Gordon McClymont facts for kids

Gordon Lee McClymont (8 May 1920 – 6 May 2000) was an Australian scientist who studied farming and the environment. He was also a teacher. He created the phrase "sustainable agriculture", which means farming in a way that protects the environment for the future.

McClymont was known for looking at farming from many different angles. He started the Faculty of Rural Science at the University of New England (UNE). This was the first program of its kind. It brought together subjects like animal care, animal health, and growing crops. In 1978, he was given the Order of Australia award for his important work.

Gordon McClymont was born in Australia. He went to the University of Sydney with help from the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. After getting his first degree in animal health from Sydney and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, he researched animal nutrition. He felt his education didn't fully prepare him. So, he designed a new, broader way to teach about farming. The University of New England liked his ideas and hired him in 1955. He became the head of their new rural science department.

At the university, McClymont promoted his ideas about farming and keeping agricultural systems healthy for a long time. Under his leadership, the University of New England became a leader in studying ruminant animals (like cows and sheep). In 1967, the Australian chicken farming industry gave him a special award. After he retired in 1980, McClymont kept working with Australian farmers. He also advised the United Nations and the World Bank on farming issues. In 1996, he wrote a book called Rural Science: Philosophy and Application.

Growing Up and Early Education

Gordon McClymont was born on 8 May 1920. His father was one of seven sons of a Scottish immigrant. When Gordon was born, his father said, "G'day Bill," and the nickname "Bill" stayed with him his whole life.

Even though McClymont grew up in Sydney, he spent many holidays on his relatives' farms. These farms were in rural areas, including near Orange, New South Wales. On the farms, he helped with tasks like lamb marking and fruit picking. He also learned a lot about local animals and plants.

McClymont went to Chatswood Intermediate High School and became interested in science. Later, he transferred to North Sydney Boys High School. In 1936, he did very well in his final exams, especially in physics and chemistry. While in high school, he was part of the Australian Army Cadets.

He didn't have enough money for university. A family friend suggested he apply for a training program with the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. Even without formal farm training, McClymont passed the tests. He was assigned to the University of Sydney's veterinary science program in 1937. He received a salary of £110 a year.

When World War II started in 1939, McClymont joined the Australian Army Veterinary Corps. He wanted to serve overseas but was not allowed. He then joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a reservist. Again, he was told to finish his education and serve as a science advisor in Australia. He also joined the Volunteer Defence Corps as a sergeant. He spent weekends working at anti-aircraft and radar sites.

Because of the war, his last two years of university were sped up. He finished in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in veterinary science. He earned top honors and a special university medal.

Working for the New South Wales Department of Agriculture

Starting His Career

Right after graduating in 1941, McClymont became an expert in animal nutrition for the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. He gave advice and helped set policies on animal nutrition for the state government.

During the war, he had to deal with a pig flu outbreak. This was caused by pig meat brought in by American troops. While helping to remove infected pigs, he met Vivienne Pecover, who would become his wife in 1946.

From 1947 to 1949, he studied at the University of Cambridge and earned his PhD. His research looked at how digestion and milk production were connected in ruminant animals. He found that eating green oats made dairy cows produce milk with less butterfat. He explained how the environment, climate, soil, plants, and animals all worked together to cause this.

After Cambridge, McClymont visited farming research centers in the United States. He gave 15 talks about his research. Some American scientists later told him his talks changed their research focus. He wasn't impressed with the farming education he saw in Britain or the US. He felt it was too narrow.

When he returned to Australia in 1950, McClymont became the head of the Animal Nutrition Research Laboratory at Glenfield Veterinary Research Station. There, he started research on feeding animals during droughts. He also created a service to diagnose nutritional problems.

Between 1945 and 1953, McClymont taught adult education classes in rural areas. These classes were about animal care and farming. He helped New England University College set up classes in towns like Walcha and Tamworth.

New Ideas for Education

McClymont felt his own university education was too narrow. He thought his veterinary science degree didn't teach him enough about how the whole farm animal production process worked. For example, he only had three lectures on statistics. He had to learn this important skill himself. Because of this, he became very interested in how education was designed.

He believed that focusing too much on one small area, like animal health or plants, was a problem. He said, "I had seen the educational problems of narrow specialization." He wanted a broader understanding of how everything connected.

In 1952, two university lecturers suggested that animal husbandry should be its own field. McClymont agreed and wrote a letter in 1953. He said the field should be called "animal production." He defined it as combining animal care and crop production. He believed it should teach how to manage the "soil-plant-animal complex" to produce animal products well. He also said university training should include research and practical applications.

James Belshaw, from New England University College, saw McClymont's letter. The college was becoming an independent university. They wanted a unique farming degree program that would help the rural New England area.

Belshaw asked McClymont to write a paper explaining his ideas. McClymont's paper, "Planning Rural Science and Possible Curriculum," suggested the new department be called "rural science." In 1954, Robert Madgwick, the vice-chancellor of the new university, read McClymont's paper. He was convinced and decided to create a Faculty of Rural Science. In October 1954, the University of New England offered McClymont the job of leading this new department.

At the University of New England

Developing Rural Science

Booloominbah, the original building of the University of New England, in 2009.

McClymont started his job at the University of New England in March 1955. He was surprised by how simple the facilities were. He even had to borrow a chair for his office! The university leader thought it would take two years to start the new department. But McClymont showed that they could start accepting students in 1956.

On 11 July 1955, McClymont gave a speech called "All Flesh is Grass." He explained his vision for the rural science program. He said that the country's economic health depended on healthy soils, pastures, livestock, and crops.

This new degree program was the first to use a multi-disciplinary approach to farming science. It combined different subjects like:

• Growing crops (agronomy)
• How living things work (biochemistry, physiology, biology)
• Animal health (veterinary science)
• Soil and farm environment (agricultural ecology)
• Money and farming (economics)
• How people interact (social sciences)
• Animal food (animal nutrition and husbandry)

The goal was to teach students how all these parts work together to create a productive farm. Graduates from this program were generalists, not just specialists. This helped them find new solutions to problems in Australia's livestock production. The improvements helped Australians become some of the biggest meat eaters in the world.

Classes began in March 1956 with 17 students. By the early 1980s, 500 students had earned bachelor's degrees in rural science. Many graduates went on to important roles. For example, Bridget Ogilvie became director of the Wellcome Trust.

As head of the department, McClymont helped set up farming education centers in the New England area. These centers were independent and helped local communities.

McClymont's writings and talks at the university stressed the importance of sustainability in farming. He is seen as the person who first used the term "sustainable agriculture." He also created diagrams that showed how different parts of farm ecosystems work together. He warned farmers about feeding grain to livestock when there wasn't enough grain for people.

Other Activities

In the 1960s and 1970s, the University of New England became a major international center for ruminant research. McClymont published many articles on animal nutrition. He researched problems like pregnancy issues in sheep and mineral shortages in dairy cows. He also studied how animals use nutrients in their bodies.

McClymont helped create the Poultry Research Fund Group. This group helped the university's science departments share ideas with the chicken farming industry. In 1967, McClymont received the Australian Poultry Award for his work.

In 1967, McClymont suggested creating a School of Biological Sciences. This school was started the next year.

He also served on a committee for the Kellogg Rural Adjustment Unit. This group aimed to educate people on rural issues and help rural communities adapt to changes.

Ribbon awarded to civilian recipients of the Order of Australia

While at the university, McClymont advised the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 1975, they published a booklet he wrote. On 26 January 1978, he was honored as an Officer in the Order of Australia for his service to animal health and farming research.

McClymont retired from the university in 1980 and became an emeritus professor. Professor J. S. Ryan said that McClymont was "so far ahead of his time" in understanding how animals and plants interact and the importance of a healthy environment.

Retirement Years

Even after retiring, McClymont continued to advise the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. He also consulted on farming issues with the World Bank.

As an emeritus professor, McClymont watched how the rural science program changed. In 1982, the university made changes to the curriculum. Students were given more freedom to choose subjects in their final year. McClymont felt these changes hurt the quality of the program.

In 1994, McClymont and Professor J. S. Ryan began writing the book Rural Science: Philosophy and Application. In 1996, a special conference was held to celebrate 40 years of the rural science program. McClymont attended as a guest of honor, even though he was not well. His book was officially presented at the conference.

Later Life and Passing

Gordon McClymont passed away on 6 May 2000, after struggling with Parkinson's disease for many years. A building on the University of New England campus was named after him. He was survived by his wife, Vivienne, and their four children.

Personality and Interests

McClymont believed in questioning old ideas. This sometimes made others disagree with him. J. S. Ryan described him as "devastatingly honest" but also "always likeable and compassionate." He cared a lot about his students. For example, he disagreed when the university stopped male and female students from visiting each other's rooms.

McClymont enjoyed acting, singing, and gardening. He sang bass in the University Choir.

Awards and Recognitions

• 1941 University of Sydney Medal and top honors
• 1947 Walter and Eliza Hall Veterinary Research Fellowship
• 1967 Australian Poultry Award
• 1978 Officer of the Order of Australia
• 1986 Honorary Doctor of Rural Science, University of New England

Images for kids

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  Booloominbah, the original building of the University of New England, in 2009.

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  Ribbon awarded to civilian recipients of the Order of Australia