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Afitting finaleUQNEWS, FEBRUARY 2009 ➔ 13He’s had students high fivehim, take pictures on stageand offer bear hugs, butretiring UQ Chancellor SirLlew Edwards, AC, was lostfor words when one graduatetook to the podium recently.Sir Llew’s son David was a surprise additionto a Faculty of Arts and SBS ceremony onDecember 3, fulfilling a journey which had been20 years in the making.Now the Queensland Director of theCommittee for Economic Development ofAustralia, Mr Edwards completed a dual Bachelorof Economics / Bachelor of Arts in 1989, but wasmore interested in seeing the world than donninga cap and gown.“I always promised my parents that I wouldcomplete my university studies prior to travellingabroad so as soon as my final exams were over,I was off – attending a ceremony in 1989 wascertainly not a high priority,” Mr Edwards said.“With Dad’s retirement as Chancellor, Ithought it would be a nice surprise for him topresent one of his children with their degree atone of his final graduation ceremonies.”Mr Edwards thanked staff from the Vice-Chancellor’s office who made the surprisepossible and ensured it went off without a hitch.“We managed to keep it a secret and itwas not until Professor Richard Fotheringhamintroduced me that Dad realised what washappening,” he said.Sir Llew presided over his last graduationas Chancellor on December 15, having shakenthe hands of approximately 80,000 graduatesas part of his formal duties spanning 16 years. Heannounced in November that he would not seekreappointment when his fifth consecutive term asChancellor expired this month.Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfieldsaid no accolades could do justice to hiscontributions, which included chairing UQ’sgoverning Senate, presiding at graduations andrepresenting UQ at community, corporate andgovernment events at home and abroad.“In an era when the relevance of many timehonouredinstitutions has been questioned, SirLlew has single-handedly magnified the relevanceof the office of UQ Chancellor,” ProfessorGreenfield said.“Without taking a day’s pay in almost 16 yearsas Chancellor, he has built enormous goodwillnot only for UQ but also for Australian highereducation at home and internationally.”Above: Sir Llew Edwards with his son Davidand granddaughters India and Elise and below,presiding over his final Senate meeting“With Dad’s retirementas Chancellor,I thought it would bea nice surprise forhim to present oneof his children withtheir degree at one ofhis final graduationceremonies”PHOTOS JEREMY PATTEN