Honorary Awards & Ceremonial Committee

Murdoch University HONORARY AWARDS & CEREMONIAL COMMITTEE

5 December 2003

MINUTES

Present: Prof Geoffrey Bolton (Chancellor) (chair) Prof John Yovich (Vice Chancellor) Ms Pat Allen Prof Tom Lyons Ms Beth Strang (Acting Guild President)

Mr Andrew Bain (secretary) Mr Nathan Giles, Manager, Corporate and Public Relations

Apologies: Judge Kate O’Brien Mr Malcolm Macpherson Prof Jen McComb Prof Simone Volet

1. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 10 November 2003 were confirmed.

3. Inauguration of Chancellor

At its meeting on 24 November, Senate resolved to elect Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Bolton as Chancellor of the University for a second term, expiring on 24 November 2006. It also resolved to ask the Honorary Awards and Ceremonial Committee to consider whether the University should hold an installation ceremony for the Chancellor.

The Chancellor advised the Committee that his preference is not to have an installation ceremony, as he has already been in the position for nearly 18 months, an installation ceremony had not been held for the Vice Chancellor, and Murdoch should not be seen as imitating the elaborate ceremony held by Curtin. He would prefer that the money be spent on small functions for Senators to get together with staff and students. The meeting respected the Chancellor’s wishes on this, and agreed not to hold an installation ceremony.

4. Senate Medals

The meeting considered who should be awarded Senate Medals for 2003. An email had been sent to all staff inviting nominations. Five persons had been nominated: four members of general staff and one member of academic staff. The agenda included supporting papers for each nomination. The secretary withdrew from the meeting for the early part of this item.

The Committee felt that the academic staff member nominated was not truly eligible, as the case made was similar to the basis on which he had gained promotion. All four others were seen as very worthy of Senate Medals, but awarding four in one year was seen as too many: the only year in which more than two had been awarded was 2000, which was in recognition of that being the University’s 25th anniversary year. It was agreed that 2005, being the 30th anniversary year, warrants recognition of staff who have served the University with distinction throughout its history; this may justify a larger number of Medallists than in other years. On this basis, it was agreed to hold over one of the nominees until then, even though she is seen as no less deserving than the other three. One of the other nominees had also served the University for over twenty years, but as he had recently left the University, it was agreed to award him a Medal now.

RESOLVED: (a) to award Senate Medals to Gerry Box, Rob Osborn and Jill Soderstrom; 2. HACC/9/2003 (b) that the award of Senate Medals in 2005 be a special commemoration for long-standing staff who have served the University with distinction throughout its history; (c) to defer until then the award of a Senate Medal to the other general staff member nominated in the current round and to the other person considered in committee.

5. Murdoch Lecturer 2004

The last meeting resolved to invite Dr Fiona Terry to be the Murdoch Lecturer for 2004. Despite telephone and other contacts, the University had not been able to ascertain yet whether Dr Terry would be able to accept the invitation. The meeting therefore considered other possible speakers in case Dr Terry is not available.

RESOLVED: (a) if Dr Terry is unable to be the Murdoch Lecturer for 2004, to invite Ms Janine HACC/10/2003 Shepherd AM to be the Lecturer; (b) that Ms Wendy McCarthy be the second reserve for 2004, and be placed on a list of possible Murdoch Lecturers for 2005.

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Honorary Awards and Ceremonial Committee minutes - 5 December 2003