Australia’s former Governor-General, The Honourable Sir William Deane, will receive an Honorary Doctorate (honoris causa) from Charles Sturt University (CSU) this Friday, 2 June at the CSU School of Theology graduation ceremony in Canberra.

 

Sir William will be presented with his honorary award in recognition of his significant contribution to the Australian community, especially his ongoing work for justice and reconciliation betweeen Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.

 

During his term as Governor-General (1996–2001), Sir William focused on the needs of Australia’s disadvantaged and campaigned tirelessly against racism and injustice. “His ability to empathise with people and his involvement in social issues raised the profile of the office of Governor-General to a point where more is now expected of it and the person in it,” said Charles Sturt University Chancellor, Lawrence Willett.

 

The former High Court judge will also deliver the occasional address at the graduation of a record 58 students from Charles Sturt University’s School of Theology. The graduates include the largest number of PhD candidates in Theology, two women and two men, one of whom will be awarded a doctorate posthumously.

 

The CSU graduation ceremony will begin at 5.30pm at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC) Chapel, which adjoins St Mark’s National Theological Centre at 15 Blackall Street, Barton, ACT. CSU’s School of Theology works closely with the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC) which is a focal point for the study of Christianity and the promotion of interfaith understanding in Australia in the 21^st century.

 

Sir William Deane is a current member of the Board of the ACCC and was the first patron of the ecumenical project from its inception in 1998. “My delight at receiving this award from Charles Sturt University is intensified by the University’s close association with the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, of which I am an enthusiastic supporter,” Sir William said.

 

Charles Sturt University’s Schoool of Theology has established a reputation for high quality theological education since entering into a partnership with St Mark’s Anglican Theological Centre in 1995 and the United Theological College in Sydney which joined in 1999. By combining undergraduate and postgraduate education alongside opportunities for study of Christian ministry, the CSU School of Theology is unique in Australia. More than 400 students are currently enrolled at Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral levels and the School has developed a vigorous research output through its involvement with CSU’s Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre (PACT).