Academic Awards Dinner
Wednesday 29 July
Professor Peter McPhee presents Mark Wallace (5th year Mechatronics) with his academic award
At tonight's 'Christmas in July' themed dinner, the recently retired Provost of the University of Melbourne, Professor Peter McPhee (TC 1966) presented awards to 51 resident and four theology students, each of whom achieved an H1 average in Semester I this year.
After dinner, at a Fireside Chat in the Junior Common Room, Professor McPhee spoke of his current research for a new biography of Robespierre, an enigmatic political leader revered for his incorruptibility, yet reviled for his role in the worst excesses of the French Revolution. Questions and discussion ranged from the consequences of the French Revolution for politics today, to the problems and nature of writing historical biographies.
Professor McPhee, who as Provost since 2003, oversaw the design and introduction of the University's New Generation undergraduate programs within the Melbourne Model, appropriately chose Bastille Day, 14 July, as his last day at the University.