John Fuller, former Japanese prisoner of war and founding director of the then-named Woodside (Lakes Entrance) minnow, won the Reg Sprigg award. It was said that one of his significant contributions to the fledgling Woodside was to push for the appointment of a full time exploration manager.
He was described as a true entrepreneur who passionately believed Australia needed to become self sufficient in oil reserves – a belief that carries extra credence in the current global climate.
The Lewis G weeks award was won by Dr Robin Helby, a palynologist, who set up the first consultancy of its kind in Australia. The expert in prehistoric fossils was instrumental in identifying prospects in the wave of drilling on the North West Shelf in the early seventies.
He has published over 40 papers in his career.
