http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/12/1076548163833.html

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Celebration of Darwin is not for all
By Richard Macey
February 13, 2004


Some of Australia's most respected scientists were there to mark the
195th birthday of the father of evolutionary science.

So were about 300 members of the public, who crowded into Sydney
Grammar's Alistair Mackerras Theatre. But one guest of honour was
nowhere to be seen.

To mark Charles Darwin's birthday, the Australian Museum Society,
Australian Skeptics and the Humanist Society of NSW presented three
new awards to people recognised as having done the most over the past
year to promote evolution.

Professor Mike Archer, Dean of Science at the University of NSW,
accepted an award for his contributions to the science. Professor Ruth
Mawson, director of Macquarie University's centre for ecostratigraphy
and palaeobiology, accepted another.

But when Carl Wieland was declared winner of the inaugural Wilberforce
Award, no one stepped forward.

"We sent him an email, saying congratulations and inviting him,"
Richard Saunders, president of Australian Skeptics, said later. "But
we didn't hear a peep."

But no one really expected the Brisbane-based Dr Wieland, head of
Answer in Genesis, probably Australia's leading promoter of
creationist theory, to accept the award. It is, after all, dedicated
to opponents of evolution who "through the silly nature of their
arguments or actions, have inadvertently done the most to promote
evolution as a fact".

"Carl," said Australian Museum paleontologist Alex Ritchie, "was a
standout winner. For 25 years he has been defending the indefensible.
His efforts haven't gone unnoticed."

Speaking from Brisbane yesterday, Dr Wieland said: "I got the
invitation to accept their booby prize . . . but would one attend a
national lampoon association?"

He said he might have attended, had he also been invited to put his
views.

Dr Wieland said he believed the world was "about 6000 years old . . .
we get that information from the scriptures."

He hoped the "backhanded compliment" might lead people to examine his
arguments.
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But no one really expected the Brisbane-based Dr Wieland, head of
Answer in Genesis, probably Australia's leading promoter of
creationist theory, to accept the award. It is, after all, dedicated
to opponents of evolution who "through the silly nature of their
arguments or actions, have inadvertently done the most to promote
evolution as a fact".

"Carl," said Australian Museum paleontologist Alex Ritchie, "was a
standout winner. For 25 years he has been defending the indefensible.
His efforts haven't gone unnoticed."

Speaking from Brisbane yesterday, Dr Wieland said: "I got the
invitation to accept their booby prize . . .