Concannon College

Concannon College Orations

History

The foundation, by the church, of the first Universities in the Middle Ages, was based on a firm belief that truth cannot contradict itself. The pursuit of truth, whether it be secular or religious, will lead to an harmonious growth of humanity itself.

This same philosophy led Bishop Edward Kelly to found Concannon College. Concannon was to be a centre of residence, but much more than that, it was to be a centre of scholarship, in which the secular and the religious could grow hand in hand. Concannon College and the University of Southern Queensland would be partners in a common endeavour: to form tomorrow's leaders as "universal" human beings. As a community of scholars, the University's contribution was clear. But what could Concannon College contribute to the academic life of the university of Southern Queensland?

Bishop Kelly's answer was to institute an annual "Concannon Oration", inviting eminent orators from the professions, the sciences, the arts and the church, in the setting of a solemn academic event, to address topics relevant to today's world. The Oration would be open to the public, thus contributing to the life of both "town and gown".

"Let there be light" forms the leitmotif of every Concannon Oration. The wider our horizons become, the broader our knowledge, the more the fog of ignorance will dissipate, allowing truth to shine in all its glory. And Truth, with a capital "T" is our common goal.

Topics in Previous Years

Oration topics have been as varied as the orators themselves. Orations held since 1991 are listed below:

Year	Orator	Topic
2010	Professor Father Frank Brennan, SJ AO (13 KB)	'Human Rights, Religion and the Law (540 KB)
2009	The Hon Justice Martin Daubney	'Ethics in a Commercial World'
2008	Geraldine Doogue AO, renowned Australian journalist and broadcaster.	'Holding a Vision in a Busy World'.
2006	Prof Larissa Behrendt	"Reconciliation and Social Justice: The Challenge for Australians"
2005	Prof John Warhurst	'The Churches, Our Government and the Common Good'
2004	The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD.	'An Australian Bill of Rights: Does its absence endanger our children?'
2003	Professor Peter Swannell, BSc (Bristol), PhD (Birmingham), CPEng, FIEAust, Vice-Chancellor, University of Southern Queensland.	'On Getting Educated'
2002	Professor Peter C Doherty, AC, FAA, FRS.	'The Continuing Challenge of Infectious Disease'.
2001	The Hon Emeritus Professor Peter Baume AO.	'Human Genome Project'
2000	Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove, AC, MC, Chief of Army.	'The Importance of Courage, Truth and Morality in Leadership'
1999	Dr Marie Macdonald, B.Theol, D.Theol. MCD, Project Coordinator for the Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia.	'The Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia'
1998	No Oration was held in 1998.
1997	The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby, AC, CMG, Justice of the High Court of Australia and President of the International Commission of Jurists.	'The Human Genome Project – Ethical and Legal Challenges'
1996	Emeritus Professor R B Leal, Offr des Palmes Academiques, MA, DipEd Syd, PhD Qld, BD MCD, Vice-Chancellor, University of Southern Queensland.	'What is a University? Reflexions on the Modern University'
1995	Dr Isaiah Jackson, BA [cum laude], MA, MS, DMA, PhD [Hon] Music Director of the Dayton Philharmonic and Principal Guest Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.	'Music: Its Place in Human Development'
1994	Professor Bruce Tonge, MB, BS, MD, PM, MRC Psych. FRANZCP, Head of the Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry.	'Families Under Stress' [The International Year of the Family]
1993	Mr Barry Riddiford, Senior Policy Officer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Council.	'Aboriginal Studies, Cultural Studies, Indigenous Studies: What Should We Teach Them?' [The International Year of the World's Indigenous People]
1992	Archbishop of Hobart, The Most Reverend Eric D'Arcy.	'Christian Truth: Mind or Heart?'
1991	Dr Susan Moore, BA, MAT, PhD, Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs Education Policy Unit and specialist in Children's Writing.	'Long Ago and Far Away: Adventures in Reading'