Bruce Henry
Emeritus Professor Bruce Henry, FAustMS, FRNS
Former Head, School of Mathematics and Statistics, UNSW
What’s your connection to the MidCoast?
I was born on the MidCoast and grew up here, appreciating its remarkable natural beauty, exploring the bushlands, the mountains and remote surfing breaks. I enjoyed playing hockey and playing cornet in the Town Band, and I benefited from a public-school education with many excellent teachers. I left the MidCoast when I was seventeen to undertake studies at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. The student population at the University at the time exceeded the population of Taree, as it does today.
After completing a BSc(Hons) and PhD in Theoretical Physics/Applied Mathematics I spent three years at the University of Waterloo, Canada and four years at the Australian National University on Research Fellowships; including a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship. I moved back to Sydney for a tenurable academic appointment at UNSW, progressing through the levels of Lecturer to Professor. My working life as an academic took me to many places around the world; but the MidCoast was always an anchor, a spiritual home. It has never left me and after more than forty years I was very happy to return to live on the MidCoast in retirement.
Why TUC? What does this project mean to you?
My parents were born on the MidCoast. My father grew up on a farm at Upper Lansdowne and my mother grew up on a farm at Killabakh. They had very limited access to secondary schooling and no possibility of tertiary studies. They were keen that their children should have educational opportunities at all levels and all five children went on to complete tertiary studies. We were very fortunate to have these educational opportunities, although being forced to move away presented hardships.
I have a passionate view that all people should have access to tertiary studies. The TUC provides first class online access that does not require people moving out of the region. This is a game changer in enabling more equal access to tertiary studies for people living in, and contributing to, their community. The TUC will enable people to enrich their own lives and to enhance the social, economic, and cultural prosperity of the MidCoast community. I am very pleased to be given an opportunity to support this vital and transformative endeavour.