Gifts beyond remarkable lifetimes

Rita Light

The Light Memorial Trust

The Light Memorial Trust was set up by the bequest of Ms Reta Light for the purpose of purchasing books, periodicals, microfilms and musical scores. Through her donation of $1.5 million to the Auchmuty Library, the Trust has acquired a fine collection of Australian Poetry, rare first editions of James Joyce, Thomas Hardy and titles in the history of theatre. The Trust continues to acquire more in compliance with the goals of the bequest.


Harold and Gladys Brawn

The Gladys M. Brawn Bequest

In 1985, Mr Harold Brawn began donating his possessions and money to the University in honour of his much loved wife, Gladys. His $5 million bequest in memory of his late wife, funds the Gladys M. Brawn Memorial Fellowship, and supports a variety of projects in health. The bequest also funds the Gladys M. Brawn Senior Research Fellowship, supporting outstanding scientists with an international reputation in their field.


Margaret Senior Illustration

Margaret Senior Bequest

The legacy of Mrs Margaret Senior OAM, one of Australia's most prominent and respected wildlife illustrators, is contributing to the future of Natural History Illustration thanks to a $50,000 gift left to the University of Newcastle. Margaret also left the copyright of her published work to the University, including a significant number of her original artworks.

Margaret provided $10,000 during her lifetime for the creation of the Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award. This award recognises the outstanding work of an undergraduate student in the University's unique Bachelor of Illustration (Natural History) program.

The Margaret Senior OAM archive can be viewed online as part of the University of Newcastle Cultural Collections.


Dr Beryl Collier

Dr Beryl Collier Bequest

Dr Beryl Collier, an esteemed gynaecologist and obstetrician, understood the value of quality education. However she was conscious that many people, particular Indigenous students, do not have the same opportunities to learn as she did.

Dr Collier's bequest of $300,000 enabled the establishment of the Dr Beryl Collier Indigenous Education Scholarship - a blessing for financially struggling students.


Professor Kelver Hartley

The Hartley Bequest

One of the world's most generous travelling scholarships, valued at $30,000, was made possible by a $2 million bequest from Professor Kelver Hartley, the University's Foundation Professor of French. He also donated the Hartley collection of rare books to the Auchmuty Library.


Jean Bogan

Laurence Bogan Bequest

A generous bequest of $100,000 left to the University of Newcastle in 2002 by Mr Laurence Bogan has funded the extension of the Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition and the Jean Bogan Youth Prize. Mr Bogan's bequest breathed life into his original donation from 1989, when he created the prize as a memorial to his late wife Jean's love for piano. The prizes recognise original and outstanding solo compositions by Australian composers.


Norman Bushman

Norman Bushman Bequest

Mr Norman Bushman's love of music and singing led him to leave a generous bequest of $2.8 million to the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music in the hope that it would attract aspiring young musicians to the Newcastle region. Two scholarships worth approximately $50,000 have been established in his name, following his intentions to help boost the institution's reputation as a leading music and education establishment in Australia.


Eric Sansom

Eric Sansom Bequest

Eric Sansom left a generous bequest of $350,000 to the University of Newcastle in 2011. After seeing his own son suffer with diabetes, Mr Sansom requested that the money go towards supporting further research into the disease.