140 Years: Making History Together the University of Adelaide Alumni Magazine
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The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine Winter 2014 140 years: making history together The University of Adelaide Alumni Magazine www.adelaide.edu.au/lumen The Lumen masthead is Message from derived from the University of Adelaide motto “Sub Cruce Lumen” meaning ‘light the Vice-Chancellor under the [Southern] Cross’. Today, almost 140 years elcome to this edition of Lumen are those who are making a difference since our establishment, which celebrates our 140th to the lives of our students and our the University of Adelaide Wanniversary. Founded on 6 research and teaching efforts today. community is united in its November 1874, the University of Adelaide As alumni and friends of the is Australia’s third-oldest university. University, I hope you enjoy reading quest for discovery and the The University was created to refl ect the this anniversary edition. light of new knowledge. unique character of South Australia itself, and in this edition we showcase that heritage and the impact we have had on the life of our state, our nation and beyond through the efforts and endeavours of our alumni. We also hear from alumni voices—from such people as former Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow Meredith Hooper, and Managing Director and Chief Brewer of Coopers Brewery, Dr Tim Cooper, recently appointed Professor Warren Bebbington Chairperson of our new Alumni Council. Vice-Chancellor and President From the outset, the generosity of philanthropic supporters strengthened the University. The stories of the generosity of our earliest benefactors are inspiring, as Contributors: Connie Dutton, Genevieve Sanchez, Ian Williams, Contents Winter 2014 Andrew Cook, Peter Burdon, Leah Grantham Design: Chris Tonkin, Naomi Cain Editorial Enquiries: University Engagement Level 2, 230 North TerraceAdelaide SA 5005 Email [email protected] www.alumni.adelaide.edu.au Telephone: +61 8 8313 5800 Facsimile: +61 8 8313 5808 Circulation: 45070 in print, 21654 online subscriptions www.adelaide.edu.au/lumen The University of Adelaide, SA 5005 Australia, 2 6 10 CRICOS Provider Number 00123M Copyright © 2014 The University of Adelaide ISSN 1320 0747 Registered by Australia Post No 56500/00097 Views expressed by contributors in Lumen are not necessarily endorsed by the University of Adelaide. No responsibility is accepted by the University, editor or printer for the accuracy of information contained in either the text or advertisements. Material may be reproduced without permission 16 27 32 from Lumen with acknowledgment of its origin. Front cover image: Celebrating 140 years 1980s 2 19 Medical graduates University founders deliver on a grand vision A new era of commercialisation 1891 including Laura Fowler neé Hope, the University’s fi rst female 4 1870s–1890s 21 1980s Alumni Voice medical graduate Fledgling university aims high Susan Coles 6 1900s–1920s 22 1990s The reputation grows Exceptional research expertise Many of the images used in this issue were supplied courtesy of the University of Adelaide Archives 8 1930s–1940s 24 1990s Alumni Voice www.adelaide.edu.au/records/archives Delivering growth in times of adversity Dr Ines Atmosukarto or email [email protected] WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this publication may 10 1950s 25 2000s contain images of deceased persons. Boom times as North Terrace reaches capacity New millennium signals major expansion As part of the University’s commitment to sustainable practices we encourage 12 1950s Alumni Voice 27 2000s Alumni Voice you to receive Lumen online. Meredith Hooper Rebecca Richards To join our online mailing list please email [email protected] 13 1960s 28 Lasting legacies Creation of the Festival State Enduring support from our fi rst benefactors Bequest turns dreams into reality Left: Sir Walter Watson Hughes statue unveiling, 1906 15 1960s Alumni Profi le 30 A lifetime of service to charity Francis Wong 16 1970s 31 Celebrating our 140th anniversary Academic activists lead reform 18 1970s Alumni Voice 32 The transforming power of generosity Dr Tim Cooper 2088-1 Th e University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 1 Celebrating 140 years University founders deliver on a grand vision 2 Lumen | Winter 2014 story by Peter Burdon The University’s fi rst Vice-Chancellor, Augustus Short’s background as a diligent parish priest and respected Oxford don made him appreciate the importance of a well-rounded education. rom the time of his arrival in Adelaide It is hardly surprising that the in December 1847 as the newly new University of Adelaide’s fi rst Fminted bishop of a vast area that Commencement Ceremony saw the included South Australia and the whole conferral of degrees on more than 70 of Western Australia, he was determined colonists who were already graduates to ensure that education in all its forms of English, Scottish, Irish and European contributed to the spiritual and social life universities. Together they formed the of the developing colony. Senate, and they were the University’s Dr Short was focused not only on the fi rst alumni. pastoral care of his community, but on The task of establishing the University the development of the South Australian was supported by the State and the Join in our community as a whole. generosity of Sir Walter Watson Hughes He knew from his own experience the and Sir Thomas Elder who each gave the birthday activities opportunities that a good education could astonishing sum of £20,000—many millions provide, and he used his leading position of dollars today—to the new institution. On 6 November we will in society in a strategic way to strive for From the outset there were also celebrate the 140th anniversary the noble objective of education for all. hundreds, and in time thousands, of of the enactment of the Within 18 months of his arrival he citizens of the colony who voluntarily legislation that founded the had laid the foundation stone of St supported the University with their time, University of Adelaide, a date Peter’s College, and within 20 years money, and their reputations. that will provide a climax for the possibility of a University was being The University claimed a staff of a year of activities. seriously debated. international distinction, providing a This year-long program of Dr Short was a strong believer that fi rst-class education that would see events and activities highlights education would be vital in forging a Adelaide graduates counted among the University’s excellence common identity and culture in South the best in the world. and innovation and signifi cant Australian society – and a university was Even today the University can count fi ve achievements. essential to help deliver that vision. of the 15 Australian winners of the Nobel He gathered a formidable band of Prize among its alumni, and is consistently These events are an allies comprising church and state ranked among the top one per cent of opportunity to celebrate a leaders to work on what was an universities worldwide. milestone in the University’s extraordinarily ambitious proposal for From such humble beginnings, the history while promoting the such a thinly-populated colony. recent graduations in 2014 have seen future of Adelaide as a the number of our alumni swell to more world-class university. than 150,000. You can discover more about Today Adelaide graduates are living our calendar of events at: and working all over the world and—in the case of our famous graduate Andy www.adelaide.edu.au/anniversary/get-involved Thomas—even in space. In this issue of Lumen we look at just a few of the remarkable individuals, past and present, who have made the University of Adelaide what it is today. We also refl ect on the unique value that philanthropy has brought and continues to bring to the University. Far left: Dr Augustus Short For more information on some of the Left: Mitchell Building, 1900 key individuals and events in the University’s history go to our Interactive Timeline at www.adelaide.edu.au/about/history/timeline Th e University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 3 The ambitions of the University of Adelaide’s founders were nothing if not grand. With a population scarcely a quarter of New South Wales or Victoria, the University’s fi rst Commencement Ceremony in 1876 had a distinctly international fl avour. It included the admission of more than 70 graduates of overseas universities who were awarded courtesy degrees ad eundem 1870s gradum. This distinguished company formed the fi rst Senate of the University, and served as an inspiration to the best and brightest of the developing colony to seek a higher education. These were the years of fi rsts: the fi rst graduates in all the disciplines, the fi rst endowed scholarships, the fi rst Australian university to admit women to degrees, and the appointment of -1890s internationally recognised academics, among them a future Nobel prize winner, to a staff of international distinction. In spite of the Fledgling university small numbers, with fewer than a dozen graduates in the early aims high years, the University enjoyed the unstinting support of the local community. The future was assured thanks to some extraordinary gifts from people such as Sir Walter Watson Hughes, Sir Thomas Elder, John Howard Angas, Robert Barr Smith, and many others. The University’s fi rst graduate, Thomas Ainslie Caterer, 1879 Building a sporting heritage Generosity and vision In 1896 the Sports Association was established by the University’s fi rst sporting clubs—boating, tennis and lacrosse. Nobel Prize winner of our early benefactors Sir William Henry Bragg was instrumental in setting up the Lacrosse The founding of the University of Adelaide in 1874—just the third club in 1889 and was the association’s third Life Member in 1909.