BH Neumann Award for Howard Reeves

A BH Neumann Award has been awarded to Tasmanian Mathematics Educator Howard Reeves.

Reeves (pictured above with Professor Neumann and wife Judith after receiving the Award in Hobart on Thursday 19 August 1999), currently the Professional Curriculum Officer (Mathematics) in the Tasmanian Department of Education, has provided strong service to Mathematics Education in Tasmania and nationally since he first obtained a Tasmanian Teachers Certificate in 1971.

The Award, made by the Australian Mathematics Trust, is for Reeves' "Significant Contribution to the Enrichment of Mathemtics Learning in Australia". The Trust, a non-profit organisation which administers contests, enrichment activities and Australia's role in the International Mathematical Olympiad, makes up to three of these Awards annually. They are named in honour of Professor BH Neumann AC, Foundation Professor of Mathematics in the Research School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the Australian National University and founder of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers. Professor Neumann, who turns 90 this year, travelled to Hobart to personally bestow the Award on Howard Reeves.

Citation

Born at Wynyard, Reeves graduated in 1972 with a BSc and Dip Ed from the University of Tasmania and had teaching positions up to the level of Senior Mathematics Master at New Norfolk High School, Hobart Matriculation College and Reece High School, before taking up his present position, in which he is able to provide resources to mathematics teachers all over Tasmania.

Reeves has provided significant contribution to the Mathematical Association of Tasmania, of which he was President and to the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, of which he served a two year term as President in 1992 and 1993 and member of Council for many years.

He has been heavily involved in both Tasmanian and National Curriculum activities, having been involved in drafting the national statement on Mathematics for Australian Schools, and worked on Tasmanian projects for K-8 Mathematics Guidelines, Planning and Teaching for Numeracy in Years 7 to 9 and many others. He has written or co-authored a number of National and Tasmanian papers on mathematics teaching and the curriculum.

Reeves was a member of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Council from 1991 to 1993, the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee from 1988 to 1998, the Advisory Committee of the Australian Mathematics Trust since 1992, and has been Tasmanian Director of the Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac Awards since 1986.

He was also awarded the Australian College of Education Tasmania Award in 1996 and was conferred Life Membership of the Mathematical Association of Tasmania in 1998.

Peter Taylor
19 August 1999

Howard Reeves, with Judith and daughters (from left) Janelle, Kathy, Rachel and Lucy at the function.

Judith Reeves, Howard's sister Wilma Flint, father Roy and brother Kaye, with Howard at the function.