Politician and leading academics to gain honorary awards at graduations
Published on 19 September, 2006
Public Works and Housing Minister Robert Schwarten (pictured above) and long-serving CQU staff members Errol Payne and Lesley Warner will be recognised with honorary awards during graduation ceremonies in Rockhampton on Saturday, September 23.
A total of 200 graduates will attend the morning (10am) and afternoon (2pm) ceremonies at the Rockhampton Baptist Tabernacle in Norman Road.
Mr Schwarten, who will also be guest speaker for the morning ceremony, will be admitted to the honorary degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of services to the community and CQU.
Robert undertook teaching studies at the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education (the forerunner to CQU) before careers as a teacher, union official, city councillor, policy adviser and politician. His wife and one son are CQU graduates and another son is a current student.
Robert is and has always been a proactive advocate of CQU in its relationships with government, industry and the community. This passion for the University has contributed to CQU securing funding for a diverse range of projects such as childcare services, sustainable development, multicultural affairs, engineering and health. All of these projects have contributed to the development of both CQU and the communities in which we operate.
During the afternoon ceremony, Errol Payne and Lesley Warner will be appointed as Emeritus Professors of CQU.
Errol was a founding staff member of the institution and Lesley was instrumental in development of the Women Into Science and Technology (WIST) program which has helped thousands of women succeed. Both have served the University in academic, research and leadership positions over many years.
The afternoon ceremony will also feature a guest address by Professor Julianne Reid, Professor of Pharmacology and medical researcher at RMIT University in Melbourne (pictured below).
Entertainment at both graduations will be provided by vocalist Christopher Saunders, pianist Mary Steer and Capricornia Silver Band.
A response by the graduates' representative will be given by:.
Morning – Amy Westbrook (Bachelor of Arts with Distinction and Bachelor of Business (Human Resources Management) with Distinction.
Afternoon – Ben Flanders (Bachelor of Science) with Distinction.