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Celebrating our 50th year

4 June 2008

Professor Dewi Fortuna Anwar

Professor Tim Flannery (with mother Valda)

Mr Alistair Lloyd

Mr John Sturdy

Dr David Mitchell

More than 500 distinguished guests and supporters, alumni, staff and students gathered in the National Gallery of Victoria's Great Hall last week to mark the 50th anniversary of the formal creation of Monash University.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins told the audience: "Perhaps because of its relative youth and certainly because of the vision of its founders, Monash has always been a forward-looking, imaginative place where things are made to happen because people believe that they can.

"This attitude was epitomised by our first Vice-Chancellor Sir Louis Matheson who played such a decisive role in charting a course for the new university.

"Around the time of Monash's creation Sir Louis wrote that, ‘Universities should be full of people who do not take things at face value and are prepared to say so.' This attitude of enquiry and willingness to try new things has produced Monash's outstanding record in research and scholarship."

Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel announced that Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, who attended on the night, would be conferred with an honorary doctorate.

"Dame Elisabeth, you are joining a community of alumni, students, and staff who could not be more diverse in their backgrounds, their abilities or their passions," Dr Finkel said.

"It is perhaps for this reason that Sir John Monash remarked, no doubt gruffly, that managing a university, "is about as difficult to manage -- if not more so -- than an army."

The dinner also celebrated the achievements of five outstanding alumni with the presentation of the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Awards.

This year's alumni award recipients were selected from more than 200,000 Monash alumni, and represent a group who have made a global impact on health, business, environment and the community.

Governor of Victoria Professor David de Kretser presented the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Awards to scientist, writer and explorer Professor Tim Flannery (MSc 1981) and academic and political analyst Professor Dewi Fortuna Anwar (PhD 1990).

Professor Tim Flannery has a distinguished record in the fields of zoology and palaeontology. He is particularly well known for his commentary on environmental issues, including his international bestseller on global warming, The Weather Makers.

Professor Anwar is Director for Program and Research at The Habibie Center, an independent think tank in Jakarta, and Research Professor and Deputy Chairman for Social Sciences and Humanities at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

"In 50 years Monash University has developed from an Australian university into a world-class international institution of higher learning," Professor Amwar said.

"It is indeed a tremendous honour for me to be given the Distinguished Alumni Award at this auspicious time, the golden jubilee of Monash University, just a week after my own 50th birthday."

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins AO presented the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Service Awards to Mr Alistair Lloyd AO RFD ED (PhC 1956) and Mr John Sturdy (BE(Hons) 1978, MEngSc 1988, MBA 1990).

Mr Lloyd has contributed to the Victorian College of Pharmacy for more than 50 years. In his current role of Chair of the College's Foundation he has formed and strengthened ties with alumni and established a number of student-alumni engagement initiatives.

Mr Sturdy has developed, nurtured and participated in alumni, student and University-wide activities for almost 20 years. He has volunteered his time to alumni groups and to the Faculties of Engineering and Business and Economics.

In thanking Monash for the award, Mr Sturdy paid tribute to "the many others that have taken a similar journey and contributed and supported Monash across many activities on a voluntary basis or through their professional endeavours, pursuits and achievements."

Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel AM presented the Distinguished Young Alumni Award to general practitioner Dr David Mitchell (MBBS 2000). Dr Mitchell served with the Royal Australian Air Force from 2003 to 2007 and was deployed to East Timor, Bali, Cyprus and Lebanon.

To read more about the award recipients visit the Distinguished Alumni Awards web page.