MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:48:34):
Today I rise to pay tribute to the life of Francis Sutherland Hambly, whose career reflected long and dedicated service to tertiary education in this country.
Frank Hambly passed away in November 2018, aged 83, in Canberra, although both his own education and earliest work life lay in Adelaide.
Frank Hambly served for 30 years until 1996 as director and secretary of the Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee (AVCC), the peak body that was the voice of Australian universities until 2007.
There is no doubt that during those three decades universities in this country were transformed and increased in number five times over, with increasing student populations and research opportunities.
In the face of such challenges Frank Hambly was a constant, providing years of wise counsel to members of the AVCC and to many government and educational organisations.
Frank Hambly’s expertise and detailed knowledge of each university led also to a role in assisting institutions to research potential vice-chancellors.
Frank Hambly’s contribution to tertiary education was recognised by the universities, with honorary doctorates from La Trobe and Southern Cross universities; he was an honorary professor at the University of Canberra, adjunct professor at the University of Queensland and a fellow of the Australian College of Educators.
And on a personal note I thank Frank Hambly for his generosity of spirit, his kindness and the valuable advice that he provided when a 20-something student union representative needed to present papers or appear at AVCC meetings. Frank Hambly was a true gentleman.
Vale, Frank Hambly.
