Byles and Calcutt Award

IRSE Australasia encourages younger members to fully participate in the technical meetings, including presenting technical papers.

An annual award is provided for the younger member who presents the best paper at a main technical meeting.

Name Byles and Calcutt Award
Announced At the AGM for papers presented in the previous year.
Prize
A plaque and assistance for attendance at an IRSE Technical Meeting within the next twelve months, subject to a maximum of $1,500.
If taken outside Australia, a Paper on the Meeting to be presented.
Eligibility
Not older than 35 years of age.
Only papers prepared and presented individually will be considered.
Current membership of IRSE Australasia is required.
Criteria
The award will be assessed by a panel of the three immediate past chairpersons of IRSE Australasia.
The Assessment factors are:
• Originality of ideas & concepts of the Topic.
• Advancement of the Science of Signalling.
• Quality of presentation & delivery.
Appeals
The Award is at the sole discretion of Panel, if no Paper is deemed satisfactory then no award will be given.
About Byles and Calcutt

C B Byles (NSW) and Francis M Calcutt (Victoria) were the engineers who introduced modern signalling to their respective railways, which for many years had the only electrified signalling system in Australia.  The systems they introduced - route signalling in NSW and speed signalling in Victoria are still in use.

Both Byles and Calcutt were members of the IRSE from its earliest days.  Before the inauguration of the Australian Section of the IRSE in 1947 there would have been no contact between signal and communications staff of the serveral Australian railways, the only official contact would have been at the Chief Engineers' level at their annual conferences.  The IRSE has enabled many engineers at all levels to discuss their work activities at the regular techical meetings. This has promoted the free flow of information and has led to many lasting friendships.

The Byles and Calcutt Award recognises the contribution of these gentlemen to the profession and to the IRSE.

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