Lumen Summer 2015 - Flipbook - Page 22
story by Genevieve Sanchez
Australian music icon
receives honorary degree
Adelaide-bred singer songwriter Paul Kelly was awarded an honorary
doctorate when he joined over a thousand graduates receiving their degrees
at the University of Adelaide’s graduation ceremonies in September.
P
aul received the Doctor of Arts
(honoris causa) in acknowledgement
of his “exceptionally distinguished
service to society”. It recognises his
huge contribution to Australian music
and creative writing as well as his
community service through benefits
and fundraising, and his significant
collaborations with Indigenous Australian
musicians and filmmakers.
Regarded by his fellow music industry
professionals as without peer in Australia,
Paul is internationally renowned for his
song compositions, creative writing and
recorded music performance. He has
been described as a rare poetic voice
in contemporary Australian music.
“As a leading university in tertiary music
education, we are delighted to be able
to recognise Paul Kelly in this way for
his contribution through composition,
performance and creative writing,” said
University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and
President Professor Warren Bebbington.
During an address to graduates Paul
spoke of his strong family connection
to the University.
“I returned to my home town
They robed me in a coloured gown
By ancient ways I was led down
Young men and women all around
“I spoke a speech beneath a clock
My sister beamed from the front dock
I tried hard not to speak a crock
By day’s end I was a Doc!”
Posted on Facebook by Paul Kelly
after receiving his honorary doctorate
His father John Erwin Kelly graduated
with a Bachelor of Laws in 1936 and went
on to lecture in property law throughout
the 1940s and 50s, while his grandfather,
Francis Kelly, graduated with a law degree
in 1906. Francis established the Adelaide
law firm Kelly and Co in 1917 which John
joined in 1937.
Relating his life in music to education,
Paul said that studying never stops.
“I’ve been writing songs and playing
music for 40 years and the more I know
about it, the more I realise how little I
know,” he said.
“The further I go in, the deeper it
gets. If I think about music as a big forest,
I’m only a little way inside the trees. If I
think of it as a mountain range, I’m still
toiling in the foothills.”
Paul had some advice for the new
graduates: “Always stay curious … find
time to play and … keep your mind on
the mountains even when you’re in the
thick of the deep dark woods.”
To end, Paul quoted one of his
‘teachers’ – Bob Dylan – from his
1973 song, Forever Young:
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Watch a recording of Paul Kelly’s
address to graduates at:
http://bit.ly/1sbuiNY
Opposite: Paul Kelly speaking at the graduation ceremony
Opposite inset: John Erwin Kelly, Intervarsity
Hockey 1936, bottom row, second from left
Above right: Paul with mace bearer John Pearson
20 Lumen | Summer 2015
“To graduate on the same day as
Paul Kelly was very special. His
commitment to Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people is something
to be admired. The University of
Adelaide has done well in recognising
his service to Australia.”
John Pearson, mace bearer at the ceremony where
he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Highest honour
Graduations are the culmination
of years of dedication and
hard work. Of the thousands
of students who graduated
from the University this year,
18 people received the highest
honour, the degree of Doctor of
the University honoris causa, in
recognition of their outstanding
achievements. For the full list of
those who have been awarded
honorary degrees in 2014 visit:
www.adelaide.edu.au/records/archives/former
