Vice Chancellor and President Glenice Hancock announced a $2000 scholarship in the name of retiring Chancellor Hon Stan Jones during a celebration in his honour last Friday.

“Stan did not want anything for himself. He wanted to do this for the students,” said Professor Hancock.

More than a hundred colleagues, friends, family and community members gathered at Rydges International Resort, Yeppoon, to pay tribute to Justice Jones on his last full day as Chancellor of Central Queensland University.

“In the old days when we were the Capricorn Institute of Advanced Educations we’d just give someone a sausage sizzle...of course, that was then,” said Professor David Myers, Director of CQU Press and emcee for the evening dinner party.

“Stan had an inkling that I was preparing a few scurrilous anecdotes and tried to discourage me,” Prof Meyers explained to guests.

He didn’t. Prof Meyers regaled the audience with “three quick stories” including one about a “young, up-and-coming barrister” who “plotted” to take over Rockhampton’s Customs House.

A four-minute music video produced by CQU (Music: The End by Alex Lloyd) showed Stan from his early days – wearing his trademark brown-rimmed glasses.

The video highlighted 30 years of Chancellor Jones contributions and set the tone for a night filled with recollections, tales and words of gratitude from invited guest speakers including former CQU Vice Chancellor Geoff Wilson AM.

“Thank you for your tenacity.... and your nurturing of this university.... and your unselfish service to higher education in the region, in Queensland and in Australia,” said Professor Wilson.

Incoming Chancellor Rennie Fritschy and CQU alumnus and Rockhampton Mayor Cr Margaret Strelow expressed their sincere appreciation for Justice Jones’ lasting commitment to Central Queensland.

Quoting former Prime Minister John Curtain, Justice Jones said that the past was preparation for the days to come and that great universities should find heroes in the present, hope in the future and look forever forward. “You just have to have a sense that the University is at a point to go forward. This university is in a wonderful position,” said Chancellor Jones. “Changes have to be anticipated and met... My successor [Rennie Fritschy] has wonderful experience and he has a lot of ideas that will take this uni forward. And that will be matched by our new Vice Chancellor, John Rickard,” Chancellor Jones added.

A leather-bound commemorative book, edited by Professor David Myers, which describes Stan Jones’ impact upon CQU, will be presented to Justice Jones at a later date.

Photo (left) Retiring Chancellor Hon Justice Stan Jones with wife Helena.

Photo (right) VC designate Professor John Rickard, his wife Veronica, DVC Professor Kevin Fagg and his wife Glenda.