Richard Clowes completed a Bachelor of Arts at UNE in 1996, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning in 2000. Some 20 years later, he came back for more – undertaking a Master of Urban and Regional Planning – and graduated last December.
Born in Sydney in 1942 to an English migrant father and mother of Gadigal descent – “truly wonderful people, hard-working and with big hearts” – he reflects here on his UNE learnings.
“After leaving school at 15 I obtained an apprenticeship and became a fitter/welder. I worked my way up to a leadership position before starting my own business, and a family.
“Following a spinal injury, I was forced to reevaluate my options, so I applied to the good folks at the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (CRS) who suggested enrolling in UNE. Some years later (we are talking last century), I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, whereupon I thought that while I was here I should also get a qualification that would help get me a job. After some thought and discussion, I applied to undertake a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning, which resulted in me falling out the other end of the academic sausage machine as a ‘job ready’ town planner.
“Little did I realise that I was about to join the ranks of the most hated human species on the planet. As Local Government town planners we are hated by developers. We are hated by objectors to any form of development. We are hated by the neighbours of proposed development (NIMBYs), and barely tolerated by councillors whose mantra is ‘Development at any cost’. Anyway, it is very satisfying when development is ‘done right’ and the community benefits.
“After several years of working for a number of councils, I was recruited by a firm of consultants as their principal planner, where I set up their town planning section. This was extremely satisfying work where we offered our clients a complete package of surveying, environmental assessment, civil engineering design and town planning services.
“I finally retired at the tender age of 71 with the intention that my darling wife and I would do some travelling. We had a caravan and the firm shouted us a trip to Tasmania as a retirement gift. We also travelled around NSW and Victoria, before selling the van and settling down in north-west NSW.
“However, retirement seemed a little tame and there was something missing. I had previously considered undertaking a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning, so after a brief discussion with a very supportive wife (who had a number of questions along the lines of ‘why the hell do you want to do that?’ and ‘at your age, shouldn’t you be taking things easy?’), I applied and was accepted.
“Studying online was a bit hectic. We had a great bunch of lecturers to help us by largely staying out of the way and letting us get on with the job and showing them how it is done. Did their strategy work? You bet it did, and I am here to demonstrate by graduating.
“The first thing my darling wife said when I told her I had submitted my final paper was ‘I’ve got my husband back’, which goes to show just how difficult and isolating study can be for the one you love the most.
Where to from here? My darling wife has utilised her spare time well and developed a comprehensive list of jobs that will keep me occupied for a long, long, time. On top of that I have been approached by past clients to do some consulting work, so I am looking forward to a busy retirement.
And if you are considering going for a higher degree, then go for it as anything is possible if you want it bad enough.”
