Issue 16. 18 October 2010.pdf - UWA Staff - The University of ...

Emeritus Professor Robert Street has a good look at his likeness as Professor Alan Robson unveils the portrait.
Behind Professor Street is his grandson Simon Street.
Honouring a magnetic career
Former Vice-Chancellor, one of
Australia’s leading physicists and
much-loved research mentor
Emeritus Professor Robert Street
has been permanently honoured
at UWA.
The Robert Street Building is a
monument to one of the University’s
outstanding individuals, whose
contribution to his adopted home has
been exceptional. The former General
Purpose II Building was renamed late last
month, with Professor Street, his wife
Joan, their children and their spouses
and a grandson among the guests.
A photographic portrait of Professor
Street is now hung in the Robert Street
Lecture Theatre in the newly-dedicated
building. Before unveiling the portrait, the
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson
described his distinguished career.
The son of a Yorkshire coalminer, the
young Robert Street studied physics
and, very early on, chose the field of
magnetism. After several years at some
of England’s most respected universities
and having published landmark papers
on magnetism and its time dependency,
Professor and Mrs Street and their
two young children moved to Australia
in 1960.
He was appointed Foundation Professor
of Physics at Monash University, later
becoming Director of the Research
School of Physical Sciences at the
Australian National University.
In 1978 he took up the position of
Vice-Chancellor at UWA and said he felt
at that time that UWA was cherished by
the community in a way that was
unknown in other parts of Australia.
He was Vice-Chancellor for eight years.
He continued his research in magnetism
through the CSIRO and UWA and is still
involved, at the age of 90, with UWA
researchers including Professor Tim
St Pierre.
Professor Street said that it was 50
years, almost to the very day, when he
and his young family had walked past
the very place where guests were
gathered to celebrate with him.
“We were on our way from England to
Melbourne and the ship stopped off in
Perth. We would have walked past here
on our way to see the spectacular
Christmas tree just down the road from
this site,” he said.
Among the guests were Judy Slater (nee
Denning) and David Hewson who
worked in the Vice-Chancellery as
Professor Street’s support staff.
“They protected me for eight years
from things such as the wild Irishmen
who came charging into my office on
St Patrick’s Day with green beer!”
he recalled.
Professor Robson said: “In naming the
building and lecture theatre in honour of
Professor Street, we remind ourselves of
the years of dedication and intellectual
zeal he invested not only in our University
but also in our State and our nation.”
The Robert Street Building is the first of
several UWA landmarks to be named in
honour of past staff members who
have made a significant contribution
to the University.
Earlier this month, the old Biochemistry
building was renamed the Curnow
Building, in recognition of the longstanding
contribution of the late
Professor David Curnow, who held the
position of UWA Chair of Chemistry from
1968 to 1985.
Later this month, the pathway leading
north-south from near Prescott Court
and the Old Pharmacology building to
the Business School will be named
Underwood Promenade to honour the
late Professor Eric Underwood and
his contribution to UWA and agriculture.
The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 18 October 2010 5