John Henry MacFarland
(1851-1935)
Despite a brilliant school and university career in Northern Ireland
as a mathematician, John MacFarland, later Master of Ormond College
and University administrator, published nothing either as a mathematical
scholar or as an educationist. His influence on education in Australia
was, nonetheless, profound.
Francis Ormond had
recommended his appointment to the College, praising his 'high personal
character' and noting that he was a gentleman, a scholar, and had 'good
appearance and pleasing manners'. He was to prove an exceptional administrator
who appointed distinguished scholars to his staff and encouraged self-government
in the College through its students' club. He was reputed to be severe,
often presenting his judgements with exemplary brevity –
simply 'yes' or 'no'.
MacFarland was Master of Ormond from 1881 to 1914 and joined the University
Council in 1886. He was a member for 49 years, during which time he
served on the Fink Royal Commission into Technical Education and chaired
the University's Finance Committee after the crisis of 1904. He became
Vice-Chancellor in 1910, succeeding Sir John Madden as Chancellor in
1918 and retaining the position till his death. He died on the same
day as the distinguished Master of another College, Dr E H Sugden of
Queen's.
MacFarland's tenure was not all smooth sailing and the professors in
particular chafed against the control which Council continued to exert
over academic and financial matters, but MacFarland's skill as a committee
chairman, personal charm and universally-recognised integrity kept open
revolt at bay. His standing in the community was such that he was asked
to chair the 1931 meeting at which the Australian Citizens' League was
founded.
MacFarland donated considerable sums of money during his lifetime, notably
for scholarships at Ormond. The College was also to benefit from his
estate. On his death, the University Council noted: "Few men in
any community, and almost no man in this community, can have won such
universal esteem."
