Lumen Summer 2013 - Flipbook - Page 9
story by Ben Osborne
The University of
Adelaide’s alumni
have distinguished
themselves throughout
the world in their
individual 昀椀elds.
This year, the University
recognises the contributions
of Keith Conlon OAM,
Michael Alpers AO and
James Crawford SC.
Below: Distinguished
Alumni Award recipient
Keith Conlon OAM.
Distinguished
Alumni Award
Mr SA
Media identity Keith Conlon OAM often uses a phrase
to describe his many jobs, interests and passions:
“you get much more out of it than you put in”.
A
fter some 50 years of ‘putting in’
as a graduate of the University
of Adelaide, he is very grateful
and surprised to receive a Distinguished
Alumni Award for his outstanding
contribution to the cultural life of South
Australia; to economic development,
particularly through tourism promotion;
and to arts and education.
“It comes as a surprise and an honour,
it really does,” Mr Conlon said. “When
you have a look at the other names that
have received the award – there’s not that
many of them and they’ve all achieved so
much. It’s very humbling.”
Mr Conlon graduated with Arts and Law
degrees in 1968 and said his time outside
of the classroom – coupled with the social
and cultural milieu of the time – ensured
his university years were among his most
formative.
“Obviously I gained a very good
education, but I got a lot more than that,”
he said.
“We were very fortunate to live in an
age of much activity – I kept myself quite
busy with things like Footlights,
Law School revues, and the
University Jazz Club, and I met a lot of
people who have become life-long friends
and contacts.”
After graduating, Mr Conlon started his
radio career with 5AD and tutored in Law
and Politics part-time at the University.
He was the Foundation Director of
the University’s – and Australia’s first
educational and community radio station,
Radio 5UV, which (now known as Radio
Adelaide) celebrated its 40th anniversary
earlier this year.
“We were very fortunate: the University
had the idea but not the financial
wherewithal to act on it, and we had an
anonymous benefactor at the time who
wanted to give back to education.
“The donor gave $100,000 – which was
a staggering amount of money at the time
– and we had to work hard to get it off
the ground, but it resulted in a community
radio station which still plays a big role in
education and community broadcasting.”
Mr Conlon’s subsequent career –
prominent radio and television host, and
seemingly limitless charity and community
participant and leader – still intersects
frequently with the University of Adelaide.
He is a member of the Fundraising
Committee for the Elder Hall Appeal,
which aims to raise $5 million to help
restore this concert and meeting venue
to its former glory.
And, demonstrating life’s ability to come
full circle, he participated in the 2012
Adelaide Law School revue – but not
on stage.
“My daughter Matilda is studying
Law and was in the Revue – they
asked if I would like to be the honorary
photographer and, as a budding amateur
‘snapper’, I was delighted to,” he said.
“To be part of the revue again – even
in a very small capacity – was fantastic
but it was also very satisfying to see my
daughter ‘putting in’ – and getting so
much back.”
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 7
