The University's Saddest Day

On 4 May 1981, Senate recorded the, "Retirement of Professor Sir Bruce Williams as Vice-Chancellor and Principal" and noted that, "The Chancellor suggested that two functions be held to farewell Professor Sir Bruce Williams as Vice-Chancellor, one function for Fellows of Senate and members of the academic and administrative staff in the Great Hall late one afternoon, and a second to enable the Vice-Chancellor to take leave of public bodies and persons outside the University with whom he has been involved in the course of his work". [Ref 1]. At the next Senate meeting, on 1 June 1981, it was decided that, "On the motion of the Chancellor, seconded by Mr Justice Selby, the Senate appointed Professor J M Ward, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, as Acting Vice-Chancellor from 1 July 1981 until such time as the new Vice-Chancellor and Principal takes up duties". [Ref 2]. On 7 September 1981, Senate heard that the "Committee appointed to recommend an appointment to the position of Vice-Chancellor and Principal" advertised, "...the position both in Australia and overseas...in the press in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Nigeria...sent letters to the Chancellors of Universities in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada, inviting suggestions as to persons who might be considered...In the event, the position was in this instance more widely advertised than ever was the case before". Despite this extensive search to fill the position of Vice-Chancellor and Principal, the Committee unanimously recommended the appointment of Professor John Manning Ward but, "The hope was expressed that the period of appointment would be longer than the three years and four months remaining to the end of the year in which Professor Ward would turn 65". [Ref 3]. There was no cause for concern, however, as Professor Ward went on to hold the position until 1990.

On 4 December 1989, Chancellor Sir Hermann Black proposed, "...that at this particular meeting it [Senate] records its gratitude and thanks to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal for his services in office". (Sir Black also noted that, "Alas, I shall miss out on the post-Senate dinner. But I trust it is very enjoyable. I shall be present as a disembodied spirit, smacking my lips and committing the Christian sin of envy as you enjoy it."). Senate, as per the Chancellor's recommendation, placed, "...on record at this last regular meeting of Senate under the University and University Colleges Act 1900, its sincere gratitude and thanks to Professor J M Ward for his outstanding services to the University as a Professor for forty years, as a Chairman of both the Professorial and Academic Boards, and since 1981 as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University during a time of considerable change and difficulty. The motion was carried unanimously with acclamation". [Ref 4]. During the same meeting, Senate resolved to confer the title of Emeritus Professor upon Professor Ward from 1 February 1990 when he retired. [Ref 5].

This image captures Emeritus Professor Ward being awarded an honorary doctorate by Waseda University on 2 April 1990, around a year after Dr Haruo Nishihara of Waseda University was extended the same honour at the University of Sydney. This relationship between the universities was established in 1985, during Emeritus Professor Ward's tenure as Vice-Chancellor and Principal, when a Cultural Agreement was signed to encourage academic and student visits and the sharing of research and resources. [Ref 6]. Emeritus Professor Ward received this honorary doctorate just a month before his death on 6 May 1990. The 8 May 1990 University of Sydney News Special Edition reported that, "The University community was deeply shocked to learn in the hours following the tragic train crash near Hawkesbury River Station on 6 May that former Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Professor John Ward, 70, his wife Patricia, 69, his daughter Jennifer, 36, and Moira Jennings, the wife of the Registrar, were among those killed". The article remembered the incident as the "University's saddest day". [Ref 7].

This item is part of the University Archives' 70 Years, 70 Stories series, created to celebrate our 70th birthday on 3 May 2024. To discover more stories, explore the 70 Years, 70 Stories collection.

70 Years, 70 Stories: G12_47_0585.

Ref 1: Senate Minutes Vol 4 May 1981, pp 401-545 (May 1981), p. 401, [REF-00070506]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 2: Senate Minutes Vol 5 June 1981, pp 546-755 (Jun 1981), p. 621, [REF-00070507]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 3: Senate Minutes Vol 8 September 1981, pp 1074-1149 (Sep 1981), pp. 1074-1075, [REF-00070510]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 4: Senate Minutes Vol 11 December 1989, pp 1297-1635 (Dec 1989), pp. 1297-1298, [REF-00070601]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 5: The University of Sydney News Vol 21 No 36 (19/12/1989), p. 305, [REF-00040353]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 6: The University of Sydney News Vol 22 No 9 (03/04/1990), p. 66, [REF-00040396]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 7: The University of Sydney News Vol 22 No 14A Special Edition (08/05/1990), p. 1 (PDF), [REF-00040416]. University of Sydney Archives.