Bill Merilees

1940 – 2025

Biologist, Macquarie Island, 1967

The following is partly in Bill’s own words

Born in Vancouver in 1940, Bill graduated with a BSc in Botany and Zoology from the University of British Columbia. After graduating, he embarked on a world tour. In Australia he was introduced to the scientist Dr Robert Carrick of the Mawson Institute in Adelaide, who subsequently asked him if he would be interested in going to Macquarie Island. Originally for a summer period, the appointment changed to one of three years, including the year spent at Macquarie. Accepting the offer, Bill resumed his travels, visiting Asia, East Africa, Egypt and Europe. A quick trip back home to Vancouver and then he returned to take up his appointment. Bill’s diary records that he hiked almost 900 miles on Macquarie Island in 1967, many with 5 gallons of kerosene in the backpack. On return from Macquarie, Bill spent six months at the Mawson Institute in Adelaide, he married June in Brisbane and they returned to Vancouver together. A position at Selkirk College followed, then a position as a naturalist with Parks Canada. In 1978 the family moved to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, where they remained. Bill retired from BC Parks in 1997. In retirement, Bill pursued independent research into micro mollusks. His research uncovered several species previously unknown to science. His lifetime of notes and extensive collection from along the breadth of the BC Coast was donated to the Beatty Biodiversity Museum at the University of British Columbia in 2022.

Bill stayed in touch with many if his former colleagues from his year on Macquarie Island and was chief organiser of a reunion in Queensland in 2017.

Bill is survived by his wife June, three sons, one daughter and their respective families.