All
six children of William and Helen Williams were educated at Melbourne
University.
Although money was tight in this clergyman's household, there was always
enough to buy books.
The four sons were all residents of Queen's College. W Kenneth Williams
(1915-1940) was set for a brilliant career in Economics when he enlisted,
hoping to protect his younger brothers from the call-up. He was shot
down over the North Sea in Bomber Command.
Bruce Williams (1919- ) took his Economics degree, winning the Wyelaskie
Scholarship as Ken had done before him. In 1940 he went to Adelaide
University and found himself in charge of the Department of Economics.
His career, after appointments at Belfast, Keele and Manchester, culminated
in his appointment from 1967 to 1981 as Vice-Chancellor and Principal
of Sydney University. He chaired the Committee of Inquiry into Education
and Training, 1976-79.
Morris Williams (1920-2001) spent 19 years in the Faculty of Education
at the University after teaching at Wesley College. He was a notable
cricketer with a second career as a baritone. Runner-up in the 1946
Sun Aria competition, he performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
and under such notable conductors as Goossens and Barbirolli.
Colin Williams (1921-1999) studied History and Theology and was Professor
of Systematic Theology at Queen's College. As Dean of the Yale University
Divinity School from 1969 to 1979, he appointed women to the Faculty
and created the first full-time positions for Catholics. He is reported
to have once raised an urgently-needed six million dollars in a single
morning, making only six telephone calls!
Ruth Williams (1926-2001) graduated in Music, majoring in piano and
viola. She taught piano at MLC for many years.
Gwenyth Williams (1917- ) did not complete her Commerce degree because,
inspired by her brother's death, she took up nursing. She had a distinguished
career as the first Nurse Executive Officer of the Hospital and Charities
Commission, notably setting up bursaries similar to those offered to
trainee teachers. In 1956, as secretary to Professor La Nauze in the
History Department, she began her second career, succeeding Ray Erickson
as departmental manager and appointed Organising Tutor, with responsibility
for organising courses for the Honours students. Gwen's career in the
University extended well beyond normal as successive Sub-Deans of Arts
brought her out of retirement to assist in student selection.
