His activities started with public lectures and articles in geological
magazines, and soon he was attacked by the creationist movement. He was
accused of being guilty of "a tragic misuse of his authority and influence"
(Prayer News, August 1987).
In 1988 Prof. Plimer engaged in a dispute with the American guru of
"Scientific Creationism", Dr. Duane Gish of San Diego, and the results
were legal action, hate-mail, and an organised campaign by creationists
to have Prof. Plimer dismissed from his chair.
His public lectures then, as he put it, assumed Orwellian dimensions".
Defamatory pamphlets, audio- and video-taping of every word he said, stacked
audiences who chanted when he spoke, more hate mail, ("Dear sir, Drop dead")
followed. Prof. Plimer continued his anti-creationist activities with radio
and TV exposure, publication of more articles and debates - concurrently
with administration, teaching, research and his move to the Headship of
the Department of Earth Sciences in the University of Melbourne. As a result
of these activities, creationists described him as "atheist, Godhater,
agent of Satan, amoral evolutionist to be compared with the Nazis." At
this time, Prof. Plimer received strong support from theologians who stated
that "creationism is anti-Christian. Creationist activities increased,
videos and literature were distributed to public and private schools in
Australia - and used by some.
In 1992, the controversy took on a new aspect. A "Dr." Alan Roberts,
who held a mail order doctorate from a Florida university, gave a series
of lectures on his supposed discovery of Noah's ark in Eastern Turkey.
Prof. Plimer knew the area from extensive field work and also knew that
the supposed ark, was actually the outcrop of a synclinal structure. At
Roberts' lectures, Plimer tried to ask questions but was forcibly ejected
by "thought police". Subsequently, he underwent ejection at a university
meeting, this time by police, and again at a third meeting by hired security
guards, using batons.
Finally, Prof. Plimer received a supreme court writ for "Defamation
of the Creationists". Mismanagement of his case by different law-firms
led to the loss of almost $A 400,000. Finally an efficient law-firm was
found but bankruptcy was imminent. Having sold his assets and his house,
Prof. Plimer now lives in a small miner's cottage. While all this was taking
place, Prof. Plimer was maintaining a heavy undergraduate teaching programme,
research and Ph.D.-student supervision. 80 public lectures were given per
year. He had his own weekly radio programme and made some TV appearances.
During these years he also wrote his book "Telling Lies for God" (Random
House, Australia, 1994) with a foreword by the Anglican Arch-bishop of
Brisbane.
Litigations then continued in the Federal Court of Australia and judgement
was handed down in summer 1997.
Prof. Plimer found he had lost a major part of the case. He is now
likely to face a cost order of $A 400,000. However, he has decided to appeal
and further results of the proceedings cannot be expected before Christmas.
This heroic and unselfish battle against creationism has attracted worldwide
public interest, from the BBC to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. However,
this has not assisted Prof. Plimer with his financial problems. He has
been elected an Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society in London in
appreciation of his stand against creationism; he was the 1994 Humanist
of the Year and received the Eureka Prize for the Promotion of Science.
Our Society has also made him an Honorary Member. However, he and his family
still face acute economic problems, including the fact that he still owes
a years salary in legal costs, quite apart from those expenses with
which he may still be confronted.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, a decision was taken
at the August 1997 council meeting of our Society, to assist Prof. Plimer
and his family in their present economic plight. At that date, it was not
known that a similar plan was afoot in Australia and indeed there now exists
"The Prof. I.R. Plimer Fighting Fund" in Broken Hill. It is administered
by the mayor of Broken Hill, Mr. Peter Black, and the Reverend Brian Nicholls
of the Uniting Church of Australia. Our Counicl feels that administrative
costs should be kept to the minimum, and donations sent direct to the fund
at the Broken Hill Community Credit Union Ltd (Bank no. 802377), account
no. 56679.
It is seen that through the relentless and heroic efforts of our colleague,
the creationist campaign in Australia has been seriously dented and its
power significantly reduced. However, the battle is not yet over. The international
geological community, on whose behalf this fight is being waged, now has
a chance to express its appreciation, and I would urge you most sincerely
to contribute to the Plimer Fighting Fund.
E.F.Stumpfl
President, SGA
"The Prof. I.R. Plimer Fighting Fund"
Broken Hill Community Credit Union Ltd (Bank no. 802377), account no.
56679
Broken Hill, NSW, Australia