Honorary awards

The Honourable Kenneth Whistler Street

The degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) was conferred upon the Honourable Kenneth Whistler Street at the ceremony of conferring of honorary degrees held on 29 August 1952 as part of the University of Sydney's Centenary celebrations.

The Hon Kenneth Street with Chancellor Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn, a Sydney Morning Herald photo, with copies held by the University of Sydney Archives.

Citation

Presented to the Chancellor, Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor K O Shatwell:

THE HONOURABLE KENNETH WHISTLER STREET, B.A., LL.B., Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of New South Wales.

Mr. Chancellor, I present to you Kenneth Whistler Street, Chief Justice of New South Wales and Her Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor in this State. A graduate in Arts and Law of this University, he won prizes and scholarships while hastening his studies in order that he might serve his country in the First World War. He served in the armed forces overseas and in Australia from 1914 to 1919. Upon his return to civilian life he took up his chosen calling of the law. While in practice he maintained his association with the University by accepting appointment as a lecturer in the Faculty of Law. In 1927 his learning led to higher honours, and he became a Judge of the Industrial Commission in New South Wales. In 1931 he was appointed to the Bench of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where - an event surely unique in legal history - he sat with his father, the late Sir Phillip Street, then Chief Justice. In 1950, to the deep satisfaction of all who respected him as a judge, and esteemed him for his great personal qualities, he was himself appointed Chief Justice of New South Wales - a fitting culmination to his distinguished service in high judicial office.

Mr. Chancellor, I present Kenneth Whistler Street for admission to the Degree of Doctor of Laws in this University.

From "The University of Sydney Centenary Celebrations August 26 - August 31, 1952" compiled by the Office of Information and Public Relations. Allan Gamble, Information and Public Relations Officer.