Lumen Winter 2013 - Flipbook - Page 19
story by Kate Husband
Vale Edwin Harry Medlin B.Sc.(Hons.), Ph.D., D.Univ.
2 January 1920–6 March 2013
H
arry Medlin was born at Orroroo
in country South Australia on 2
January 1920. He attended school
in Adelaide and studied at the South
Australian School of Mines and Industries
from 1936 to 1939, while working at the
Adelaide Electric Supply Company.
He enlisted in the Australian Army in
1938, was commissioned in 1939 and rose
to the rank of captain at the age of 20. He
was a prisoner of war of the Japanese in
Timor and Java from 23 February 1942 to
23 September 1945, and was awarded
the Efficiency Medal and five campaign
stars and medals.
On leaving the Army in 1946, he
commenced studies at the University
of Adelaide under the Commonwealth
Reconstruction Training Scheme. He
graduated Bachelor of Science in 1949,
took Honours in 1951, and completed his
PhD on X-ray crystallography in 1956. He
was appointed a Lecturer in Physics at
the University in 1951, gaining promotion
to Senior Lecturer in 1960 and Associate
Professor in 1974. He retired in 1985, but
remained a strong and lively presence
in the University community, especially
the Alumni Association, which he helped
found, becoming the Inaugural Chair.
Harry Medlin was an active and loyal
supporter of the University in many ways.
He served for many years on the
Education Committee, and was inaugural
chair of its Executive Committee from
1980 to 1982. He contributed actively to
the governance of the University through
membership of the Senate Standing
Committee from 1965 to 1980, and the
University Council from 1967 to 2003.
He was Deputy Chancellor of the
University from 1978 to 1997, and was
awarded the degree of Doctor of the
University in 1987, and the Centenary
Medal for his creative and productive
involvement in all aspects of the work,
life and culture of universities in 2001.
His wider interests in the University
community included the University
of Adelaide Staff Association and the
Federation of Australian University Staff
Associations, the University of Adelaide
Theatre Guild, the Adelaide University
Union (the students’ association of the
University), and many more groups and
causes. He held executive positions
in many of these associations over
the years.
He was especially active in the alumni
affairs of the University in South East
Asia, where he maintained many lifelong
friendships, and travelled widely to
develop contacts with graduates and
establish alumni chapters.
The dedication and love
in Dr Medlin’s Alumni work
will be long remembered.
Dato’ Lee Yee Cheong AO,
Distinguished Alumni Award 1996
Main image: from left,
Dame Roma Mitchell
Dr Harry Medlin and
Professor Kevin
Marjoribanks.
Photo courtesy of
University Archives.
Above left: From left
to right, Dr Gerald
Laurence, Dr Harry
Medlin, Professor Graham
Nerlich, Dr George Mayo,
and Professor Donald
Stranks, Vice-Chancellor,
at a Theatre Guild
production.
Harry Medlin
Asia Scholarships
Program
If you wish to memorialise
the contribution of
Dr Harry Medlin to the
University of Adelaide
through a major gift to
establish a scholarship in
his name, please contact
Paul Finn, Acting Director,
Fundraising and
Development on
0405 036 941 or email
paul.finn@adelaide.edu.au
Photo courtesy of
University Archives.
Above right: From left
to right, Datuk Dr Sam
Abraham, Dr Harry
Medlin, Giam Choo Huat,
Dr Siew Muay Yung, Dr
Richard Hin Yung. Alumni
Dinner, Singapore 1994
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 17
