Fifty Years of Impact: Celebrating Allan Morris, our First Alumni Award Recipient
Fifty years ago, the University of Newcastle established the Alumni Excellence Awards to celebrate the innovation, creativity, leadership and impact of our alumni community around the world.
The very first to be recognised was Allan Morris, a proud Novocastrian and changemaker, who received the inaugural Newton-John Alumni Award in 1975. What began as a commitment to supporting and advocating for his community led Allan down an unexpected path into politics, where he continued to champion the region he loved on a national stage. As we mark half a century of celebrating alumni excellence, we look back on Allan’s remarkable journey and the role he played in shaping the University’s proud history.
Born in Waratah (Newcastle) and raised in Lake Munmorah, Allan attended Hurlstone Agricultural High School before venturing to Tasmania for a transformative year of work, reflection, and self-discovery as he considered the path his future should take. Returning to Newcastle, Allan landed a job driving taxis. The work offered him something unexpected: a crash course in human nature. Behind the wheel, he became a quiet observer, listening to the stories of passengers from all walks of life and committing the city’s streets to memory. These everyday encounters laid the groundwork for a deeper understanding of his community and ultimately, for his future as a tireless advocate for Newcastle and its people.
Allan developed a curiosity for psychology, and in 1964, at the age of 23, he enrolled part-time in a Bachelor of Arts at Newcastle University College. Around him, the city was buzzing with change. Newcastle residents were rallying for the College to become a university in its own right, and by the end of that year, the NSW Parliament granted their wish. The University of Newcastle officially gained autonomy in 1965.
“Autonomy was very powerful for Newcastle’s own sense of oneness. Newcastle’s always had a very strong identity.”
From then on, Alan studied at the University of Newcastle’s brand-new site in Shortland, now known as Callaghan campus. He quickly became a leading figure in student life, serving on the Student Representative Council and Union Board, and stepping into the editor’s chair for Opus, the student newspaper.
Producing a newspaper in the 1960s was no small feat - editions were laid out using lead typesetting, with custom moulds created for images and cartoons before being sent off to the Maitland Mercury for printing. It was in this creative chaos that Allan met Anne, a typist for Opus and fellow student, who would become his lifelong partner. Together, they helped to shape a dynamic and spirited student culture during a formative time for the newly independent university.
After graduating in 1968, Allan travelled overseas before eventually returning to settle in Newcastle for good. It was in the tight-knit community of the suburb of Cooks Hill that he would become a leading force in grassroots activism.
When high-rise developments threatened the character of the neighbourhood, Allan’s neighbours turned to him for leadership. He responded by going door-to-door, listening, connecting, and ultimately forming the Cooks Hill Community Group. Under his guidance, the group became a powerful advocate for people-first urban planning, ensuring that any development would honour the history, identity, and needs of the local community.
In a 1981 interview with the Newcastle Herald, Allan shared: “I’m involved in politics because I’ve got a commitment to people and I want to see the world, and particularly Newcastle, be a better place and I’m prepared to spend a lot of my time and energy in trying to help that process.”
Though he initially had no intention of running for office, his thoughtful vision for Newcastle’s growth struck a chord with voters, and he was elected as an Alderman for the Newcastle City Council. Allan served alongside the legendary Joy Cummings, Australia’s first female Lord Mayor, during a transformative period for the city. His advocacy for medium-density housing and urban infill policies, ideas inspired by global trends and tailored to the local context, played a crucial role in shaping the urban landscape of Newcastle and guiding its inner-city renewal.
Bob Hawke (left), Allan Morris (centre), Anne Morris (right)
Allan Morris holding a framed photograph of Bob Hawke, himself and wife Anne
Allan Morris (right) with Professor Richard Heller outside the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the University of Newcastle, Australia
1975 article in the Newcastle Star
Article featuring Allan Morris in the Newcastle Morning Herald from 2000
Allan’s political career continued to grow, culminating in his election to the Australian House of Representatives in 1983, where he remained a steadfast advocate for the people of Newcastle. His work in Parliament spanned key committees on community affairs, industry, science, and resources. His travels took him across the globe, from Guatemala to Norway, Korea to Cyprus, always championing the values of equity, community, and progress that had been nurtured during his university years.
Allan counts two of his proudest achievements as securing the billion-dollar minehunter project and contributing to the Hawke Government’s 1983 adoption of the Steel Industry Plan. The Steel Industry Plan was a strategic response to the early signs of industrial decline in Newcastle, as the profitability of the BHP steelworks began to fall in the 1980s. To stabilise the industry and protect local jobs, the federal government introduced a comprehensive support package, including protective tariffs for Australian-made steel, accelerated tax depreciation, financial incentives, and regional employment programs.
During this same period, Allan campaigned for the establishment of the Newcastle Tax Office, creating hundreds of stable jobs at a time when BHP was winding back its operations and the city faced deep economic uncertainty. Remarkably, within a year of the steelworks’ closure, around 90% of affected workers had transitioned into new employment.
In was in 1975, Allan’s public advocacy and commitment to the community were recognised with the inaugural Newton-John Alumni Award. Named in honour of Professor Brinley Newton-John; a champion of the arts, a wartime codebreaker, and a key figure in the University’s journey to autonomy. The award celebrates innovation and creativity across the arts and culture. Allan received the award from Professor K. Dutton during a formal dinner held at Edwards Hall.
“So many graduates end up away from Newcastle and we lose track of them but bringing them back and acknowledging them with the Alumni Excellence Awards, from all over the world, in all kinds of different forms, is really the best thing the University can do to demonstrate its value to our society.”
Half a century on, the Newton-John Alumni Medal continues to celebrate graduates whose creativity and vision leave a lasting mark on the world. Allan’s story serves as a powerful reminder: the impact of one voice, one choice, and one community can resonate through generations. Over 26 years representing Newcastle in the Australian Labor Party, Allan helped guide the city through a profound transformation from a proud industrial powerhouse to a hub of research, innovation, and emerging energy technologies.
Allan’s deep connection to the University is etched into its foundations, and his legacy as a tireless advocate continues to resonate across the region he so proudly served. Today, Allan and Anne still call Cooks Hill home. United by a shared love of learning and a lifelong commitment to their community, they worked together to help shape the culture of a young university and stood firm for what mattered most to the people of Newcastle.
Join us as we honour Allan’s remarkable journey and the thousands of inspiring alumni who’ve followed in his footsteps at the 50th Alumni Excellence Awards this October.
Inspired by Allan's story?
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.