Burnet of Australia.

'Darwin is the greatest of all scientists, greater even than Newton or Einstein, and I am quite certain that my own thinking has been more deeply influenced by the evolutionary concepts of Darwin than by anything else' (Burnet, 1966). 'Life must have begun as some particular configuration of atoms, an inconceivably tiny knot of molecular structure, which by some freak of circumstance was able to build more of itself from the matter and energy freely available .... Somehow a large molecule, or a random complex of molecules, came into being which was capable of doubling itself at the expense of the surrounding chaos. The key event needed to occur only once and from that moment Life was on its way' (Burnet, 1968). 'Life is everywhere-to be wondered at or understood, as it presents itself in culture tubes of the laboratories; as the living fascinating inhabitants of earth, air and sea, or in our own human form, behaviours and aspirations' (Burnet, 1966). Thus spoke Frank Macfarlane Burnet. And what of the achievements of James Cook of the Endeavour whose memory is celebrated by this Journal? Do they in any way simulate the achievements of Burnet? An account of the clinical features of the dread affliction scurvy was made by Jacques de Vitry in 1244. It was not until 1796 that the British Admiralty ordered lemon juice to be added to the rations of sailors, and scurvy disappeared from the British Navy (Major, 1945). In 1768 Captain James Cook sailed in the Endeavour from England to observe the Transit of Venus from the Island of Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean. The Royal Society had asked the Admiralty to invite Joseph Banks aged 25 to join the Endeavour, a wise move as he not only was versed in geographical and astronomical science, but had a deep love ofbotanical and natural science (Beaglehole, 1962). After making a disappointing observation of the Transit of Venus, because of adverse weather conditions, Cook set out on a voyage of discovery. On 19 April 1770 he sighted the southern tip of Australia and proceeded north to land at a picturesque harbour. Cook and Banks journeyed into the Australian bush and were delighted to see large gum trees, kangaroos, flocks of parrots and many new species of plants. They called the harbour Botany Bay. During this historic voyage Cook, aided by Banks, paid particular attention to the diet and hygiene of his crew, maintaining a supply of vegetables and fruit. They thus remained healthy and free of the dreaded scurvy till the end of their voyage (Cameron, 1952). On 10 July 1776 Captain James Cook was waiting in his ship Resolution, about to make his third voyage ofdiscovery, when he received news ofa great honour. He wrote to Banks, no longer a member of his crew: 'Sir John Pringle writes me that the Council of the Royal Society has decreed me the Prize Medal of the year. I am obliged to you and my other good friends for this unmerited honour' (Cameron, 1952). Cook received the Copley Medal, the most treasured award of the Royal Society for his account of the prevention of scurvy during his first voyage to Botany Bay.