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Charles Fenner

Charles Albert Edward Fenner was an Australian geologist, naturalist, geographer and educator.

Early life and education
Fenner was born in the town of Dunach, Victoria (near Ballarat), the fifth child of German-born Johannes Fenner and Mary Fenner, née Thomas, of Adelaide. After leaving school he embarked on an apprenticeship as compositor with the Talbot Leader a local newspaper. He won a scholarship to attend Melbourne Teachers' College, and graduated BSc with Honours and Dip. Ed. in 1913. ==Career==
Career
Fenner taught at several Victorian schools before being appointed (joint?) principal of the Ballarat School of Mines in November 1914. He also had charge of the school's Geology department, the teaching of which was favorably commented on by examiners. He paid particular attention to field work, which the students enjoyed, as well as being important to their education. Fenner also prepared students for the Geology examinations at Melbourne University, with notable success. In 1916 he accepted the post of Superintendent of Technical Education in South Australia, a position he held until May 1939, when he was appointed acting Director of Education in place of W. J. Adey who was on the eve of retirement. During that time he completed research work for his D.Sc and from 1929 He worked as a volunteer for the South Australian Museum, pursuing his research into tektites, among other interests, and contributed numbers of articles to Walkabout, until 1954 when he suffered a stroke, and died a year later. His remains were buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery. ==Other interests==
Other interests
Fenner was president of the Royal Society of South Australia in 1931, and a member of the board of governors of the Public Library. Most of his spare time was spent in research and on geology excursions. He was particularly interested in australites, small glassy, often button-shaped, objects found on the Nullarbor Plain and elsewhere in southern Australia, believed to be ejecta from a large meteorite that landed in China. ==Recognition and honours==
Recognition and honours
• Sachse Gold Medal (awarded by the Royal Geographical Society (Victorian Branch), named in honour of its president, Arthur Sachse) in 1919 for a paper delivered to the Royal Society of Victoria, dealing with the geology of the Werribee River basin. • David Syme Research Prize in 1929 for his thesis, "Adelaide, South Australia: A Study in Human Geography" • John Lewis Medal (awarded by the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia) in 1947 for South Australia: A Geographical Study. A portrait of Fenner by Beulah Symes Leicester was a finalist for the 1938 Archibald Prize. A portrait by his friend Ivor Hele was held by Croydon Park College of Further Education. ==Bibliography==
Family
Fenner married teacher Emma Louise "Peggy" Hirt in Ballarat on 4 January 1911. Their five children were: • (Charles) Lyell Fenner (17 August 1912 – 25 May 1997) • Frank Johannes (later John) Fenner (21 December 1914 – 22 November 2010), famous biologist • Winifred Joyce "Winn" Fenner (26 August 1916 – ) taught at Walford Anglican School for Girls. She never married. • Lieut-Cmdr Thomas Richard "Tom" Fenner R.A.N. (18 June 1918 – 21 September 1946) married Margaret Jane Legge Suter on 10 June 1948 • William Greenock "Bill" Fenner (11 March 1922 – ) "Greenock" was named for the volcanic hill behind Charles's boyhood home. Bill was author of Quality and Productivity for the 21st Century They had a home at 42 Alexandra Avenue, Rose Park. After Fenner's death Peggy moved to 10 Springbank Road, Panorama. ==References==
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