Introduction
History
In the early 1970s the only successful way of dealing with termites was by spraying chemicals no longer on the market. Today, thanks mainly to the work of John French, the alternatives are not only safe for us and the environment, they focus on getting rid of the problem.
John French had studied Forestry in Aberdeen, Scotland and Forest Entomology in the University of Sydney, before acquiring his PHD at the Oregon State University.
In 1972 he joined the CSIRO in the wood division. Shortly after he started, a nurse, who had a son with leukemia, called needing to get termites out of her house without using chemical sprays. This was the impetus that started John looking for non-toxic solutions to termite problems.
John has spent a great deal of his time with the CSIRO developing and refining his method of controlling termites through baitboxes. In 1989 he went to America and shared his knowledge. From that visit a lot of the new termite baiting systems have been developed.
Robert Cameron of SA Pest Free Naturally, first met with John in Melbourne at a workshop John was giving on the control of termites through bait boxes on 11th November, 1996. Robert was extremely impressed with John's work and came back and started practising it in the field in Adelaide.
Robert and John have kept in contact ever since, sharing information and findings. Through this association, SA Pest Free Naturally has developed the John French System of Termite Prevention and Eradication.