A career to be remembered–Alastair Ross

For the second successive issue of this journal, the Academy recognises the career of an outstanding servant of the forensic sciences in Australia. By the time this editorial is published, Alastair Ross will have retired from his position as Director, National Institute of Forensic Science (NIFS).

Alastair began his career in forensic science in South Australia in 1976 working in what was then the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science. By the early 1980s forensic biology had moved to become part of the new Forensic Science Centre that evolved post the Splatt Royal Commission. It was at this time, in fact 1983, that I first met Alastair, and I have had the pleasure of working with him ever since then. When I migrated to Adelaide in early 1985 to work in the SA Forensic Science Centre, Alastair and I were close working ‘buddies’ and often collaborated on the same cases or delivered training. Those of us who knew Alastair at that time lived in admiration of his stunning dress sense and he was, and remains, the only person who could wear pale lemon coloured trousers and not be the centre of some not-so-gentle ribbing! And somehow he always left at the end of the day without a dirty mark on his trousers – amazing. I remember Alastair from this time as an exceptionally nice person, fun to work with and a very good caseworker. Indeed, we were the recipients in successive years of the ‘prestigious’ caseworker of the year awards bestowed by our colleagues – Alastair’s prize was a laboratory coat with gold trim!