Chancellors

Air Marshal Sir James Anthony Rowland AC KBE DFC AFC KStJ

Air Marshal Sir James Anthony Rowland AC KBE DFC AFC KStJ was Fellow of Senate and Chancellor of the University of Sydney from 1990 to 1991.

Profile

(1922 – 1999)
BE(Aero) Hon DEng FRAeS, CEng, FIE Aust
Fellow of Senate 1990 - 1991
Chancellor 1990 - 1991

Sir James Rowland was educated at Cranbrook School and the University of Sydney. His university studies in Aeronautical Engineering were interrupted in 1942 by his enlistment in the Royal Australian Air Force. Sir James gave distinguished service as a master bomber and pilot in Europe, being taken prisoner in 1945 by the Germans near Frankfurt..

Following the war, Rowland completed his Aeronautical Engineering Degree at the University of Sydney and went on to have a long and distinguished career in the military. He became a chief test pilot in 1950 serving at many air bases both in Australia and abroad. Sir James rose to the rank of Air Marshal as Chief of Air Staff in 1975, a position he held for four years until his retirement from the service.

Rowland was appointed the 33rd Governor of New South Wales in 1981 replacing Sir Roden Cutler, serving as Governor until 1989. Sir James was the President of the Royal Humane Society and a member of the Police Board from 1989-92. He was Chancellor of the University from 1990-91.

Sir James died on 27 May 1999.

The biographical notes on the Chancellors contain information derived from a variety of sources including: Australia’s First: A History of the University of Sydney; University News; University of Sydney Archives; and Lawlink NSW: Law and History.

Senate tribute 1999

The Chancellor Emeritus Professor Dame Leonie Kramer read the following tribute to Sir James Rowland, former Chancellor of the University, who died on 27 May 1999:

Sir James Rowland was elected Chancellor in 1990 after the death of Sir Hermann Black. At the time, though retired as Governor of New South Wales, he was still very active in a number of organisations, including the arduous responsibility as Chairman of the Police Board.

All his activities were inspired by his desire to serve the community, and the University was to him not just the custodian of knowledge and enquiry, but the institution which enabled young people to find their way to a satisfying career through which they, too, could serve others.

He was a genial and sociable man, who entered into university life with enthusiasm. It was not easy to follow Hermann Black’s twenty year Chancellorship, and to come to terms with the changes which followed the appointment of Professor McNicol as Vice-Chancellor. He completed the balance of Sir Hermann’s term with grace and goodwill, and we are very grateful for the time he gave to the University.