Annual Report 1979

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE ANNUAL REPORT 1979 PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY CONTENTS Introduction 2 Council 3 The Professors 4 The Academic Board 4 Graduates of The University and The Graduate Committee . 5 The Faculties 6 The Library 30 Research 32 Office for Continuing Education .32 Finance 33 Buildings 37 Student Affairs 41 University Sport . 45 The Graduate Union 45 Melbourne University Press 46 Melbourne Theatre Company 47 The University Assembly 48 Staff 50 Gifts, Grants and Bequests 60 Statistics 74 Colleges and Halls of Residence 81 Scholarships, Exhibitions and Prizes 82 Degrees and Diplomas Conferred 96 ANNUAL REPORT Report on the proceedings of the University for the year ended 31 December, 1979. His Excellency, The Hon. Sir Henry Winneke, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., O.B.E., K.St.J., Q.C., Governor of Victoria. Your Excellency, The Council of the University of Melbourne has the honour, in accordance with Section 46 of the University Act 1958, to present the first part of its report on the proceedings of the University during the year 1979. In addition to a general account of University activities, Part One of the Annual Report includes a statement of income and expenditure in respect of the General Fund as submitted for audit. Part Two of the Annual Report, which will be issued later, will be the audited financial statements. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, OLIVER GILLARD Chancellor INTRODUCTION The year 1979 was the first of a new triennium, after three years of uncertainty for universities when it had not been possible to plan for more than one year at a time. The re-establishment of the triennial system for recurrent grants by the States Grants (Tertiary Education Assistance) Act 1978, meant that planning three years ahead became possible once more. In spite of the fact that what was provided for 1979, 1980 and 1981 was progressive reductions in real support for university activities, the new legislation was seen as improving the general position. The lack of any support for buildings and capital works in this University, however, still causes deep concern. Even if significant capital grants are made for the triennium 1982- 1984, which seems somewhat unlikely, the general effect is that this University will not have had the benefit of any new building facilities for something like a decade. We have departments which have been in temporary accommodation for 40 years. We have large depart ments which are housed in old buildings now inadequate and unsafe. And we have large departments working in two, three, or four separate locations with no prospect of being grouped properly for functional efficiency. Universities must plan for a long future and this University has done so. Sooner or later, the failure to provide for capital works will have to be paid for. In the end it will cost more to repair the consequences of financial decline than the money now saved by financial restric tions. Deterioration to a point which could require more expensive restoration than the community could afford must be avoided. In some ways the year has been an unusual one. There have been many matters of great importance to the University and its future which have demanded close attention, but which have raised ques tions not yet resolved and brought consequences for change not yet clear. The Williams Report on Education and Training; the establish ment of the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission and its early operations; proceedings in industrial jurisdictions with respect to the University's relations with its staff, both academic and general; the effects of the re-organization of the Tertiary Education Commis sion; and other matters of similar importance. Not least of those was, at the end of the year, the introduction of a Bill in the Victorian Parliament to amend the Post-Secondary Education Act 1978. That Bill, which appeared to provide for the re-organization of the college system as its primary purpose, was so misconceived in its application to the universities that it was difficult to understand how it could have been introduced without prior consultation with the universities. As the year closed, the four Victorian universities were preparing for discussions with the Government in the hope that the perceived dangers of the Bill might be avoided. During the year, four students of the University petitioned the Visitor, His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, The Honourable Sir Henry Winneke, for declarations, with respect to a number of matters. The prayers related to financial relations between the University, the Students' Representative Council and the Australian Union of Stu dents, SRC affiliation with the AUS, and the position of several SRC office bearers. The Visitor decided not to grant any of the prayers in the petition. In his judgement the Visitor considered the 'features and limits of his jurisdiction' and the matters raised in the petition and decided not to grant the prayers either for want of jurisdiction, lack of facts to found the exercise of jurisdiction, or because of his discretion not to exercise jurisdiction where 'it would not be meet to make the declaration sought'. Arrangements are being made for the Visitor's judgement to be published. Perhaps the most serious and immediate problem for this University is uncertainty about our future research workers. The nation's capacity to satisfy research needs depends upon universities being supported properly. The reduction since 1975 in the Commonwealth Government's support for research training awards for the best post graduate students is causing alarm. The number of those awards in 1975 and 1976 was 900. The number was reduced to 800 in 1977 and since 1978 it has been 700. It needs to be increased. Further, the value of the awards has become inadequate in the light of inflation. In spite of financial restrictions and cramped conditions in some University departments, a wide range of research is being carried on in this University. More than 2,100 research students or postgraduate students are enrolled. Their success depends upon the work of the senior staff in research areas which are often not well understood by the community generally. Everyone of our 82 academic departments is engaged in research. The University's annual Research Report, in nearly 300 highly condensed pages, lists many hundreds of continu ing research projects. In April, the Chancellor, The Honourable Sir Oliver Gillard, became seriously ill. For most of the year he was unable to be active as Chancellor. The University is grateful to the Deputy Chancellor, Professor Emeritus R. D. Wright, who ably and generously performed the functions of Chancellor during the Chancellor's absence. At the beginning of 1979, we welcomed a new Registrar, Mr J. B. Potter, who succeeded Mr A, Tr J= BelL Mr Bell became Registrar in 1968. During his term of office he made an important contribution to the development of the University's administrative systems in the face of increasing demands. COUNCIL The Honourable Sir Oliver Gillard was re-elected as Chancellor for a further 12 months. Professor Emeritus R. D. Wright and Rev. Dr J. D. McCaughey were re-elected for another year to the two positions of Deputy Chancellor. Unfortunately, because of illness, Sir Oliver was unable to act for much of 1979 and Council called upon Professor Wright to perform the duties of Chancellor during his absence. In December the members of Council expressed their thanks, with acclamation, to Professor Wright for carrying out these duties. Ms Maureen O'Brien replaced Mr D. Hogan as President of the Students' Representative Council on 1 December, 1979, and accord ingly assumed the ex-officio position on Council from that date. Following the resignation of Dr P. G. Law as a representative of the graduates, Dr J. I. Hayward was elected in April as his replacement. Mr J. P. Ryan was elected as a representative of the academic staff, other than professors, to replace Dr J. W. Watson (who resigned at the end of 1978) for the term expiring 16 December, 1979. Following the resignation of Mrs M. Russell-Smith and Rev. Dr L. L. Morris, the Rev. Dr J. D. McCaughey and Sister Elizabeth Nowotny were co-opted to Council under Section 5(1 )(g) of the University Act (co-option of heads of affiliated colleges). In consequence of this action, The Right Hon. Sir Ninian Stephen was co-opted to the result ant vacant position (vacated by Rev. Dr McCaughey) under Section 5(1 )(h) of the University Act. The Hon. B. A. Chamberlain joined Council as replacement for the Hon. S. E. Gleeson under Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Act while Mrs J. T. Patrick replaced Mr I. F. McLaren under Section 5(1)(a)(ii). At its December meeting Council expressed its appreciation for their service to the following retiring members: Rev. Dr J. D. McCaughey, Mr J. C. Habersberger, Professor L. K. Stevens, Mr N. W. Archbold, Mr J. Nieuwenhuizen, Mr D. S. Wishart. THE PROFESSORS The following professors took up their appointments to Chairs during 1979: Professor W. F. Budd (Meteorology), Professor J. B. Evans (Mining and Metallurgy), Professor M. Manion (Fine Arts), Professor T. A. O'Donnell (Inorganic Chemistry), Professor A. Powell (research in Economics) and Professor C. B. Schedvin (Economic History). Professor P. W. Whitton returned to the University as Deputy Vice- Chancellor and a professor. Professor R. F. Henderson (Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research) retired at the end of September, 1979, and Professor G. F. Loughlin (Music) retired at the end of the year. THE ACADEMIC BOARD Professor K.

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