This study examines the occurrence, distribution and storage of selenium in seagrass communities of Lake Macquarie, which is a heavily industrialised area of NSW, where notably high trace metal concentrations have been reported previously. Initially a suite of organisms was collected from a seagrass bed (Zostera capricornia) in the southeastern section of the lake to investigate the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of selenium. All organisms contained selenium, with sediment-dwelling organisms containing the highest Se concentrations. No consistent pattern of significant Se-metal correlations with Cu, Zn and Cd was found. Biomagnification of Se was evident, as concentrations increased from sediments and water to flora (algae and seagrass) to bivalves to Crustacea. However, this trend was not continued to the higher trophic groups of invertebrate predators and teleost fish. The bivalve Anadara trapezia was further studied. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting the accumulation of Se were examined. Gender and mass were assessed in a single day study, followed by a temporal investigation of the effect of gender, reproductive cycle, temperature and salinity on Se accumulation. Gender had no effect on the accumulation of Se in A. trapezia. Se was present in all tissues (adductor, blood, foot, gills, intestine and mantle) and not immobilised or stored in a specific tissue, indicating that it plays a structural role in the tissues of A. trapezia. Se burden increased relative to size (shell length and dry mass) suggesting that Se is metabolically controlled within the organism. Se concentrations were found to fluctuate temporally because of: food availability in response to water temperatures; the reproductive cycle; and associated metabolic activities responding to temperature changes and food availability. Subcellular selenium associations in A. trapezia were examined to assist in the understanding of the fate of Se in marine tissues. Most of the Se was associated with proteins, suggesting that Se has a metabolic role in this marine organism. Proteins are intrinsically associated with the lipid bilayer of the cell membranes. A number of proteins (94, 85, 43, 36.5, 30, 23.4, 17.4 and 15 kDa) were separated by SDS PAGE from ethanol fractions. Determination of the Se concentration within individual proteins was not possible because the ratio of Se to protein was too low for further analysis. These findings indicated that Se plays a metabolic role in the tissues of the marine organism A. trapezia. The biochemical regulatory mechanism responsible for maintaining Se concentrations within the tissues is currently unknown.

Increased development pressure in inner city areas of many Australian and North American cities has resulted in the loss of locally valued cultural landscapes. Accompanying this process is palpable concern by local residents that their values have not been taken into account. While architectural and historical values are well recognised by heritage and planning practitioners, less tangible social values are often ignored. This thesis argues that a gap has formed between the process through which people interact with place and the process of landuse planning. The aim of the research is to critically examine this gap. Pyrmont and Ultimo, an inner city redevelopment area of Sydney, provides a context of rapid social and physical change. Open-ended, unstructured and semi-structured interviews with residents of Pyrmont and Ultimo, and professionals involved in planning and development provide insight into perspectives about the consideration of social values in landuse planning. The results indicate that the loss of valued places may have physical and social implications on people and place including loss of local character and identity, increased conflict, resident anxiety and disillusionment with planning processes. Residents and planners develop strategies for coping, but these do little to improve limited information flow and understanding. Bridging the gap between the two processes calls for a stronger link between heritage conservation and planning, in addition to planning reform. The research suggests the need for formal landuse planning to recognise the value of situational knowledge and social significance, rather than rely on technical expertise and physical fabric. Efforts spent on refining methods for identification and assessment of social value may be better directed towards developing and improving methods for integrating the concept of social value into the planning framework.

Clearance of Eucalyptus woodlands has resulted in soil deterioration and lost agricultural production, due to wind erosion, salinity and soil acidity. Despite increasing efforts to reverse these trends through Landcare and other revegetation and agroforestry programs, there is a lack of experimentally-based information about the effects of trees on native pasture performance. The study was carried out in a temperate environment (Southern Tablelands, New South Wales). The altitude at the study sites ranged from 740 to 880m and the aspect at the experimental plots varied from SE to SW. The nearest site was 16 km from Canberra Airport and all sites were situated within similar rainfall isohyets as Canberra Airport. Thus climatic conditions were expected to be similar. Climate records at Canberra Airport indicate that January is the hottest month with mean maximum temperature of 27.7 �C and July is the coldest month with a maximum of 11.1 �C. Rainfall in the area ranges from 37.5 to 66.0 mm monthly average in June and October respectively. The main tree species in the study area were Eucalyptus pauciflora, E. melliodora and E. mannifera. Furthermore, Poa labillardieri, P. sieberiana, Themeda australis, Danthonia penicillata and Microlaena stipoides were the most abundant pasture species on the experimental plots. Species of clover (Trifolium spp.) were also abundant among the herbs. This study used pasture assessment techniques to quantify the effects of remnant patches of Eucalyptus open woodlands on the composition, quality and biomass production of herbaceous understorey vegetation. Microclimate and soil nutrients were also compared under trees and in the open. In addition, consumption by vertebrate grazers under Eucalyptus trees and in the open was compared. Tree density and basal area were compared with herbage standing crop. Remnant patches of Eucalyptus open woodlands modify the microclimate by reducing wind reaching the understorey vegetation. However no significant effects on ambient air temperature and relative humidity were recorded. The effect of trees on soil moisture was contingent to differences between the four sites and soil depth. Despite a 13% higher soil organic matter in the top 15 cm of soil under trees, soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus did not differ from that in the open. Surface soil pH values were lower (by 0.2 units) under the trees. No significant effect of trees on pasture species richness was found. However the classification of quadrats on the basis of species presence showed a distinction between species composition under trees and in the open at one of the four sites. vi The contribution of pasture species to total dry weight on plots under trees and in the open did depend on the particular species involved and was also contingent to differences between sites. However at the sites where Vulpia bromoides and Poa sieberiana were abundant, the two species dominated the biomass under trees. Whereas Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides dominated the biomass under trees at two sites and in the open at only one of the four sites. Pasture total N content differed between sites. Two of the sites had significantly higher (5.9% and 19.7%) N content under trees. On the contrary, pastures at one site contained 18.7% higher N content in the open. The total P content was 18% higher in pastures under trees. Overall, the pasture standing crop under trees was 15% less than in the open during August to May. Vertebrate grazers consumed about the same amount of pasture under the trees and in the open at the four experimental sites.

This field study examines the changes in primary schooling in New South Wales from 1904 to 1922 in an attempt to provide an historical perspective on contemporary schooling. Two distinct phases are identified. The first of these is a settlement (1904-1916) dominated by the eclectic concerns of the New Education movement. It is argued that this settlement was a fragile arrangement held together by the rhetoric of prominent educationists but that it did not operate effectively at the classroom level. The contradictions inherent in it, and the bureaucratic resistance to which it was subjected, as well as the practical difficulties faced by teachers, meant that the settlement disintegrated into crisis when teachers' frustrations were further aggravated by the effects of the Public Instruction (Amendment) Act of 1916 and popular perceptions of declining standards. The hardships caused by the First World War heightened the difficulties under which teachers were expected to work, adding to the turmoil. The crisis which began in 1916 and continued until Peter Board resigned, was characterized by a preoccupation with retardation and a growing interest in intelligence and achievement testing. The third and final chapter examines the wider social, economic and political concerns of the period and explores the connection between events in society and those in the schools.

The need for inservice training of teachers has increased as the nature of schooling changes, and underlying philosophies, structures and theories undergo revision. An understanding of how teachers perceive inservice courses may assist in designing inservice programs which best meet the needs of education systems, schools and individual teachers. This study examined teachers' perceptions of inservice as it affects them in their schools, and their acceptance of different content and structures of inservice models. It also examined different groups within the teacher sample, to establish whether differences in gender, the area of teaching they are involved in, their years of teaching experience, or the number of inservice courses they attend affect their perceptions. The subjects for the study were a group of Kindergarten to Year 12 teachers from randomly sampled schools in the Western Region of New South Wales Department of School Education. The survey was completed by 304 respondents and a randomly selected sub-sample participated in a semi-structured interview. Results of the study shows generally that teachers do value the impact of inservice courses, both in the classroom and on their own sense of professional development, and that they have preferences for particular content and models of inservice courses.

This thesis is an evaluation of the use the USLE to estimate soil loss from two pastoral land uses - commercial properties and "hobby farms" in Murrumbateman. Sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the USLE components. Sediment measurement in farm dams was taken to estimate sediment yield from several sites, as an alternative approach to study soil loss. The annual soil loss from entire study area was 0.25 t/ha/year whilst these figures from commercial properties and hobby farms were 0.29 t/ha/year and 0.21 t/ha/year, respectively. The annual average sediment yield from three catchments in hobby farms was 0.3 t/ha/year. The USLE was found to be highly sensitive to slope steepness, ground cover and stocking rates. The critical values were 16% for slopes, 35% for the ground cover and 19 Dry Sheep Equivalent/ha for stocking rate. I tentatively conclude that the USLE is sufficiently sensitive to detect differences in soil loss between the two land uses. There is, however, a need to improve the operation of the model in some respects. The use of farm dams for estimating sediment yield also shows promise.

During the period of internship at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (March, 1982 - January 1983), I had the opportunity to work on paintings from the 20th, 19th, 10th, and 17th centuries. Some of the paintings were privately owned, and usually arrived at the Gallery in much worse condition than any of the Gallery's paintings, therefore I had the chance to carry out major treatments as well as the routine minor treatments associated with the maintenance of a collection. The atmosphere at the Gallery conservation facility is a healthy one. The laboratory supports five fulltime conservators (Alan Lloyd, Peter Gill, Gill McMillan, Susie Bioletti, and Ranson Davies). All the members of staff were willing participants in helping and advising me during my period of internship. The contact with so many points of view and attitudes was instrumental in maintaining a positive and constructive attitude toward the profession. Cathy Lillico (conservator for the Regional Galleries) and Anne Gaulton were also working in the laboratory during my period of internship. Both took an active interest in my work at the Gallery. The work emphasis at the Gallery was placed on practical experience with paintings conservation, and a wide range of techniques and attitudes were considered and implemented. The period was also an opportunity to become involved in other aspects of conservation work apart from treatments. The transport, display, lighting, packaging and handling of painttings are important responsibilities for conservation staff, and I participated in them whenever possible. The routine examination of the Gallery collection and monitoring the light and temperature fluctuations within the Gallery environment were also part of my duties. The exposure also gave me the opportunity to answer public telephone enquiries and participate in advising the public on conservation during the Thursday morning open house, when the public is allowed to bring their works into the Gallery for advice from curatorial and conservation staff. I consider it a valuable and worthwhile exposure to the workings of a major institution. The Gallery conservation facilities include a studio and darkroom that are well equipped for conservation photography. I chose to take advantage of those facilities to improve my standard of photography and increase my understanding of the application of photography to the examination of paintings. The Gallery was very generous to allow me the use of film materials during my period of internship. All the plates and slides in this presentation were photographed, developed, and printed by myself, with the exception of color processing, using the conservation department facilities. Internships are not a tradition within the Art Gallery Conservation Department. Because of this, there is not an established program or itinerary for interns to follow. I am grateful to the entire staff of the conservation department, especially Alan Lloyd, for their support and encouragement in shaping an interesting and rewarding internship. I hope the opportunity will be made available to others who wish to pursue the profession of conservation. Some of the material presented in this dissertation is included for my own reference. This includes the TABLES 1-4 and some of the basic information under the conservation photography section dealing with normal and raking light illumination techniques.

As a teacher of the New South Wales Higher School Certificate Geography Syllabus in the 1970s, I became aware of problems of interpretation and implementation of syllabus documents dealing with models and theories of human aggregate behaviour. A positivistic underpinning allowed explanation in human geography to employ deductive - nomological methodology. This field study investigates a defined literature of academic geography including journals, and both secondary and tertiary documents to identify the extent and quality of nomothetic and idiographic traditions from the late 19th century to the mid 1970s. The literature prior to the late 1950s revealed a dominant regional tradition and idiographic methodology with an emphasis on description of uniqueness of areal phenomena. But underlying currents of a nomothetic nature, running parallel to this regionalidiographic tradition,exerted a noticeable challenge to gain acceptance in geographic circles. This kind of nomothetism was in the form of environmental determinism which held that physical laws operating in nature were also at work to shape and direct human societies. Environmental determinism contained generalised assertions, enjoyed some appeal, but lacked rigorous justification. Even within regional frameworks, authors used environmentally induced determinants to explain the unique character of regions. Not until the 1930s did environmental determinism lose its appeal, after which time the regional - idiographic tradition strengthened as an explanatory mode of human behaviour. Nomothetism emerged in the late 1950s in Australia in the application of models and theories explaining human behaviour. Normative theory was supported by an increased use of quantification and by the growing preference for systematic studies in geography. Neither mode of explanation exists at the total exclusion of the other; so that while nomothetism enjoyed widespread appeal in academic geography from the late 1950s, significant challenges were mounted against it because of its inadequacies as a mode of explaining human aggregate behaviour. Nomothetic explanation in human geography can be seen at the research level and in education circles. Many normative models and theories found their way into senior geography courses to the extent they promoted a systems approach. Teachers would have been aware of normative theory in geography from their university studies and teacher training courses during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. The tension between associated explanatory modes in systematic and regional geography becomes apparent in the analysis of the N.S.W. H.S.C. Geography Syllabus in which confusing statements raise problems for teachers interpreting and implementing this prescriptive document. Given these tensions and problems of explanation in human geography, the adoption of a critical rationalist viewpoint as propounded by Karl Popper is suggested as a possible solution for geography teachers when interpreting a syllabus such as that of the N.S.W. H.S.C. Falsification rather than verification should be the node of inquiry towards explanation of human aggregate behaviour.

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Nutrients, periphyton and macroinvertebrates were sampled every two months for one year to assess the effects of treated sewage effluent on the Thredbo River and to compare changes in chemical concentrations and the invertebrate community since the introduction of nutrient removal on the Thredbo sewage treatment plant. Chemically, the impact of the effluent was minor and was reduced from levels measured before the addition of nutrient removal to the Thredbo sewage treatment plant. However, the reduction may be the result of higher flows during the study period. Biologically there was no indication of nutrient enrichment during June, August and October, with differences occurring between physically dissimilar sites irrespective of position relative to the sewage effluent inflow. Large increases in periphyton and macroinvertebrates occurred in December, February and April at both open sites and those downstream of the sewage outflow. Previous studies found increases in invertebrate abundance and richness immediately downstream of the sewage inflow, but the impact was greater and extended further downstream than found in this study. Strong correlations between total phosphorus and periphyton biomass and chlorophyll-a indicate phosphorus was a limiting nutrient. Higher periphyton biomass and chlorophyll-a at all sites during the warmer months (especially at open sites with an even cobble substratum), throughout the year, indicates light, temperature and substratum type were as important as phosphorus in controlling algal growth. Low algal biomass during the high flow month of October also indicates the importance of water velocity in controlling periphyton biomass. The structure of the macroinvertebrate community was noticeably different at sites downstream of the effluent discharge, with the exception of the most downstream site, when compared to the upstream sites. The occurrence of high macroinvertebrate numbers and species richness at sites with high periphyton growth and the strong positive correlation between invertebrate grazers and periphyton measurements shows a dependent relationship between invertebrates and periphyton growth. Therefore, the physical factors of light, temperature and substratum characteristics of particular sites in the Thredbo River, may be as important in controlling the benthic community as the levels of nutrient inputs from sewage.