Statement from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania Professor Rufus Black:
Throughout his long life of service, Sir Guy made an enormous contribution to our state and to our university.
Sir Guy studied Law at the University of Tasmania and practiced in Launceston after being admitted to the bar in 1960 before going on to become the longest-serving Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania – from 1973 when he was just 36 years old until 1995.
Sir Guy served as the Chancellor of the University of Tasmania from 1985 until 1995 and was a crucial figure in the formation of the statewide university we know today.
It was during this time, as the national Dawkins reforms were expanding access to higher education and creating more and larger universities, that the southern-based University of Tasmania merged with the northern Tasmanian State Institute of Technology. As Chancellor, Sir Guy headed the negotiating team, helped shape the amalgamation process, was closely involved in selecting the new Vice-Chancellor and assisted in drafting the enabling legislation that established the new University.
Over the ten-year period Sir Guy guided our institution as Chancellor, we went from a university based only in the south to a true University of Tasmania for all Tasmanians with campuses in Hobart, Launceston and – following its opening in 1995 – Burnie.
From 1995 until 2003, Sir Guy served as the first Tasmanian-born Governor of Tasmania and was at one time appointed the Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Sir Guy had a long-standing interest in Antarctica and instituted the Governor's Antarctic Forum after coming to office in 1995 and joined an Australian Antarctic Division voyage to Macquarie Island.
He will be remembered for all these positions, honours, and the difference he made. Most importantly, he will be remembered by the people who met him and worked with him and knew him well as a person of great intellect, generosity, passion and compassion. I personally appreciated Sir Guy’s wise and kind counsel.
On behalf of the University of Tasmania, I offer deepest condolences to Sir Guy’s family, friends and loved ones.
