Dr Hugh Crone passed away on the 3rd December 2018. Hugh, apart from being my uncle, was a Research Leader at Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory (Maribyrnong, Vic). He retired from (the then) DSTO in 1997 after over 30 years of service.

Hugh’s  funeral will be held at 10 am Tuesday 18th December at the Montsalvat Arts Centre, 7 Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham Vic. Current and past DST employees are welcome. Please join the family for refreshments following the service

This announcement of his passing was posted in the Age today:

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr Hugh Donal Crone (31/3/1936 - 3/12/2018). Husband of Elizabeth Caroline Crone (nee Lavington, 26/6/1935 - 22/4/2009), father to Bridget and Erica, father-in-law to Sam Nightingale, brother to Robin (dec) and John. Hugh died at the Austin Hospital after a short illness. We thank Hugh's friends and our family (especially Barbara, Peter and Jacqui) for their special support.”

By way of background, Hugh was born in London in 1936 and gained a PhD degree from Cambridge in Natural Sciences (Biochemistry). He emigrated to Australia in the 60's and worked in Defence until his retirement in 1997. Hugh was internationally recognised in the biochemistry field and contributed to The Technical Cooperation Program. He, together with Dr Simon Oldfield, initiated what we now know as the Defence Human Sciences Symposium (DHSS).

Hugh published internally and externally and was the author of several books including the following:

• Chemicals and Society: A Guide to the New Chemical Age (1986) Cambridge University Press
• Banning Chemical Weapons: The Scientific Background (1992) Cambridge University Press.

The former book won the 1987 Phi Beta Kappa Science Book Award, which was then the premier international award for the writing of science books.

Hugh will be sadly missed.

Dr David Crone

Group Leader Cognition and Behaviour STC, Land Division
Defence Science and Technology