With wife Helen at her graduation in 2009
With Helen and children, L-R: Cathy, Janice and John
During his 8-year stint as Chancellor, Trevor– the first University of Newcastle graduate to assume the role, and the first to live in Newcastle – chaired the University Council and senior committees. A most engaged Chancellor in his role as a representative to the community - he averaged attendance at one event per day for the entirety of his Chancellorship - approximately 3000 events over the last 8 years. His duties also included officiating at approximately 160 graduations for about 50,000 students, which – according to Trevor’s calculations – means he’s spent around 319 hours of his life on stage shaking hands. Also worthy of note, is the fact that he had a personal word for each graduate. Of all the graduations he’s attended, his favourite was the 2009 graduation of his wife Helen, who attended the University as a mature-age student after supporting her husband and four children through their studies in the years prior. Trevor was on stage, of course, when Helen walked up to receive her Bachelor of Arts. “A couple of my colleagues were betting on whether she would get a kiss [in addition to the customary handshake] when she came across the stage – and of course she did,” Trevor laughed. Reflecting on his time as Chancellor, Trevor said he had tried to bring some of the empathy and sensitivity to the role that others showed him during crucial points in his studies. “While we have to run the University in a business-like manner, we are not a business like any other business. I just felt that we as a governing body and
as a university as a whole have what I would regard as a sacred trust – [that is] to have these lives in your hands and the lives of the people they will serve,” he said. Among his favourite experiences as Chancellor were the many graduation ceremonies he attended for students who came through the University’s three enabling programs – courses designed as alternative entry pathways for students often from difficult backgrounds. “They would bring you to tears, some of the stories,” Trevor said. One story that stuck out in his mind was that of a young mother of three who had her first child in her mid-teens. She gained entry into Yapug – an enabling program for indigenous students – and did so well that she was later accepted to study medicine. “I find that mindblowing – that’s extraordinary,” Trevor said. “It’s just so inspiring to see people succeed when they have come through the back door to get there. It’s an illustration of the transforming nature of the University.” In representing the institution as Chancellor in the community, Trevor hopes he has been able to bridge some of the gaps he believes have existed, historically, between the public and academic organisations. “I would hope people would think, if nothing else, that I had some basic interpersonal skills that made people comfortable, so they didn’t think academia was elite and out of reach,” he said. Trevor has also been recognised by his alumni peers. He was the recipient of both the 1982 Newton John Award for his contribution to the region and the 2001
With son, Associate Professor Peter Waring, Singapore
Alumni Medal for Professional Excellence. “I have also thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many of our alumni, my fellow graduates both in Australia and abroad – I am proud to be part of the alumni and really value the friendships I have made along the way.” In April, Trevor’s Chancellorship came to an end when he officially retired – but it’s no surprise to hear he hasn’t slowed down too much. He remains on the Hunter’s Local Health District Board and the boards of a number of charities, including Samaritans. While we might not see him around campus quite as often anymore, Trevor’s face won’t be forgotten. Before retiring, he posed for artist Paul Newton who painted a portrait of Trevor that now hangs in the Great Hall (see page 6). Although he was honoured to be remembered in such a way, Trevor – not one to take himself too seriously – joked that the portrait didn’t turn out exactly as he had hoped. “The artist was a most incorruptible man,” he said. “Despite my requests, he refused to paint hair on me.” Trevor will maintain his close relationship with the alumni when he takes up the role of Patron of the new Hunter Alumni Chapter to be launched on 27 September 2012.
Picture bottom left: The Deputy Vice-Chancellors with the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, April 2012. Bottom right: The Chancellor with Malaysian Alumni, November 2011.