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91-year-old receives law degree

October 09, 2006

Dr Allan StewartProving you are never too old to learn, a 91-year-old man from the Mid-North Coast of NSW has graduated from The University of New England with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Allan Stewart, from Tea Gardens, received a standing ovation as he climbed the steps to receive his testamur from the University's Chancellor on Saturday.

Dr Stewart was born on March 7, 1915, a little over a month before the first Anzacs landed at Gallipoli. He already holds a number of degrees from other universities, and has had a distinguished career in dentistry.

He played down the significance of his achievement, describing himself as an "average, middle-of-the-road Australian." "I feel a little humble about it," he said.

Dr Stewart finished what would normally have been a six-year Bachelor of Laws degree in four-and-a-half years - "because of my age", he said.

"There is a saying in law that time is of the essence," he said. "I think if I had let it run too much longer I might not have finished it. I really started off thinking I might not get through the course, but when I got halfway through I thought I had to finish it."

He said he had decided to return to study after his son completed a counselling degree at UNE. "I wanted to get back to university life," he said. "I am a great believer in keeping mind and body active. I have been told that although I am 91 years old, my biological age has not kept up with me."

Completing his law degree presented a number of challenges to Dr Stewart, not least because his course material was mostly delivered over the Internet. "I was not literate in computers at all," he said. "I was completely self-taught as far as that was concerned."

He said he hoped his graduation would serve as an inspiration to other people to take up study in later life. "I think it is an encouragement to the community in general, and to people of my generation in particular," he said.

For more information contact Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Posted by Leon Braun at October 9, 2006 01:26 PM