In 1985, the Royal Entomological Society of London commemorated its Royal Charter and 150th anniversary of establishment with a year‐long expedition in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. I participated, with some 150 other scientists – virtually all entomologists – supported by volunteers from the British Armed Forces. The expedition was named Project Wallace in honour of Alfred Russell Wallace, a former president of the society, and those who participated in it were affectionately called ‘Wallies’. Most of the military volunteers had just served in the Falkland Islands but had no idea why they were there or what tropical biology was about. But one energetic Australian stepped in and within days had established an evening lecture series. Roger Kitching's lectures transformed the lives of many of the volunteers, so much so, that several on leaving the military are now full time entomologists. It also impacted on me and other scientists who were there. So too has Roger changed the lives of many of the undergraduate and postgraduate students that he has taught in Australia and elsewhere in the world since 1977.