CRESPIN, IRENE (1896-1980), geologist and micropalaeontologist, was born on 12
November 1896 at Kew, Melbourne, daughter of Godwin George Crespin, auctioneer,
and his wife Eliza Jane, née Kitchen, both Victorian born. Educated at Mansfield
Agricultural High School where her interest in geological sciences was stimulated
by the headmaster Charles Fenner, Irene cherished unfulfilled hopes for a career
as a musician. Intending to become a teacher, she enrolled at the University of
Melbourne (B.A., 1919). Her decision to read geology brought her under the
influence of Frederick Chapman, palaeontologist at the National Museum of Victoria
and a lecturer at the university. President of the Students' Representative
Council in 1918, Crespin undertook further studies after graduating and worked for
the Geological Survey of Victoria.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Irene Crespin was a micropalaeontologist. After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1919, she worked for the Geological Survey of Victoria, describing macro and micro-fossils found in sediment on the Mornington Peninsula. In 1927 she was appointed assistant palaeontologist to Frederick Chapman in the Geological Branch of the Department of Home Affairs. She succeeded him as Commonwealth palaeontologist in 1935, at half his salary.
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Australian Women's Register
Irene Crespin was Commonwealth palaeontologist from 1936. She travelled widely in Australia and to Java and Sumatra carrying out important research. Crespin collected fossils for analysis and studied rock and sediment formations. She chaired the Canberra branch of the Territories Division of the Geological Society of Australia in 1955 and was president of the Royal Society of Canberra in 1957. Both institutions granted her honorary life membership in appreciation of her work.
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1919
Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA) completed at the University of Melbourne
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1927 - 1936
Career position - Assistant Commonwealth Palaeontologist
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1936 - 1961
Career position - Commonwealth Palaeontologist
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1953
Award - Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal received
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1956
Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Clarke Medal received
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1960
Award - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Melbourne
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1961
Life event - Retired
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1962
Award - Award of Merit received from the Commonwealth Professional Officers' Association
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1969
Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
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1973 -
Career position - Honorary member of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
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Encyclopedia of Australian Science