NSW Governor Marie Bashir was among those who saw these five eminent Australians recognised with an honorary degree
Celebrating global achievements, the University of Sydney yesterday honoured actress Cate Blanchett, double platinum musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees, Nobel Prize-winning pathologist Robin Warren, and author Kate Grenville with honorary degrees for their outstanding contribution to society.
They join a long list of eminent and unique personalities in a strong tradition that has included the likes of Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Germaine Greer, Charles Perkins, Margaret Olley, James Wolfensohn, Gough Whitlam, Yvonne Kenny and Nancy Bird-Walton.
The honours were handed out in the imposing University of Sydney’s Great Hall against the backdrop of the iconic Quadrangle with its famous Jacaranda Tree, to the inspiring words of Royal Lord Martin Reece: “Problem solving motivates all of us.”
The acknowledgement of these five eminent Australians was witnessed by some of the country’s foremost intellectuals and educators, from the stirring opening notes of the University Orchestra to the final touching renditions of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s beautiful “Bapa” (a homage to his father) and “Baru” (a song about his totem, the salt-water crocodile).
Robin Warren shared the secret to winning a Nobel Prize: “You have to find something which nobody has found before … be the first person to publish it … and [do so when] everybody says you are wrong!”
Cate Blanchett expressed her joy at finally receiving a degree as she remembered how she didn’t complete her Arts degree at the University of Melbourne.
Speaking from the perspective of her “personal time” at the Sydney Theatre Company, she praised Australia’s first university for its work in encouraging “innovation across all streams”.
“One of the great successes [STC have had] is our professional association with the University of Sydney developing school drama,” she said.
For more information visit the Sydney University site at http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/
