Without wanting to insult anyone else, I would like to say that Win Means has probably been the most inspiring scientist for me. His help and encouragement for my research are gratefully acknowledged. My study of veins would not have led anywhere without the guidance and many discussions with Mark Jessell and Janos Urai. Nick Oliver is thanked for introducing me to many of localities with fascinating veins and he, Alvar Soesoo, Marlina Elburg, Chris Janka, Michelle Robinson and others are thanked for their company and help in the field. Lynn Evans is thanked for her help with the numerical modelling with BASIL. Margaret, Doug, Griselda and the late Reg Sprigg are thanked for their hospitality and access to rocks at Arkaroola, as are Maurice and Jane Phillips for Poolamacca. Anne-Marie Boullier and Janos Urai are thanked for their careful review of the manuscript. Research was initially funded through an ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship and was subsequently funded by Monash University, through a Logan Research fellowship. Finally I would like to thank Mark Jessell and Janos Urai for giving me the honour to publish in this CD-amicorum.