Robert Madgwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Robert Madgwick
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Colonel Robert Madgwick as Director of Army Education, Melbourne, 1944
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| Warden of the New England University College | |
| In office 1946–1953 |
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| Preceded by | Edgar Booth |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| 1st Vice-Chancellor of the University of New England | |
| In office 1954–1966 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Sir Zelman Cowen |
| Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission | |
| In office 1967–1973 |
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| Preceded by | James Ralph Darling |
| Succeeded by | Richard Downing |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Bowden Madgwick
10 May 1905 North Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) |
| Died | 25 March 1979 (aged 73) Hornsby, NSW |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Residence | St Ives, NSW |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Profession | Educationalist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Branch/service | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1941–46 (Active duty) |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | Australian Army Education Service |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Sir Robert Bowden Madgwick (10 May 1905 – 25 March 1979) was an important Australian educationalist. He became the first leader, called Vice-Chancellor, of the University of New England. He also led the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) for two terms. Madgwick strongly believed in adult learning and helping people continue their education after school. At the University of New England, he helped create new degree programs. These included rural science and agricultural economics, which were the first of their kind in Australia. He was recognized for his work in education, receiving the Order of British Empire in 1962 and being made a knight in 1966.
Born in North Sydney, New South Wales, Robert Madgwick first trained as a schoolteacher. He then earned degrees in economics and economic history from the University of Sydney and University of Oxford. As a lecturer at the University of Sydney, he worked in a program that offered education to adults. This experience made him very interested in adult learning. When World War II began, Madgwick helped create an education plan for the Australian Army. The government approved his plan. From 1941 to 1946, he served as the Director of the Australian Army Education Service. This service provided education to 250,000 soldiers during the war.
After the war, in 1946, Madgwick became the Warden of the New England University College in Armidale, New South Wales. He guided the college, which was then part of the University of Sydney, to become an independent university in 1954. This new university was called the University of New England. Until he retired in 1966, Madgwick helped the university grow. He added new subjects and built more facilities. He also worked to connect the university with the local community. Under his leadership, the university became a leader in adult education and agricultural research. After retiring from the university, Madgwick served as Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission from 1967 to 1973.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Robert Madgwick was born on 10 May 1905 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second of three sons. His father was a tram-driver, and his mother was a dressmaker. Both were active in their church. Madgwick later said his parents taught him that "all men and women were sacred." They also taught him that "poverty and injustice were contrary to God's teaching." He felt that family, church, and school were the most important things in his early life.
Madgwick went to public schools in Naremburn and North Sydney Boys High School. In 1923, he started at the University of Sydney with a scholarship. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1927 with top honors. He also shared the first Sydney University Medal in Economics.
Teacher and University Lecturer
After getting his degree, Madgwick worked as a schoolteacher. He taught at Nowra High School in 1927 and then at Parkes High School from 1927 to 1928. He later said this short time as a teacher was very valuable. It taught him that all young people are different but deserve help to reach their full potential.
In 1929, he became a temporary lecturer in economics at the University of Sydney. In this role, Madgwick taught evening classes for adults. These classes were part of the university's "tutorial" program. He taught at the main campus and in nearby areas like Bondi and Manly. Madgwick said this experience in adult education greatly influenced his later career. In 1931, he co-wrote a textbook called An Outline of Australian Economics. He earned a master's degree in economics from the University of Sydney in 1932.
In 1933, Madgwick received a special scholarship called a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship. This allowed him to study at Balliol College, Oxford, in England. He returned to Australia in 1935. In 1936, Oxford University awarded him a doctor of philosophy degree. His research, published in 1937, was about early immigration to Eastern Australia.
In 1936, Madgwick became a senior lecturer in economic history at the University of Sydney. He often worked with the university's adult education department. In 1937, he became Secretary of the Sydney University Extension Board (SUEB). This board focused on adult education in nearby communities. Madgwick traveled to rural areas to give lectures. Many of these lectures took place at the New England University College in Armidale, New South Wales. This college later became the University of New England.
Madgwick believed that adult education should offer what people wanted to learn. He felt it should not just be what the university thought they needed. He aimed for "genuine liberal adult education." He helped change the university's adult education program. The changes included more lectures on international affairs. He explained his ideas on adult education:
If adult education were to succeed it must start by finding out what people were interested in, and then starting out to satisfy their interests. There is nothing at all wrong about this, providing adequate standards are maintained in both the lectures and the subject matter, for it can be established easily enough that the satisfaction of one interest or felt need will inevitably produce others, and the educational process continues.
Madgwick married Ailsa Margaret Aspinall in Sydney on 19 May 1937. They had three daughters: Margaret Ann, Ailsa Mary, and Helen Millicent.
Leading Army Education
From 1939 to 1940, Madgwick designed an adult education program for the Sydney University Regiment. As Australia joined World War II, Madgwick and his colleagues suggested that the Australian Army should have an adult education program. This program would help soldiers who couldn't read well and teach them about Australia's history. The Army accepted their plan.
On 1 March 1941, the Army Education Service (AES) was created. Madgwick was chosen to lead it. He was given the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel. The program aimed to improve soldier morale, teach them about being good citizens, and prepare them for jobs after the war. It included lectures, classes, and discussion groups.
The AES started with 43 staff members. By 1944, it had 963 staff, including teachers and administrators. Each army brigade usually had an AES officer and sergeant. They managed a library, gave talks on current events, and helped with correspondence courses. They also distributed two important journals: Salt and Current Affairs Bulletin. In 1943, the AES opened two schools to teach basic reading and writing skills to soldiers.
In its first year, 1 million people attended AES lectures and classes. By the end of the war, 10 million had attended classes. 64,000 soldiers had enrolled in correspondence courses. The AES staff gave 150,000 lectures and showed thousands of films. Their libraries held 750,000 books. The journal Salt reached 250,000 readers. Madgwick traveled widely to support the AES. In July 1943, he was promoted to temporary colonel.
Some people criticized the AES, saying it was trying to make the Army political. Madgwick denied these claims. He stated that the service's goal was "education, not propaganda."
After 1943, Madgwick helped plan for education after the war. He played a big part in creating the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme. This scheme helped former soldiers get a university education. Madgwick's active duty ended in March 1946.
In 1946, Madgwick helped plan and establish the Australian National University. He believed that adult education programs should be managed at the state level, not just by the federal government.
Leading the University of New England
Becoming Independent
In December 1946, Madgwick was chosen to become the Warden of New England University College in Armidale. He started this role on 17 February 1947.
New England University College was a small, new institution. It had 202 full-time students and only two main study areas: arts and science. Most of its activities were in one building, Booloominbah. The law that created the college said it would become independent when it was ready. But it had not made much progress towards this. One of Madgwick's first tasks was to help the college become independent.
In 1951, the New South Wales Department of Education asked the University of Sydney about training teachers through distance learning. The University of Sydney said no. They felt that distance learning would not be as good as studying on campus. However, the department then asked New England if it would be willing to offer distance learning. Madgwick was very keen on the idea. He told his staff to start preparing a distance learning program. The University of Sydney then agreed that New England could become independent to run this program.
The University of New England Act was passed into law on 16 December 1953. The college officially became the independent University of New England on 1 February 1954. Madgwick became its first Vice-Chancellor.
Growing the University's Programs
Madgwick wanted to expand the university's courses. He also wanted them to meet the needs of the New England community. Since it was the first Australian university in a rural area, Madgwick focused on adult education, agriculture, and farming. These programs helped define the new university.
Distance Learning
The main goal of the distance learning program was to help people get a university degree who could not easily travel to attend classes. This was often because they lived in rural areas. At the time, most Australian universities did not like distance learning. They thought it might lower academic standards. Madgwick believed these problems could be solved with careful management and government support. He made sure that distance learning teachers also taught on campus. He also made sure that distance learning students took the same exams as on-campus students. Distance learning students also had to attend some short courses on campus.
Classes began in 1955. The program's director, Howard Sheath, added new ideas. These included sending lecturers to rural towns for weekend seminars. He also set up University Centres across New South Wales. Students could meet there for lectures, discussions, and exams.
In its first year, 350 students enrolled. By 1965, there were 2,500 distance learning students. They outnumbered the on-campus students by more than two to one. Most of these students were schoolteachers.
Adult Education
Madgwick continued to strongly support adult education (AE). Unlike distance learning, AE focused on classroom courses that were not usually part of a degree program. In 1948, Madgwick got a government grant to expand the school's adult education program. The program offered courses based on what local people wanted to study. It focused on practical courses rather than very formal, theoretical ones. This made the program very popular. By 1949, 4% of the New England area's population had attended one of the college's classes.
A. J. A. Nelson, who later directed the program, remembered Madgwick telling him in 1955: "I see your job as the most important in the University... The future of the whole University will depend on how well you do it."
In 1958, the AE program received large government grants. The university continued to offer classes on topics popular with the local community. These included arts, crafts, farming, and local history. The success of this program helped Madgwick achieve his goal of providing education to enrich the lives of local people.
Rural Science
As the college prepared for independence in 1953, Madgwick wanted to create a unique farming-related degree. He traveled to England and the United States to talk with experts. While he was away, his deputy, James Belshaw, learned about an idea for a new approach to farm science. This idea combined animal husbandry (raising animals) and agronomy (crop production).
Madgwick liked this idea. He recommended creating a Faculty of Rural Science. Classes began in March 1956. This program was the first of its kind in Australian higher education. It became one of New England's most important programs.
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural economics was another area Madgwick wanted to develop. No other Australian university offered such a degree. Madgwick felt this program would help solve problems in the New England community. He said, "The reputation of the university may well depend on the success it achieves in finding solutions to problems of primary production."
The new degree included courses in agricultural economics, farming, land management, and statistics. The program began in March 1958. Between 1960 and 1985, 450 students graduated from this program.
More Growth and Community Involvement
The university started a Department of Education in 1959. It offered degrees in Educational Administration. This was the first degree of its kind in Australia. So many students applied that a limit had to be set.
Between 1954 and 1960, the number of students at New England more than doubled. This led to more staff and a need for new buildings. In 1958, the university received a large government grant for improvements. Madgwick oversaw the planning and building of over ten permanent buildings on campus.
Madgwick worked to build strong ties between the university and the Armidale community. He joined local organizations like Legacy and Rotary. He also spoke at university events and local radio stations. From 1954 to 1959, he served as a council member for the city of Armidale.
In 1961, Madgwick was elected the first president of the Australian Association of Adult Education. He also received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Sydney and Queensland.
Madgwick was often away from his duties from 1963 to 1966 due to illness. However, from 1964 to 1966, he led the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee. In this role, he successfully defended the idea that distance education should be a university function. When Madgwick retired in December 1966, the number of on-campus students had grown to 1396. The academic staff had increased from 65 in 1953 to 360 in 1966.
In recognition of his contributions, Madgwick was made a Knight Bachelor on 1 January 1966. Armidale honored him by naming a road "Madgwick Drive" and a postal code "Madgwick 2350."
Leading the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Appointment and Leadership Style
After retiring from the university, Madgwick moved to Canberra. In May 1967, he was chosen to replace James Darling as chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). He was reportedly chosen because he was seen as fair and respected. Madgwick officially started on 1 July 1967.
As chairman, Madgwick took a relaxed approach. He gave his opinions but let his managers and producers make the final decisions. He saw his role as similar to a university president. He tried to be available to all ABC employees, walking around and talking with them. He was later described as the most popular chairman in the ABC's history. He was given a second term as chairman in 1970.
Challenges Faced
Madgwick generally got along well with Alan Hulme, the government minister in charge of the ABC. However, they sometimes disagreed on the content of ABC's news shows, especially This Day Tonight (TDT). Hulme often passed on complaints about TDT's coverage from the government. Madgwick investigated each complaint but never found that the program was intentionally biased.
In May 1970, Hulme suggested cutting the ABC's budget, especially for current affairs programs. This made ABC staff angry, as they felt it threatened the ABC's independence. The news was leaked to the media. Hulme later withdrew his suggestion. Madgwick then gave an interview on ABC news, explaining his views on how the government and the ABC should work together.
One of Madgwick's main jobs was to answer questions from the government. He traveled to Canberra many times to explain the ABC's finances and operations. Under Madgwick, the ABC's annual budget grew significantly.
In 1972, a new government came into power. In 1973, Madgwick asked the new Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, if ABC employees could be removed from the Public Service Board. This would give the ABC more independence. Whitlam, however, did not agree.
Madgwick's second term as chairman ended on 30 June 1973. He hoped to continue, but the government decided to replace him due to his age. The new chairman was Richard Downing.
Later Life and Family
After leaving the ABC, Madgwick chaired the Australian Frontier Commission from 1974 to 1976. He was also a member of several clubs and organizations.
Madgwick's first wife died in 1967. He married Eileen Hilda McGrath in 1971. He lived in St Ives.
Death
Robert Madgwick passed away on 25 March 1979 in Hornsby, New South Wales. He was survived by his wife and his three daughters from his first marriage.
Awards and Honours
- 1927 University of Sydney Medal in Economics
- 1933 Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship
- 1961 Doctor of Letters, University of Sydney
- 1961 Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, University of Queensland
- 1962 Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- 1966 Knight Bachelor
- 1966 Freedom of the City of Armidale, New South Wales
- 1969 Doctor of Letters, University of New England
