The University of Queensland is paying tribute to Sir Llew Edwards, AC, who will soon bow out as Chancellor after 16 years at the helm of UQ’s governing body.
Sir Llew announced last night (November 20) that he will not seek reappointment when his fifth consecutive term as Chancellor expires on 9 February 2009.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said no accolades could do justice to his contributions, which included chairing the Senate (UQ’s governing body), presiding at graduation ceremonies and representing UQ at community, corporate and government events.
“In an era when the relevance of many time-honoured institutions has been questioned, Sir Llew has single-handedly magnified the relevance of the office of UQ Chancellor,” Professor Greenfield said.
“Without taking a day’s pay in almost 16 years as Chancellor, he has built enormous goodwill not only for UQ but also for Australian higher education at home and internationally.
“The time he has devoted to graduation ceremonies alone is extraordinary. It is estimated that by the end of 2008 Sir Llew will have:
- Presided at almost 300 graduation ceremonies
- Shaken the hands of approximately 80,000 graduates (although some preferred to hug him) - almost 50 percent of all current UQ graduates
- Presented approximately 80,000 degrees, diplomas or certificates.
“He is one of nature’s gentlemen, with humanity and sincerity to match his dedication and propriety. If we could bottle the essence of Sir Llew, the world would be a much better place,” Professor Greenfield said.
Sir Llew, the 12th Chancellor in UQ’s 99-year history, assured Senate last night that his commitment to the institution would continue, and he hoped to make contributions in the lead-up to its centenary celebrations in 2010.
He thanked Senators, the three Vice-Chancellors with whom he has served (Professors Brian Wilson, John Hay and Paul Greenfield), the long-serving Secretary and Registrar Mr Douglas Porter (who will also retire early in 2009) and his wife Jane.
“I wish the University and all staff every success in the future and thank you for having me as part of your team,” Sir Llew said.
He recalled that when he first became a UQ Senator in 1984 the then Premier, the late Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, told him to “try to straighten those lefties out at the University”.
Born in Ipswich, Queensland, Sir Llew was educated at Raceview and Silkstone Schools, Ipswich Grammar and UQ. His first trade was as a “sparky” in his family’s electrical business. He then studied medicine at UQ and worked in hospitals in Queensland, England, Scotland and Wales before opening a general practice in Ipswich.
He was elected to Queensland Parliament as the Member for Ipswich in 1972, became the Health Minister in 1974 and the Deputy Premier and Treasurer in 1978, and retired from Parliament in 1983.
In 1984 he was appointed by the state and federal governments as Executive Chairman of World Expo 88 and served full-time until December 31, 1988. Since chairing the hugely popular event, he has held various corporate consultancies and directorships.
The Senate has established a Search Committee to make recommendations to it for a new Chancellor.
Media contact: Fiona Kennedy 3365 1384 / 0413 380 012
