Bym Porter

Alan James Porter (17 July 1909 – 31 October 1988) who was known by his nickname, Bym, an early childhood attempt to say Jim, was an Australian engineer who managed the design and construction of the Australian National Library and the Royal Australian Mint. As principal engineer in charge of the Canberra water supply, he was instrumental in the fluoridation of the national capital's water supply in 1964.

Early life and education

Porter was born in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville, New South Wales, the third of three children of May (née Pawley) and Thomas Porter. His older siblings were a brother, Ian Porter, and a sister, Alexia. During his childhood, the Porter family lived in Croydon and Collaroy and he attended Newington College (1922 – 1927). After leaving Newington, he joined the NSW Public Works Department as a cadet draughtsman and undertook a part-time diploma in local government engineering at the Sydney Technical College, graduating with Honours in 1933.

Sports

In 1938 and 1939 he was a member of the Mona Vale Surf Lifesaving Club's senior surfboat crew that won the Australian Championships and he played representative rugby union.

Engineering career

Porter was employed by the Commonwealth Work Department in 1936 and moved to Canberra the following year. In that city he met and married his wife, Una. He was later posted to Melbourne, Darwin and Adelaide. Porter returned to Canberra in 1955 as the supervising engineer in hydraulics. In 1962 he became the principal engineer and held that position until retirement in 1969.

War service

Porter enlisted in the Australian Army in 1943 and served as a lieutenant in New Guinea with the 2/6 Australian Field Company.