage Funeral Home, Boronia Rd, Wantirna on Wednesday 18 January 2017. Don was privately cremated.

Courtesy Peter Langhorne and Andrew Porteous