Centenary Edition 2010 - University of Queensland

+ GRADUATIONS
Honorary doctorates
High Court Justice Susan Kiefel and
acclaimed poet Professor Emeritus Thomas
Shapcott AO received honorary doctorates
at UQ’s December graduations.
Justice Kiefel, Queensland’s first female
Queen’s Counsel and a graduate of Cambridge
University, received a Doctorate of Laws honoris
causa at a Business, Economics and Law
graduation.
Professor Emeritus Shapcott (pictured)
received a Doctorate of Letters honoris
causa at an Arts and Social and Behavioural
Sciences ceremony at UQ’s Ipswich campus.
He served as a Director of the Literature
Board of the Australia Council for the Arts
from 1983–1990 and has been a significant
benefactor to the University through donations
of his personal literary archives.
Also recognised was maverick arts dealer
Ray Hughes, who received a Doctor of the
University honoris causa. Mr Hughes was
an early supporter of Queensland artists
such as Davida Allen, Roy Churcher, Robert
MacPherson, Madonna Staunton and William
Robinson.
jeremy patten
Banker and business woman Dr Helen
Nugent AO, orchestrator of the international
expansion of UQ’s acclaimed Triple P
– Positive Parenting Program – Des McWilliam,
champion for animal health John Stewart AM,
and former Chief Executive of MIM Holdings
Ltd Mr Nick Stump also received recognition.
Beirne legacy continued
jeremy patten
Genevieve Beirne’s recent graduation from
UQ’s TC Beirne School of Law would have
pleased her great great uncle.
In April 1935, Thomas Charles Beirne, the
proprietor of a large Brisbane drapery store in
Fortitude Valley and Warden of the Council of
the University (1928–1941), pledged £20,000
to establish a functioning law school at UQ.
In gratitude, the then University Senate
named the school in his honour and at
her graduation ceremony on December 8,
Genevieve joined 155 fellow students to
receive her Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
Mr Beirne (1860–1949), rose from being a
scantily educated son of a farmer in Ireland to
one of the first millionaires in Australian history
after emigrating here in 1883–1884. Perhaps
it was his patchy education that drove
him to want to sponsor and influence the
educational development of his new home,
the state of Queensland, and in particular, its
only university at the time.
Philanthropists such as TC Beirne will
be especially commemorated this year as
part of Centenary celebrations.
Ms Beirne said she was delighted to
have such a connection to the past and was
especially proud to be the first Beirne from
her branch of the family to graduate with a
law degree from UQ – her great-grandfather
Michael was brother to Thomas.
Ms Beirne said she was excited about
finishing her studies, and had recently
commenced a position with the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
81-year-old rises to the challenge
UQ graduate Dr Ferdinand Brockhall has
proven no feat is ever too great, after
receiving his PhD in December.
Dr Brockhall, 81, studied post-war Greek
and Cypriot migrants in Australia.
“Most of the existing research stops once
these people were assimilated – as though they
had no story after this point,” Dr Brockhall said.
“If you talk to them today, you find that
they are proud to be Australian, and despite
globalisation and increased mobility, they
choose to stay here, in what they consider to
be their homeland.”
Dr Brockhall’s supervisor, Associate
Professor David Ip, believed the research
could also assist with better understanding
today’s multicultural Australia.
Professor Ip was also quick to
congratulate Dr Brockhall on his
achievement, despite facing many
challenges.
“Having been away from studying for
more than two decades, the technology
advancements alone were completely foreign,
not to mention research processes, and the
theories and concepts in his field,” he said.
Dr Brockhall admits he came close to
throwing in the towel, but it was the support
of his wife, to whom his thesis is dedicated,
that kept him going.
“It was frustrating and challenging, and twice
I came close to giving up. But I didn’t know how
to tell Wilhelmina, so I kept going,” he said.
Born in Indonesia to Dutch parents, Dr
Brockhall and his wife migrated to Australia
in the early-1950s.
“I just really wanted to keep learning,
and Wilhelmina supported me all the way,”
he said.
jeremy patten
36 UQ – GRADUATE CONTACT // centenary edition 2010