Obituaries Australia

The Sydney scientist who built the first nuclear reactors in Australia, Canada and Britain has died in Melbourne, aged 76.

Dr Charles Norman Watson-Munro, who lived in Blakehurst, died peacefully in hospital on August 10 after a brief illness.

The New Zealand-born physicist was chief scientist with the Australian Atomic Energy Commission from 1955 to 1959 and directed the development of the laboratories and reactor at Lucas Heights.

He went on to become professor of plasma physics at Sydney University in 1960, a position he held until he retired in 1980.

Dr Watson-Munro's funeral service will be held at the South Chapel of the Woronora Crematorium at 1.30 today.