Former Governor-General The Honourable Sir William Deane AC KBE was awarded an honorary doctorate at UQ’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (BEL) graduation ceremony yesterday (Thursday, May 29).
During the 5pm ceremony, which took place at the UQ Centre at the St Lucia campus, Sir William spoke of his desire to see meaningful reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
He said Australia should be proud of its multiculturalism. He said there was one challenge for the future: “It is the challenge of justice and truth. The challenge never to be indifferent in the face of injustice or falsehood.”
Sir William, who was Australia’s 22nd Governor-General from 1996 to 2001, was presented with a Doctor of Laws honoris causa in recognition of his distinguished career and his outstanding contribution to Australia in his role as Governor-General.
In his previous role as Justice of the High Court of Australia he sat in judgment over significant cases such as the 1983 Franklin River case and the 1992 Mabo case.
At the 8pm Faculties of Arts and Social and Behavioural Sciences (SBS) ceremony iconic author and accomplished teacher Professor Janette Turner Hospital was awarded an honorary doctorate.
Professor Turner Hospital thanked the University for the award, comparing it to the feeling of receiving rave reviews for her books.
She was presented with a Doctor of Letters honoris causa in recognition of her distinguished career and outstanding contribution to literature.
Professor Turner Hospital’s short stories and novels have won numerous international awards and her new book of short stories North of Nowhere South of Loss was published in May by UQ Press.
Professor Turner Hospital will deposit her literary papers with the University Library as part of an agreement reached in 1995. The library has purchased the manuscripts of Charades, The Last Magician and The Ivory Swing under this arrangement.
For a transcript of Sir William Deane's speech visit www.uq.edu.au/news/index.phtml?article=4509
For information contact Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email: c.saxby@uq.edu.au).
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