News Archive

By Trea Wiltshire

With UWA's 2013 Centenary celebrations on the horizon, the University's history is being revisited by authors, archivists and history enthusiasts.

The Centenary History of UWA is being edited by Professor Jenny Gregory with the assistance of Honorary Research Fellow Jean Chetkovich and will be published by UWA Publishing early next year.

UWA Archivist Maria Carvalho is receiving more than the usual number of requests for old photos that chart the University's transition from humble accommodation in Irwin Street to the impressive Hackett Memorial Buildings.

The UWA Historical Society is funding oral history recordings - and is seeking further funding for this ongoing project (see the Society's web page at development.uwa.edu.au/friends/ historical-society).

And the Reid Library's Special Collections recently received an early centenary gift from a graduate: a collection of decorations and medals presented to the University's first Professor of Mathematics and Physics, A.D. Ross.

The collection came to UWA from Dr Mike Galvin, a Science and Medicine graduate, who became actively involved in research on the Great War when he retired. He is President of the Military History Society of WA and a member of the Royal WA Historical Society.

"I was lucky to be attending a military antiques auction looking for some old books when the medals came up," Dr Galvin said.

"I remembered studying Physics in the Ross Lecture Theatre and knew that when UWA had recruited Professor Ross it was regarded as a great coup because of his international stature, so I bought the medals as a centenary gift to the University."

The recipient of these medals, Professor Alexander David Ross, studied at the University of Glasgow and the University of Gottingen in Germany. The brilliant young physicist arrived at UWA with a considerable reputation for research on rare earth elements, the properties of alloys and atmospheric physics. The University of Glasgow presented him with the Kelvin gold medal for the best DSc dissertation. This medal has been retained by Professor Ross's daughter Verna Rowbotham who feels it is part of the history of the Scottish university. It was the first Kelvin medal and prize awarded by the University of Glasgow.

The remaining Ross medals have found their way back to the University thanks to Dr Galvin, enriching the University's Special Collections in the Reid Library.

Enlisted as a non-combatant during World War II, Professor Ross involved the University in the war effort, with the Physics Department making, repairing and calibrating optical instruments. The professor's wartime contribution was acknowledged by a Commander of the British Empire (CBE Civil) decoration, along with The War Medal and Australia Service Medal.

The collection also includes a medal from The Royal Society of Arts (1951) as well as commemorative medals.

Published in UWA News , 3 September 2012