David Goodall
David Goodall: His career covers 70 years, work in five continents and author of more than 130 scientific works, including theatre performances. Edith Cowan University

If Tacoma General Hospital in Washington has a 91-year-old nurse, Florence Rigney, still employed, assigned at the medical centre’s operating room, Perth has a 102-year-old academic. Like Rigney, Professor David William Goodall, an honorary research associate at the Edith Cowan University, refuses to stop working.

However, the university ordered Goodall to work from home instead of reporting at the Centre of Ecosystem Management over concerns for his safety when commuting alone at his age. The university wants to avoid possible legal problems if the centenarian meets an accident on campus while commuting.

At 102, Goodall has some difficulties walking and could not walk beyond one kilometre. However, he says he does not have any problem riding two buses and a train, which takes 90 minutes, to reach the campus, reports WAToday.

Steve Chapman, vice-chancellor, points out there are risks with Goodall’s travel to and from the Joondalup campus. “To minimise these risks, we have consulted with him and his family and reached an agreement to set up a home office or a location at his choosing,” Chapman says.

However, if it would be up to him, Goodall wants to continue with his current pattern of work “partly because it’s a way of seeing my surroundings more than I would.” Karen Goodall-Smith, his daughter, agrees the university’s decision would have a dramatic impact on her father’s sense of independence and mental well-being. “It would be the worst thing you could possibly do, I don’t know if he would survive it,” Goodall-Smith says.

Chapman adds Goodall would always be welcome at the campus, and the university would make travel arrangements for the professor, to be shouldered by the university, for the centenarian to attend pre-arranged meetings and events.

Chapman says that with the expiry of Goodall’s honorary appointment in December, the university looks forward to renewing his contract once more for another three years in recognition of his contribution and future contributions to the field of ecology, reports 9News. His career covers 70 years, work in five continents and author of more than 130 scientific works, including theatre performances.

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Source: ABC News (Australia)