Archive of past Queensland Entomologists
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Valerie Ethel DAVIES (1920-2012)
Born Valerie Todd to a farming family in Makiriki near Wanganui, New Zealand. Attended grammar school in Wanganui, then graduated in Zoology at University of Otago, Dunedin before completing an MSc on spiders under Professor B. J. Marples in 1943. Gained a D.Phil. from Oxford University at the end of WWII and returned to Dunedin in 1948 to marry George Davies. Moved to Brisbane in 1963 when George appointed Professor of Dentistry at UQ. Tutored part time in Zoology at UQ until appointed Curator of Arachnology at Queensland Museum in 1972. Undertook extensive surveys of rainforest spiders in Queensland and developed QM collection to international standard. Participated in major ABRS surveys 1975-77, in the Earthwatch Bellenden Ker Expedition in 1982 and the Hinchinbrook Island Wanderlust Expedition in 1984. Described more than 100 new species of spiders including the new family Malkaridae in 1980. Retired in 1985 and worked for almost 20 years as a QM Honorary. Received QM Medal in 1988. Secretary to International Congress of Arachnology 1992.
Biographies: Monteith, G.B. 1997. pp 65-70 In McKay, J. (ed.) Brilliant careers: women collectors and illustrators in Queensland. Queensland Museum, 80 pp.; Monteith, G.B. & Davies, R. 2013. Obituary-Valerie Ethel (Todd) Davies. Australasian Arachnology 85:8-13.