Autumn graduates step into the spotlight

The commencement of graduation season last week has seen several thousand graduates step into the spotlight in recognition of their achievements in their degrees.

In some of the ceremonies the students were joined on stage by one (or two) esteemed individuals who were on site to receive an honorary doctorate from Macquarie University, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to a field or discipline that reflects the breadth of the University’s areas of interest and expertise.

Margaret Pomeranz AM and David Stratton AM stepped in front of the cameras once again last Tuesday morning, not as film critics and co-hosts of the popular and now former ABC program ‘At the Movies’, but to receive honorary doctorates for their contributions to the film industry.

Margaret, a Macquarie alumna who studied German and social psychology in the 60s and 70s (“it was very easy to find a park back then”), credits her time at Macquarie as “life-changing”, giving her belief in her abilities, and setting the wheels in motion to set her on a career path she has greatly enjoyed.

David Stratton was likewise delighted to accept his award, saying it was both unexpected and gratifying, given his own education was cut short before he had completed high school, and he has always regretted not being able to study at a tertiary level.

Honorary doctorates were also awarded to:

  • The late Ray Jackson (posthumous Doctor of Letters), recognising his contributions to indigenous social justice. A Wiradjuri Elder and one of Australia’s stolen generation, he worked tirelessly across Deaths In Custody, and co-founded the Indigenous Social Justice Association and was its President up until the time of his passing in April 2015.
  • Emeritus Professor David Weisbrot AM (Doctor of Letters), previously a Professor of Law and Governance at Macquarie University, recognising his contributions to law reform in relation to health and medical research.
  • Emeritus Professor John Melville-Jones (Doctor of Letters), recognising his contributions in ancient history, specialising in an understanding of the Mediterranean world from antiquity to medieval times.
  • Businessman and Macquarie alumnus Dr Ian Pollard (Doctor of Business), recognising an esteemed business career that has seen Dr Pollard direct around 30 companies across a variety of sectors in as many years. Dr Pollard graduated from Macquarie in 1973 with a BA in Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Studies, and was Macquarie’s first Rhodes Scholar.

Graduation ceremonies continue this week, concluding on Friday.

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