SA: Sir Mark honoured as SA says farewell

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2000
SA: Sir Mark honoured as SA says farewell

Nuclear physicist and former South Australian Governor Sir MARK OLIPHANT has been remembered
as a brilliant scientist and humanitarian and also an impulsive husband and father.

A memorial service for Sir MARK, 98, filled the Bonython Hall at Adelaide University
this morning.

It paid tribute to the man who played a vital role in the splitting of the atom and
the development of the first atomic bomb.

His family had earlier declined the offer of a state funeral following his death in
Canberra in July, but welcomed the opportunity to honour his life of science and public
service.

South Australian Premier JOHN OLSEN said Sir MARK was a man who embraced progress,
but never placed science above humanity.

Former federal science Minister BARRY JONES said Sir MARK was both an Australian patriot
and passionate internationalist.

Sir MARK'S adopted daughter VIVIAN WILSON said her father was fair, kind, generous and loving.

But she said she was not about to suggest he was a perfect human being, describing
him also as impulsive and temperamental, with a tendency to ride roughshod over those
who disagreed with him.





Sir MARK was born MARCUS LAURENCE OLIPHANT, the son of a public servant, in Kent Town
in Adelaide's inner suburbs on October 8, 1901.

He went on to work at both Adelaide and Cambridge universities and in 1933 jointly
discovered the reaction which takes place in the hydrogen bomb.

AAP RTV tjd/smf/jn

KEYWORD: OLIPHANT (ADELAIDE)

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