Gordon Binns

After 1938, Binns served at several bank branches in rural Victoria, including Cobram (1938–144), Ouyen (1945–47) and Terang (1948–50).^[1] During this period, he began writing about natural history, publishing "Notes for Birdland" in Savings Weekly, the journal of the State Savings Bank.^[1] For 20 years, he published "The Out of Doors", a weekly column in the Terang Express, using the pen name Neophema.^[1][2] In 1943, he joined the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union.^[1] He published several articles in the Union's flagship journal, The Emu, including "Birds of Terang, South-western Victoria".^[1][5] In his final years with the State Savings Bank, Binns was manager at several suburban branches (1951–56), at Horsham (1957–1960) and Box Hill (1961–64).^[1] During this period, he was also a prominent member of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, serving as their Secretary from 1953–56 and again from 1959–63, and President from 1965–66.^[1][2]

Binns died in Blackburn, Victoria on 24 September 1976, just a few months after the death of his wife, Ilma.^[1] He was survived by his three daughters, Ruth, Phyllis and Meredith, and his son Greg.^[1] In an obituary published in the journal The Emu, W.R. Wheeler wrote that "As one who worked with him on Council, I regarded his diligence and energy, particularly over his correspondence with members throughout Australia and overseas, as outstanding. He was truly one of the old school."^[1]