EXAMINER COMMENTS ON CULTURAL KEYLINE THESIS

This is an extremely well written and competent thesis. Although at
first glance, it seems difficult to sustain a PhD with a biography of
one man, the candidate has achieved this well and in the process,
added immeasurably to the literature on radical innovations in the
treatment of the mentally ill.

The thesis is a meticulous documentation on the life of Neville
Yeomans, undoubtedly one of Australia's pioneers in new ways of
treating not only the mentally ill, but also those who were
previously considered pathologically criminal and a danger to community.

The candidate's methodology is idiosyncratic but highly successful.
Indeed it was refreshing to read a thesis so full of insight and yet
laced with large doses of humanity.

Yet if we are to judge the thesis by the objective criteria
established by his university (and most other Universities) then the
candidate passes with flying honours.

It is original and adds immensely to knowledge; a great deal is
learnt about the power of therapeutic communities and the ideas of
one man who tested such communities in Australia.

The candidate has established his ability to carry out independent
research and synthesises his observations with critical aplomb,
sharply pointing out the relevance of what he discovered about
Neville Yeomans' new ways of dealing with the mentally ill.

In conclusion I recommend that the thesis be passed with no
requirements for correction or amendment. Please pass onto the
candidate my admiration for a wonderful thesis, sensitively written
and an outstanding contribution to the generally unknown history of a remarkable Australian.

First Examiner

The candidate fine tuned his most important instrument,

which is his own perceptive self, to a fine level of effectiveness

by taking on a research methodology which also provided with

the necessary attitude in conducting his research in the most

fair and productive manner.

His elucidation of Yeomans' 'Cultural Keyline' as an approach to
psychological study and as a derivative from Yeomans Father's
'agricultural theory' is masterful.

The candidate’s meticulous documentation and account of Yeomans'

work at Fraser House reveal the ingenuity of Yeomans' work.

Most fascinating is the candidate’s presentation of Yeomans' Cultural
Keyline as a micro model for epoch transition. It is Yeomans' ideas
and tools for facilitating a utopian society that makes his work
unique among psychological theories. The candidate was able to

show that that indeed Yeomans aimed to strategically and patiently

facilitate the evolution of a utopian society. If psychologists are to

take seriously their role in social transformation, the candidate's

work on Yeomans' approach is a good read for them.

The candidate's cataloguing, describing, and explaining of Yeomans'

work on this area is itself a significant contribution to the developing

field of community psychology. Yeomans provides the psychologists

working in the community not only tools for working with macro

social structures, as is the wont of social psychologists and

community psychologists, but also tools in working with groups

big and small, and individuals as well.

Overall, and if we evaluate from the central goal of the
dissertation, the work is commendable and for the reasons

that have been earlier presented, merit the evaluation of

high pass with a cum laude rating.

Second Examiner