Honorary awards

His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott KCMG CB MVO

The honorary degree of Doctor of Letters was conferred by the Chancellor Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn KCMG OBE upon His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott KCMG CB MVO, Governor of New South Wales and Visitor to the University, at a ceremony held in the Great Hall on Saturday, 10 May 1952.

This followed an amendment of the University and University Colleges Act 1900 which confirmed the Senate's power to confer honorary degrees.

The ceremony marked the opening of the Sydney University Arts faculty "open day" lo celebrate the centenary of the faculty.

Sir John, thanking the University, said that from its inauguration 100 years ago the University had displayed great loyalty and devotion to the Throne. "In this first year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth it is fitting that this practical demonstration of loyalty which I accept as the humble representative of this State should be displayed again," Sir John said.

From left: Sir John Northcott and the Chancellor Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn, photo from 'The Sunday Herald', 11 May 1952, National Library of Australia, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18506310.