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David William Goodall

SYDNEY. — A 102-year-old academician from Western Australia told to work from home is not happy with the decision and believes if he had to pack up his office, he’d been stuck in his flat the whole day.

David William Goodall, an honorary research associate attached with the Center for Ecosystem Management at Perth’s Edith Cowan University, said the decision to ask him to leave was to avoid a possible legal action if he was to have an accident on campus.

Goodall whose ecology career goes back 70 years said he will still be allowed into the university campus but not without an assistant by his side.

“I would like to continue in my pattern of work, partly because it’s a way of seeing my surroundings more than I would,” Goodall told local media yesterday.

He admits to having some difficulties in walking and does not walk more than a kilometre, but has no trouble with his commuting to work, which involves two buses and a train.

He also described his health as “pretty good.”

ECU’s vice-chancellor Steven Chapman said the university had identified risks associated with Goodall’s travel to the Perth campus and also has concerns about his general well-being when on university grounds.

“To minimise these risks, we have consulted with him and his family and reached an agreement to set up a home office at a location of his choosing,” Chapman said.

“David will always be welcomed at ECU and we will make travel arrangements, at no cost to him, to attend pre-arranged meetings and events,” he said.

Chapman added Goodall whose honorary appointment expires this December was renewed for another three years in recognition to the many contributions he has made in the field of ecology in the past. —Xinhua.