One of the founding fathers of CQU, James Goldston AO, passed on recently.

He was a pillar of the Central Queensland University Development Association (UDA), which first met in 1959 and laid the ground for an institution of higher education to be established in Rockhampton.

Chancellor Rennie Fritschy represented the University at a memorial service held for Mr Goldston on Thursday, November 22 in Brisbane.

CQU has previously recognised Mr Goldston's contribution by conferring the honorary degree of Doctor of the University (1990) and naming the then Faculty of Engineering after him. More recently,  Building 30 in the Engineering precinct was named the James Goldston Building.

The following is from the citation for the 'Presentation of Percy James Goldston, AO for admission to the degree of Doctor of the University:

"Percy James Goldston, known as Jim Goldston, occupies a pre-eminent and most respected place in the history of this institution.

"Born in Mackay on 14 April, 1918, Jim Goldston was educated at Finch Hatton Primary School and Mackay State High School before undertaking an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner in the railways. In 1941, he was transferred to Rockhampton where he completed the University of Queensland's Diploma of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.

"From 1958 onwards, working through the Institution of Engineers Australia and then the Central Queensland University Association, Jim Goldston was tireless in his representations, with many others, to State and Federal Governments for the establishment of a Central Queensland University in Rockhampton. His efforts and those of fellow members of the Association were rewarded with the establishment of the Queensland Institute of Technology (Capricornia) in 1967.

James Goldston (centre) with Dr Arthur Appleton (left) and former Mayor of Rockhampton Rex Pilbeam

"With the redesignation of the institution in 1971 as the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education, Jim Goldston was appointed as the first Chairman of the Institute's Council. He held the Chairman's position until 1976 when he left Central Queensland to become the Commissioner for Railways, the only engineer to have held that position in Queensland.

"As Chairman of the Council, Jim Goldston saw the Institute through some difficult early times. A committed hard-working chairman of absolute integrity, Jim emphasised the role of the Council as the governing body of the Institute. He was prepared to take a strong point of view and to act on it when necessary, while at the same time maintaining personal accessibility and a willingness to listen to staff and students alike. Staff of the Institute of that time still speak of Jim with great respect and affection.

"Jim Goldston's contribution to modernising and improving the profitability of the railways as Manager of the Central Division from 1965 to 1976 and then Commissioner for Railways from 1976 to 1982 was recognised by him being made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1983.

"We are here today to recognise publicly Jim Goldston's contribution through the Central Queensland University Association and as Chairman of the first Council to the founding and developing of this institution, by conferring on him the highest award for service which the University can confer".