Page 51 - Demo

49Aerogard, the classic insect repellent, has been sprayed on Aussie skin for decades, but its origins date back to the early 1940s.It%u2019s summer. You%u2019ve fired up the BBQ, the drinks are cold, but it%u2019s dusk and the mozzies are out in force. Suddenly, someone pulls out a blue can, and the familiar smell of Aerogard fills the air. Everyone relaxes, and nobody cares if the snags now taste like bug spray. Aerogard, the classic insect repellent, has been sprayed on Aussie skin for decades, but its origins date back to the early 1940s. Doug Waterhouse, a scientist at the CSIRO, had been working on a repellent to keep flies o%u00a0 our precious sheep. However, with the outbreak of World War II, particularly the war in the Pacific, the focus shifted to the welfare of our troops.Waterhouse developed a repellent to shield the diggers from malaria, often testing the%u00a0potions on himself. He would cover one leg with one version of the formula and the other leg with another version, then face a swarm of%u00a0mosquitoes.During the Royal Tour of 1963, panic set in%u00a0 when Her Majesty was seen swatting away flies. Doug, along with his latest potion, was%u00a0 summoned to Government House, where he%u00a0 demonstrated its e%u00a0ectiveness on the royal%u00a0aides.At first, they were too afraid to spray it on Her Majesty, fearing it might stain her clothes. However, as she was increasingly spotted doing%u00a0the %u2018Australian salute%u2019, the pressure grew. Finally, the Queen was doused in Doug%u2019s creation%u00a0 %u2013 and it worked. The success became huge news in the press.The Queen%u2019s magical repellent quickly gained attention, and insecticide company Mortein was%u00a0 soon asking for the formula. Waterhouse and the CSIRO obliged, as that was the policy at%u00a0 the time. Aerogard soon hit the market and%u00a0 became a staple of Australian life, with its%u00a0 recognisable smell forever linked to our outdoor lifestyle.In 1980, Doug Waterhouse was awarded an Order of Australia for his service to science. He passed away in 2000 and is remembered as one of the nation%u2019s most respected scientists.YEAR 1963DESIGNER Doug Waterhouse (CSIRO)MANUFACTURER Mortein