Bill is widely regarded as the 'father' of the Australian Coal Preparation Society in its present form, and was the treasurer on the foundation committee. As well, he was a long standing member of the NSW Branch committee. The Society recognises his significant contribution by the NSW Branch awarding, annually, the Bill McKay Scholarship. His service is listed below:
NSW Committee:
National Board:
Conference Committees:
Technical:
Other:
Bill became an established figure in the industry through working for Allis Chalmers (now Allis Mineral Systems Australia); this started his long involvement with screens, culminating in his appointment as National Manager of Honert Vibrationtechnic in 1982. With both companies, Bill made his mark with bigger, better and more innovative screens.
Bill McKay died on 25 January 1993 after a long, and for many of his colleagues unsuspected, battle with cancer. Typically, only days before his death Bill put Society second only to his family, making the final touches to Part 6 – Comminution and Screening in the Society’s Advanced Coal Preparation Monograph series.