Celebrating a pioneer in humanities

Professor Ian Laurie, Humanities - French 1-6-1982 (from Flinders University archives)

Flinders University is sad to share the news that Foundation Professor of French, Professor Ian Laurie, has died. Professor Laurie made an enormous contribution to the University, leading its humanities disciplines for many years and laying the foundations for Flinders’ excellence in French teaching and engagement through more than 30 years as a senior staff member.

With French the first non-English language taught at Flinders, Professor Laurie established the University’s immersive approach to languages and its reputation in French language and literature. As such, his contributions influenced Flinders University’s research and learning partnerships not only during his tenure, but also in the years to follow.

Professor Laurie progressively broadened the French program beyond the traditional literary and advanced language curriculum. Under his leadership, Flinders University pioneered tertiary-level introductory language classes, cultural studies including French cinema and cuisine, and linguistics including languages in addition to French, such as Romanian and Latvian.

His notable appointments included Phillippe Beaussant, who was later granted membership of the prestigious Académie Française, and Emeritus Professor Trevor Fennell, who was awarded the Order of the Three Stars (the highest civilian order for meritorious service to Latvia) through contributions to Latvian language, literature and culture.

Together with his senior staff role, Professor Laurie shaped and nurtured the University’s emerging identity as a member of its council from establishment in 1966, through to June 1970.

Professor Laurie joined Flinders University from a ten-year stint at the University of Cambridge in the UK, following an earlier role at the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

A graduate of the Victoria University of Wellington, he earned his PhD from Cambridge and also studied at the Ecole Normale Superieure and the Ecole Nationale des Chartes in Paris.

He was honoured by the French government with the prestigious rank of Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques, for his contribution to the promotion of French in Australia, notably through establishing and leading an annual residential program in France for Australians wanting to deepen their knowledge of French language and culture relating to their field. Participants came from a variety of professions including law, politics, engineering, oenology and teaching.

A medievalist with a particular interest in 14th century French poetry, Professor Laurie published articles and book chapters in the field of medieval French and Occitan literature , and co-edited reference works and critical editions, including the Dictionary of Literary Biography on the Literature of the French and Occitan Middle Ages: Eleventh to Fifteenth Centuries; and Eustache Deschamps: Selected Poems. 

His wide-ranging community roles included director of the Adelaide International Film Festival, President of the Alliance Française, Chair of the Board of the Workers’ Educational Association, Chief Examiner in French for the Public Examinations Board and food and wine writer for The Advertiser.

Professor Laurie retired from Flinders University as an Emeritus Professor in the mid-1990s. He is survived by his wife, Dr Anne Martin, his daughter Nicolette and his grandson, Dr Timothy Laurie.

Professor Ian Laurie in more recent times

 

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