Donald Williams

Following military service, Don completed an Agricultural Science degree at Sydney University and a Bachelor of Commerce at Melbourne University. He then spent two years as rural economist at Roseworthy Agricultural College. 

From 1951 to 1957 Don worked in the Commonwealth Bureau of Agricultural Economics, where he became Assistant Director. In 1957 he made a career switch into agricultural extension, though he remained active in agricultural economics. He became O.I.C. of the Agricultural Research Liaison Section in CSIRO, where his duties included administrative responsibility and professional leadership in the interpretation and dissemination of CSIRO research results. 

From 1964 to 1970 Don was Director of Agricultural Extension (and Visiting Professor) at the University of Melbourne, where his vigorous and imaginative leadership placed Australia’s agricultural extension education and research on a firm foundation. He returned to the CSIRO from 1971 to 1974, where he was Secretary of the Wool Research Advisory Committee.

In 1974, he became the first Director of Roseworthy Agricultural College after it was transformed from a somewhat sleepy sub-department of the South Australian Government into a fully-fledged CAE in the heady days of the Whitlam Government. The autonomy conferred by a separate Act of Parliament and funding from Canberra made transition problems for staff, students and the College Council. Don embarked on a series of developments aimed at expanding course offerings, increasing student numbers and raising the research status of Roseworthy. A course in Horse Husbandry, a degree in Natural Resources and the Environment, a Postgraduate Diploma in Arid Zone Agriculture and expansion of course in Oenology occurred in fairly rapid succession. An Agricultural Museum was begun and the student facilities - Roseworthy was still largely residential - improved with a new Student Union building and swimming pool. 

Don Williams retired as Director in 1981.

Adapted from Obituary - Don Birtall Williams. Frank Jarrett, University of Adelaide. Alan Lloyd, University of Melbourne.