Hi Patrick,

No I didn't actually. What most others apparently don't realise is that I had my life's work in herpetology stolen from me by a process of academic theft. When I dared to publish MY RESEARCH RESULTS we were initially accused of creating a practical joke to "get back at" the Australian Museum or some such other nonsense. When it was slowly realized that we were correct in our taxonomic arrangements, their tack changed to the smear of stealing the mysterious, nameless "others" work. What a joke that was. I would have no sooner put Cogger's or anyone else's thoughts on Australian reptile systematics into my head, than put cyanide into my stomach - and the same goes for that unscientific gang of imbeciles that did the bidding of the suppressionists as well. At every opportunity, our work has been appropriated by others either totally without even a fragment of credit, or by some circuitous methods that amount to no less than scientific theft or even fraud. Not a single article in the last 20 years has bothered to give unqualified recognition to us for our originality - not for ANYTHING. At every opportunity our concepts of new species and genera have been ever so quietly placed in the literature usually without any mention that we were the first to offer such a proposition. Credit were credit is due doesn't apply in this case it seems. Both Ross Wellington and I were treated apallingly by the "establishment" in herpetology because we dared to challenge the "accepted" classification of the day. The taste police in Australian herpetology effectively censored our "Classification" paper from even being indexed in the Zoological Record, and subscibers of the Australian Journal of Herpetology were actively lobbied to cancel their descriptions to effectively "kill" the publication. I was hounded out of employment at every opportunity by academics contacting my employers demanding they dismiss me as I was a threat to the scientific stability of the nation! Without money, I was virtually driven into poverty and as a consequence forced to live in the back of my car for over two years. I was forced to work as a builder's labourer breaking up concrete with a sledge hammer to earn what pathetic money I could. My character was defamed and smeared in publications and the media to the point where both my parents died believing that their eldest son had disgraced them, for they like most Australians grew up in a world where the opinion of an Academic was deserving of great respect. As for trying to continue my research in herpetology, well, that was really fun. My wildlife permits were revoked, cancelled or not processed to prevent further research on the recommendation of the suppressionists. I was denied the right to examine specimens in museums in Australia, even though I had personally donated thousands of specimens. No one sent me reprints that I requested, even though I had once loaned over 20,000 reprints to one of these people to help in their research! My published articles were systematically removed from academic libraries to the point that they became virtually unknown works other than from the irrational criticisms that were published in their wake. Even recently, when I visited the Queensland Museum just as a member of the public this year, I even had to experience the indignity of being shadowed by their security staff when they learnt of my presence in the building. What a sick little place my country has become. In any other country in the world I would have been made at the very least an Honorary Associate of a major museum or a university for my efforts in herpetology. But not here in Australia. Here herpetology was controlled by a gaggle of petty parochial, self-serving, unproductive incompetents that spent most of their careers bludging on public funds as they parasitized outsiders for any scintilla of original thought they may have had. I was told that's par for the course for even broader zoology in Australia, and I should have just played the game. But I just couldn't, because unlike the fat controllers, I actually loved herpetology - indeed I loved science. It may surprise you to also know that as we were about to submit the "Synopsis" to press in 1983, I remarked to Ross Wellington that it could effectively destroy any career in herpetology that we might have. But we proceeded because we truly believed that the need was there for such a reassessment and so the personal risk was considered worth it. The ensuring orchestrated campaign of lies and bastardization that followed in the subsequent years - even to this day - has made me realise what a waste of my life it all was. And you know Patrick, as much as I found the actions of my detractors distressful, it was the silence of my so-called friends and colleagues that really hurt me the most. Those who really knew me at the time and were familiar with the originality of my herp research interests and efforts, knew full well the true story, yet cowardly remained silent. But who could blame them really? And sure, we had to accept some blame I suppose, for we didn't ask their permission to speak our minds did we? Of course this is not really the time, place or space to deal with this issue, so it is best that I leave this matter for later. But as for Ray Hoser, well he can publish what, and where he likes as far as I am concerned. One should not make the mistake of thinking that Hoser and I are alike in any way shape or form - because we are most decidely not! Like everyone else, his taxonomic arrangements are on his shoulders though. My disagreement with him is over his apparent duplicity, and misinformation that he has provided me on the issue - that's all. I could of course help him learn from my most bitter experiences, but as most would already know, Ray is not one to take advice from others. I suspect he shall regret his foray into taxonomy...



Richard Wells

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