Sir Gerard Brennan, lifelong advocate for social justice
Sir Gerard Brennan was one of Australia’s most eminent jurists, serving on the High Court of Australia from 1981 and as the nation’s Chief Justice from 1995 to 1998. Late in 1998 he became the second Chancellor of UTS and served in that role until December 2004.
Sir Gerard Brennan presenting the awards for the Brennan Justice and Leadership Program in 2016. Photo by Anna Zhu
His death this week, at the age of 94, has been keenly felt across UTS.
As Chancellor, Sir Gerard was guided by his strong belief in the importance of universities in the life of the community. He saw education, particularly tertiary education, as developing the capacities of individuals to strive to reach their full potential.
One of his many lasting contributions to UTS was the emphasis he placed on the notion of good governance, and his tenure as Chancellor contributed to the maturing of the university’s governance and management, resulting in lasting improvements.
Sir Gerard remained engaged with the UTS community long after stepping down as Chancellor. In the Faculty of Law, Dean Professor Anita Stuhmcke said Sir Gerard gave his name, reputation, time and enthusiasm to the introduction and ongoing success of the Brennan Justice and Leadership Program, established in 2011.
The program is a remarkable tribute to a remarkable lawyer.
Professor Anita Stuhmcke
“Sir Gerard holds a special place in the very heart of the UTS Law Faculty and many of our students and alumni. The program is a remarkable tribute to a remarkable lawyer,” Professor Stuhmcke said.
UTS recognised Sir Gerard’s distinguished contribution to his profession with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (1998) and an Honorary Doctorate of the University (2005). In 2018 he was awarded the title of Chancellor Emeritus.
Sir Gerard demonstrated his commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout his career. He played a significant role in landmark judgements on native title, including the Mabo case in 1992, where he wrote the leading judgement that rejected the doctrine of terra nullius and recognised native title in Australia.
The Sir Gerard Brennan Scholarship, established in 2004, is awarded each year to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student at UTS who is undertaking a higher degree by research within the Faculty of Law.
The new Moot Court at UTS, located in UTS Central, has been named in his honour.
