Incident Between Activist Students and University Regiment During Inspection by Governor Sir Roden Cutler

A Chair in Thuggery

On 5 May 1969, Senate discussed the matter of the "Disturbances within University on 1st May, 1969". The minutes noted that, "The Vice-Chancellor referred to the demonstration and disturbances on the afternoon of 1st May, 1969 in the presence of the Governor of New South Wales who in extremely difficult circumstances had inspected a guard of honour provided by the Sydney University Regiment before attending a Ceremony of Conferring of Degrees at which he gave the occasional address. The Vice-Chancellor informed the Senate that he had appointed a Committee to report to him on these disturbances and on the events leading up to them...The Committee had already held its first meetings to hear reports from those who had witnessed the disturbances or who had knowledge of the events leading up to them". [Ref 1].

One such report was received from Jim Spigelman, President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) [Ref 2], who wrote that, "At lunch time on the 30th April a meeting was held in the front lawn to announce plans for a demonstration against the Sydney University Regiment...the protestor group intended to sit down in the path of the Regiment allowing it to avoid the demonstrators or to march into them. This sit-down, it was asserted, would be the only action taken. On May 1st the meeting called by both the Labor Club and S.D.S. [Students for a Democratic Society] began in a frivolous manner which unfortunately, failed to set the tone for the afternoon's events. Ross Clark, dressed in mock military outfit, presented an amusing imitation of the Governor or to be more exact, the Governorship. The person of Sir Roden Cutler was not the basic theme of Clark's send-up. Towards the latter part of Clark's speech a barrage of fruit, milk cartons and flour bombs etc. began from a group in front of the speaker and to his right. The core of the left wing groups, S.D.S. and the Labor Club, were behind the speaker to his left. Any of the missiles which missed the speaker at the microphone thus landed in the midst of the radical group. After a while individuals in the radical group began picking up the fruit and throwing it back to the anti-protestor group. May I point out at this stage that Percy Allen, who delivers the "Daily Bull" to the Engineering School, saw signs at the School on the night of April 30th stating that "Democrat" invites Engineers to the front lawn meeting and asking them to bring fruit and other missiles. The crucial incident which accentuated the existing tension occurred during the speech of Mike Jones. Two students from the anti-protestor group approached the speaker with a garbage can half full of water...a scuffle broke out, punches were thrown and the crown surged forward...I suggested that the demonstration against the Regiment be called off...I questioned the legitimacy of civil disobedience tactics within the University, especially when proper democratic procedures had been ignored. In reply to my suggestion, it was argued that the Regiment should similarly call off its march...Unfortunately some members of S.D.S. and the Labor Club did not stick to their plan which was limited to a sit down in front of the Regiment. This led to a continuation of the scuffles between the two groups of students resulting in the unfortunate public image of a violent demonstration against the Governor...Instead of disbanding when their point had been made by sitting in front of the march, some members of the group continued their "protest" at the inspection of the guard. In this way the Governor became the centre of the continuing storm...Neither of the two contestant groups is wholly to blame and both must bear the responsibility for a series of events which has brought discredit to the entire student body".

The student body and the University in general was certainly discredited, sometimes vociferously, as members of the public felt offended enough to write in to the University. A lettergram was received the next day, on 2 May 1969, "If you do not have the courage to exprell [sic] those who indulted [sic] his Excellency and inferentially Her Majesty you [the Vice-Chancellor] ought to resign". The Reverend from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart wondered whether, "Will they [those responsible] be given the opportunity to stage similar insulting demonstrations in the future? I write this protest in the hope that many similar protests will help to ensure that our Universities maintain a fitting discipline & promote a true love of democracy". Commander CG Little made his disappointment known, "As an ex member of the defence forces of this nation, a taxpayer, and one of those whose father and grandfathers helped to build up this country, I am shocked at the violence, disorderly conduct, and utter lack of discipline evident in your university, resulting in the shameful attack yesterday on our Governor. Have the university Council no pride in their establishment at all? It is considered that these louts responsible are utterly unsuited for tertiary education, and should be expelled...Why, Sir, yesterday with a "guard" present could not this body be used to quell these barbarians, and defend the Governor, who, I might remind you is the head of this democratic [underlined] state? Some action is needed, drastic and immediate, if we citizens are to be reassured, otherwise "those who pay the piper" may start calling the tune!". Ken Martin, a recent alumni, noted that, "Political comment on the campus is lately sinking to the banal level...It is wrong that students should be free to act like louts and go unpunished, for in no other sections of the community - factory, office, school, dockside or farm - is riotous behaviour tolerated. I write this appeal to you for a firmer hand...it seems to me a great shame to see the reputation of an old university being undone". Other letters continued in a similar vein. J Marshall provided the University with a proposal, "In view of the events of last week, I suggest you institute a chair in thuggery. It would appear that a large number of your students would have no difficulty in passing with first class honours". [Ref 3].

At its 5 May 1969 meeting Senate approved, "...that an appropriate message be conveyed to His Excellency the Governor expressing the very great regret of the Senate that he had been subjected to such indignity during his visit to the University...also include a statement that the Senate anticipated with pleasure his next visit...The Deputy Chancellor suggested that the letter be conveyed personally to the Governor". [Ref 4].

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.

Ref 1: Senate Minutes Mar 1969-Aug 1969 (31/03/1969 to 05/08/1969), p. 66, [REF-00070388]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 2: Senate Minutes Sep 1969-Jan 1970 (01/09/1969 to 19/01/1970), p. 222 (PDF), [REF-00070389]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 3: Incident - Governor - Front Lawn (1970), [REF-00010935]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 4: see Ref 1.