Background
Hamilton-Smith, Elery was born on December 28, 1929 in Harben Vale, Australia. Son of Thorold Mervyn and Elizabeth Jane (Chapman) S.
Hamilton-Smith, Elery was born on December 28, 1929 in Harben Vale, Australia. Son of Thorold Mervyn and Elizabeth Jane (Chapman) S.
He did not have conventional academic training, and graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Diploma in Social Sciences in 1956.
His professional career moved between research, consultancy and teaching in 50 countries. From 1949 to 1968 he worked in teaching and community services. From 1969-1977 he was a social policy & planning consultant, with an honorary position as zoologist at the South Australia Museum.
His work included many studies on social policy and open space in Victoria, Australia.
In the 1980s and 90s he was lecturer and then Professor, latterly in the Department of Leisure Studies, Phillip Institute of Technology (now Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University), Melbourne. Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, Charles Sturt University
He spent a total of 15 years outside Australia working for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Bureau and the United Nations Development Program.
Educational
Fellowship with the Government of Canada. He also had many years of working (as a volunteer) within various International Union for Conservation of Nature programs.
Hamilton-Smith had wide interests.
He worked on:
social policy development and programmes dealing with youth issues. development of leisure and outdoor recreation activities
Conservation, particularly tourism and visitor appreciation of wilderness and National Parks
Cave and karst management
sustainability and environmental studies.
Board directors Buoyancy Foundation, Melbourne, 1968-1974. Commission Australian Frontier, Melbourne, 1968-1980. Active World Commission on Protected Areas, Gland, Switzerland, since 1993.
Member Australasian Association of Social Workers (honorary life member), International Sociological Association, Australian Cave Karst Management Association.
Married Shirley Gertrude Mather, May 20, 1950 (divorced 1969). Children: Anthony, Darien, Philippa, Felicity. Married Jean Elder, February 23, 1970 (divorced 1984).
Children: Simone, Alexander. Married Angela Vaughan Millane, June 21, 1989. Children: Katrina, Michelle, Amanda.