Sesquicentenary 1999-2002
The Vice-Chancellor's Sesquicentenary Distinguished Lecture Series
The University of Sydney Sesquicentenary celebrations commenced in 1999 and commemorated various important phases in the foundation of the University. These included: the speech made in Parliament on 6 September 1849 by William Charles Wentworth advocating a university for Sydney; the passage through the NSW legislature of the Act of Incorporation on 1 October 1850; the first Senate meeting on 3 February 1851; and the arrival of the first students and the presentation of the first lectures in October 1852 and the inauguration of the University on 11 October 1852.
As part of the University's 150th anniversary celebrations, the Vice-Chancellor hosted speeches by guests of international stature in his Sesquicentenary Distinguished Lecture Series between 2000 and 2002.
Lectures
- 6 September 2000:
Lord Irvine of Laing, the British Lord Chancellor - "The Development of the concepts of intention, recklessness and culpability in the criminal law of England and Australia" - 7 September 2000:
Mr Richard Pound QC, Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee and Chancellor of McGill University - "An Evening with Dick Pound" - 7 March 2001:
The Hon Robert Carr, Premier of NSW - "Valuing the Humanities" - 21 March 2001:
The Right Hon Chris Patten CH, European Commissioner for External Relations - "The Challenge of Governance in the Global Economy" - 6 July 2001:
"Dame Joan Sutherland - In conversation", presented in conjunction with the University of Sydney Union. - 28 September 2001:
Lord May of Oxford, President of the Royal Society - "The Role of Government in Innovation: Lessons from the United Kingdom" - 18 October 2001:
Professor Romaldo Giurgola - "An Itinerary in Architecture" - 30 October 2001:
Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE, former Australian of the Year - "Global Health Challenges in a Time of Turmoil"
Photograph below, courtesy of ZOOM Productions:
- 28 November 2001:
"An Evening with John Bell" - 27 February 2002:
Mr Fred Hilmer AO, CEO, John Fairfax Holdings - "Re-energising Australia - the need to move forward in a revitalised society" - lecture
Photograph below, courtesy of ZOOM Productions:
- 14 March 2002:
The Hon Neville Wran AC QC, Premier for NSW (1976-86) - "Australia - Beyond 2002" - lecture - 10 July 2002:
Professor Harrison Schmidt, Apollo 17 astronaut - "A Trip to the Moon - How it happened to me". - 20 August 2002:
Justice Margaret Marshall, Chief Justice, Massachussetts Supreme Court - "Dangerous Talk, Dangerous Silence: free Speech, Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law" - 3 September 2002:
Mr Neville Roach - "From Olympic Heights to Pacific Solution depths. The fall of Australian multiculturalism. Can it rise again?" - 17 September 2002:
Malcolm Turnbull, merchant banker - "The Tyranny of Proximity: Australia in the 21st Century" - 20 October 2002:
Dr Bryan Gaensler (presented in Boston) - "New Light on Dying Stars; From Sydney University to deep Space" - 31 October 2002:
Jill Kerr Conway, Australian writer, academic and company director - "Biography and Autobiography - the Genre of Choice"