Robert Geyer, BSc 1976
I was so keen to go travelling overseas after I completed my studies that I didn’t even wait around for my graduation which was held in April of 1976. At the time I was content with my degree being posted to my home address. Now with my ‘older brain’ I think I should have hung around and experienced the graduation ceremony which for a first degree is really a once in a life time experience.
After travelling around the world for a year and a half I commenced working in mid 1977 at Unilever’s Balmain site in their edible oil plant where margarines were being produced. I worked for about a year and a half in the production control laboratory testing raw materials going into the different margarines being produced and also checking the final mixtures to see that they were within specifications and would result in a good product.
Next I worked in the NSW Health Department for 6 years at their Division of Analytical Laboratories at Lidcombe where I was in the water, food and forensic toxicology sections. The forensic work was really interesting and a big contrast to the routine testing in the margarine industry. At Lidcombe I had my first opportunity to publish scientific papers which I was first introduced to in my honours year at the Inorganic Chemistry Department of the Chemistry School. I had Dr Jim Eckert as my honours year supervisor and he gave me many valuable lessons about scientific research.
Next I worked at the Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Health laboratory as a method development officer devising new analytical methods in the occupational health and safety area. There I again had the opportunity to publish scientific papers when the work was novel and of interest to industry. After two years there I became involved in the consolidation and coordination of the different laboratories that existed at the Division until eventually I got to be the laboratory manager back in 1987. After over 19 years I’m proud to say that I’m still the manager of the same laboratory I helped to create back in those turbulent days of the late 1980s when a lot of things were changing in the NSW Public Service. Our NATA accredited laboratory, which is now called the Chemical Analysis Branch, TestSafe Australia (part of WorkCover NSW), provides an occupational health based hazardous chemical testing service to our workplace inspectors and industry. I enjoy my work with chemistry and especially like working with other scientists like analytical chemists who are a special breed of people who I treasure greatly. They are quiet achievers and help to contribute to a more informed Australia.
In summary I’ve been employed in laboratories for over 29 years of which the first 10 were spent on the bench and the last 19 were spent managing a small laboratory and a staff of 13 people. I have done two graduate diplomas in clinical biochemistry and occupational hygiene since my Chemistry School days and have been a member of numerous professional organizations like the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists and the American Society for Quality for many years.