White, Neville Hewlett   (1906 - 1991)

Born in 1906; died on 26 May 1991 in Redhead, NSW.

His fascination with botany, there from an early age, was attracted into plant pathology by W.L. Waterhouse's mastery of the subject. Waterhouse was also instrumental in directing him into teaching.

During his career he worked for CSIR Tasmania (1936), CSIR Canberra (1938-43), Department of Agriculture, Tasmania (1943-1946), and the University of Sydney (1946-1971).

His early work on take-all of wheat while he was with CSIR is still widely quoted and at the time earned him a D.Sc. from the University of Tasmania.

In 1938, Neville married Jean Downey who always gave him enormous support and encouragement throughout a long and happy marriage.

He was an outstanding teacher. He developed a philosophy for teaching and research which, unique at the time, became the basis of physiological plant pathology 20 to 30 years later. He gave students a glimpse beyond the frontiers of science, and provided insight into host parasite interactions of great value in the years ahead.

He was his own man, a loner. He did his own thing! He loved ideas and conveyed his enthusiasm to his students. He would explore student ideas, and when appropriate, help test them.

Another major interest was in viruses, the area of study for his first Ph.D. student, the late D.J. Goodall. whose contemporary. J.M. Fisher, made a career in nematology.

Neville White's interests covered many areas of botany, mycology and plant pathology so that it is no accident that his graduates have found their way into careers spanning most facets of White's chosen field.

On his retirement in 1971, many friends and students gathered from all States to wish him well. Among them were staff from six of the ten Australian Universities then teaching plant pathology.

His ashes are at Palmdale Lawn Cemetery & Memorial Park Palmdale, Central Coast Council, NSW.

Source: Extracted from:
D.G. Parbery (1991) 'Neville Hewlett White 1906-1991: Prophet, Philosopher and Teacher of Plant Pathology'
Australasian Plant Pathology Vol. 20 (3) 1991.
https://appsnet.au/history/Fungi-of-Australia-history.pdf
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135169876/neville-hewlett-white
Portrait Photo: Parbery obituary above.

Collecting localities for 'White, N.H.' from AVH (2026)

Data from 169 specimens