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"Phil Hadlington has been missing in dementia for the last few years but in the early hours of Monday 19th March 2021 he left us… aged 97.
He was a change agent. He changed us…for the better.
Most would immediately think of him as the author of industry text books, as the teacher of the pest control course, as the marker of their correspondence course. He was more.
He was an entomologist at the NSW Forestry Commission with responsibilities in the control of insects that attacked trees (and logs). He mixed with others in the stream of scientists in the late 40’s, early 50s. There was another stream in the community… many of them returned service men who, without qualifications, took up Pest Extermination setting up family businesses using 'witch doctor brews’ and fear tactic sales talk to get customers.
Then there was the government. They were trying to sort out the chemicals being used and the Pest Destroyers Act (1945) was passed and finally the Regulations came into force about 1950, by which time there were a steady stream of complaints from customers about exterminators. Someone wise suggested these exterminators should have a course to find out what really made pests tick and what pesticides were suitable in what situation (and not suitable).
Phil Hadlington was based in Sydney in a tower in Scots Church, Margaret St, rented by the Forestry Commission. He was already receiving visits from the top people at Flick and from Houghton & Byrne down in George St. They visited to find out more about mostly termites and borers. He was offered and accepted the task of preparing a 1-year Pest Control course.
First he had to learn about the other insect and rodent pests, structure the presentation of this information in a way understood by men in their 40s and 50s who perhaps hadn’t taken notes or done calculations since they were in school.
The course began in 1956 and Phil and I wrote the first textbook in 1960.
That was just the beginning.
The rest of his story has been placed on the Termiteer website.
The link is: https://termiteer.com.au/phil-hadlington/
Phil left us better off. As a pest control industry, their customers, as termiteers, as individuals.
I hope it generates good memories of different times"
Best wishes,
Ion Staunton
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“Phil Hadlington has had an immense influence on my life since I was a teenager up until the present day.
From the time I first encountered Phil I did not even know who he was .....little did I realize how much influence he would have on my life.
I lived a short distance from him in Balgowlah. I was selling raffle tickets to raise money for my school and crossed swords with him from age 12-18, stoically standing up to his inspection of my principles and answering the questions he asked me. Even though he was very polite and quietly spoken he was quite forbidding yet over the years very genuine as well as generous of spirit.
Six years later I went to work for WA Flick and was taught by John Gerozisis who was taught and mentored by Phil. The text as well as a lot if the specimens and wonderful 35mm slides all had Phil’s hand on them.
Like many before and after me I loved it all and found my life long niche. I was lucky in that I applied myself and won the Hadlington Prize ( copy of CSIRO Insects of Australia) much to the relief of the Flick directors as they had funded that prize from the beginning and apparently I was the first to win it.
A few years later I was asked by my good mate Peter Lamond to cover for him at TAFE whilst he was on leave.
I modelled my journey around the Hadlington/ Gerozisis style. I also encouraged my class members to undertake the Hadlington / Taylor Timber Pest Courses (promoted by the AEPMA)with me. The quality of the input and especially the specimens and the field trips blew me away.
Phil, Ted as well as Peter Lamond and Peter Meadows motivated me to do better and were incredible role models.
I was also lucky to engage with Phil about and via TAFE teaching and contract marking for the correspondence course and their on campus tutorials.
I was also privileged to attend sites with Phil and his Research Group.
A number of years ago at an Industry function dinner Phil was at our table. I was up the other end with the younger 50 year old pest controllers. Someone then asked : “How old was Phil ?”
Quickly I responded rather cheekily: “ He is a timber man.......perhaps we should cut him in half and count the rings ....”
Well I can tell you there was nothing wrong with his hearing. He thought about it then laughed and smiled.......I will remember that forever.
Phil was the Grandfather of three industries: Pest Control, Tree Surgery and Aboriculture. He was the servant of many.”
Kevin Girard
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