Academic Governance

Captain Gordon P Olley, the father of British commercial aviation, distinguished himself in the industry as the first man to fly one million miles.  His exploits range from air duels over France and Belgium in World War One to the creation of his own civil aviation company, Olley Air Services which between the world wars flew the rich and well-connected throughout Europe, America, Asia and Africa using only crude equipment and primitive navigation facilities.

His daughter, Dr June Olley, AM, a long-time Honorary Professor in the School of Agricultural Sciences has determined to recognise her father’s achievements by establishing a scholarship in his name which seeks to involve current UTAS students in the broad area of aviation/aeronautics – whether through medicine, engineering, science, law or another discipline.

The Academic Senate of the University has agreed to the foundation of a scholarship in the terms declared in these rules.

Rules 

1. An amount of $160,000, together with any income (by way of interest earned) from time to time, forms the endowment of the “Captain Gordon P Olley Scholarship in Aviation”.
2. The scholarship is to be awarded to a student who is enrolled in a course at the University of Tasmania and whose study program relates in some way to aviation/ aeronautics or the aviation/ aeronautics industry.
3. The scholarship will be awarded by a selection committee comprising: 
   • the Chair of Academic Senate, or nominee;
   • the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, or nominee;
   • a nominee of the Australian Institute of Science; and
   • Dr June Olley, AM, while she wishes to be involved
4. The selection committee will set the detailed selection criteria having regard to the intention of the donor.
5. The award is tenable for one year subject to the student: 
   • continuing in full-time study in a course at UTAS, or in part-time study if approved by the selection committee; and 
   • continuing to make, in the opinion of the selection committee in its absolute discretion, satisfactory progress in that course.
6. The selection committee may extend the student’s award for another year if it considers, in its absolute discretion, that the student’s program and progress merits an extension.
7. In the event that the selection committee, in its absolute discretion, determines after ten years or any other such period of time that may seem to them appropriate, (taking into account the view of the donor and the spirit of the scholarship in supporting students to undertake study in the broad area of aviation) that the scholarship is no longer viable or able to meet the original objectives determined by the donor, it may recommend to University Council that the capital of the fund be used to support students with academic potential studying in medicine, science or law at the University of Tasmania.
8. A Scholarships Management Committee will set the annual value of the award having regard to the income of the fund of the endowment.
9. The Scholarships Management Committee will determine all other matters concerning the scholarship, including advertising, application procedures and the method and time of payment.
10. The selection committee will report annually to Academic Senate on offers made and the progress of candidates receiving the scholarship.
       
       Made by Academic Senate on 7 September 2007