Spring 2011

Spring, absolutely the best time for a leaflet!

Spring, the season celebrated in poetry, prose and song.

Spring (click to hear song), featured in one of the ditties of Tom Lehrer, Harvard lecturer, satirist, pianist, mathematician and polymath. (With a c.v. like that we could use him in the CRCNPB). 

“Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here.
Life is skittles and life is beer.
I think the loveliest time of the year
Is the spring! I do - Don't you? 'Course you do.
but there's one thing that makes spring complete for me
and makes every Sunday a treat for me
All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park ...”

Pigeons apart, who doesn’t welcome Spring? If Winter is the time for colds and flu’, Spring is the time for Frühjahrsmüdigkeit or, as we know it, ‘Spring fever’. Apart from its obvious effects on the arm of the Chair attempting to write his bimonthly ‘Leaflet’ column, ‘Spring fever’ is a term applied to several sets of physical and psychological symptoms associated with the arrival of Spring. In general, it refers to an increase in energy, vitality and, particularly, the appetite for - something which wouldn’t get past the CRCNPB censor. Suffice to use the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love”. (Goodness only knows what young women are thinking about. The Footy Finals? Or this character perhaps?)

This is ‘Spring-heeled Jack’. With a name like that he might go well for the Wallabies. ‘Jack’ is a character in English folklore of the Victorian era who was known for his startling jumps. The first claimed sighting of Spring-heeled Jack was in 1837. Later sightings were reported all over England and were especially prevalent in suburban London, the Midlands and Scotland. There are many theories about the nature and identity of Spring-heeled Jack. He was an early ‘urban legend’ who was very popular in his time, due to the tales of his bizarre appearance and ability to make extraordinary leaps, regardless of leaving carbon footprints, to the point that he became the topic of several works of fiction.

Spring-heeled Jack was described by people who claimed to have seen him as having a terrifying and frightful appearance, with diabolical physiognomy, clawed hands, and eyes that "resembled red balls of fire", (pace Jerry Lee Lewis) rather like the team assembling the ‘re-bid’ on the day before submission was due. One report claimed that, beneath a black cloak, he wore a helmet and a tight-fitting white garment like an oilskin. Hm. Beware the censor, again. Many stories also mention a "Devil-like" aspect. Others said he was tall and thin, with the appearance of a gentleman. Several reports mention that he could breathe out blue and white flames (a metho drinker, perhaps?) and that he wore sharp metallic claws at his fingertips. Eat your heart out Hugh Jackman. At least two people claimed that he was able to speak comprehensible English. Plainly, any resemblance to a CRCNPB identity is purely coincidental.

The point is – yes, I know you were beginning to wonder – that this is the time to  into action. And one thing has put a spring in our step. As the CEO has reported in his column, we have survived the initial DIISR cull and take our Plant Biosecurity CRC bid to interview in November. That’s no mean achievement in a field of 26 bidders. But it’s far from the end of the story.

In 2004 (Round 9) the odds for gaining support were around 50%. Many observers felt that the proposed CRCNPB was a ‘public good’ bid in a ‘private good’ funding climate, hence, that we had a limited chance of success. But, on a level playing field, we met all the criteria and we succeeded. And we succeeded again in 2006 (Round 10) with the supplementary bid.

By 2010 (Round 13), as budgetary circumstances dictated reduced Government support for the CRC Program, the chances of success had become a lot poorer. At the recent CRC Association meeting (17 and 18 August) this was estimated as around 13% for the initial submissions, the worst odds of any competitive Australian Government funding program – none of which has been hit as hard as the CRCs. Similar odds appertained to the 26 aspirants in 2011 (Round 14).

CRCs, a model highly regarded around the World, now command just $165 700 000, or 1.8%, of Government’s $9.4 billion (2011-2012) annual investment in science, research and innovation.
As of 1 September the odds for PBCRC success have increased to, maybe, 40-50%. Not quite as good as 2004 but with the benefit of the Round 13 bid we have a sound understanding of the environment in which we’re competing. We have submitted a first class bid which, in the context of the CRC Program and its objectives – and on a level playing field - should succeed, just as it did in 2004. While a small team has had the prime responsibility for putting the bid on the field of play there has been tremendous support from a host of supporters in the whole CRCNPB community – yes, you all ‘sprang’ (sorry!) into action when asked to help.

So, the ‘Leaflet’ for ‘SPRING 2012’ will celebrate one of two things. A fantastic seven years for CRCNPB or a fantastic seven years for CRCNPB plus the prospect of six years of PBCRC. As they say, ‘Watch this space’ and, maybe, ‘LOOK OUT PIGEONS’.