The staff, students and alumni of Charles Sturt University (CSU) joined the community of Bathurst in expressing deep sadness at the passing of the former Mayor of Bathurst, and Charles Sturt University Pro Chancellor, Mr Ian Macintosh, AM.

 

CSU Chancellor, Mr Lawrie Willett, AO, said, “Ian was a true believer in rural and regional Australia.

 

“Born in Forbes, he grew up in rural Australia, and after a long and successful career in Canberra returned to Bathurst to live.

 

“He had a unique insight into the creative capacity of rural and regional communities, and was able to merge this with his exceptional understanding of the workings of government developed over many years in Canberra.

 

“Elected Mayor of Bathurst in 1995, he had an abiding commitment to the development of the Bathurst community.

 

“As a member of the Council of Charles Sturt University, and later as Deputy Chancellor, he brought together his experiences as a rural Australian with his expertise in government and industry relations, to support the development of Charles Sturt University as Australia’s leading regional university.

 

“However, he will also be remembered by many for giving generously of his time to mentor those who were interested in engaging with government to advance the interests of rural and regional communities.

 

“He was a great friend and support to me in my role as Chancellor.

 

“His passing is a great loss to the University and to the Bathurst community,” Chancellor Willett said.

 

Professor Andrew Vann, Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University said, “While I have only been with the University for a short time, it was apparent very early on in my term that Ian Macintosh was a man held in high esteem within the University, was a significant community leader and a central figure in the development of the University as a multi-region institution.”

 

Pro Chancellor Macintosh was appointed to the Council of Charles Sturt University by the Minister for Education in 1999, and was subsequently elected as Deputy Chancellor in October 2003.   

 

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2006 for his services to higher education and local government. Formally retiring from the Council in 2007, he was unanimously elected as the inaugural Pro Chancellor of Charles Sturt University in 2009.

 

To mark the 20^th anniversary of the University, and Ian’s passion for creating opportunities for students in rural and regional Australia, the Council named a student residence in Bathurst in his honour in 2009 – ‘Macintosh House’.