Honour for Elder

Wiradjuri teacher and author Stan Grant of Narrandera will receive an honorary doctorate of letters from Charles Sturt University in December.

The doctorate is in recognition of Mr Grant’s “outstanding contribution to the university’s regions, especially to indigenous communities”.

A highly regarded elder, Mr Grant (73) has devoted decades to the preservation of the Wiradjuri language and culture, producing a range of teaching resources for use in schools and universities in collaboration with friend, anthropologist Dr John Rudder,of Sydney.

His investiture will take place at CSU’s Wagga campus during the three-day graduation ceremonies which begin on December 16.

At this stage Mr Grant will be the sole recipient of the honour.

He will join an elite group of distinguished Australians awarded honorary doctorates from universities across the nation. Indigenous recipients of the honour include such household names as Cathy Freeman and Jimmy Little.

Mr Grant was notified of his doctorate in a letter from CSU Chancellor Laurie Willett.

“I am very honoured that CSU would regard me in this way,” he said.

“CSU made an announcement at the annual Longamar Lecture in memory of my late brother Pastor Cecil Grant at the Albury-Wodonga campus in April.

“Word is out and I am already receiving phone calls of congratulations, but outside of university and Aboriginal education circles, it is not widely known.

“While it is nice to get recognition, I don’t do what I do to get awards.”

The quintessential quiet achiever is modest about his accomplishments which have earned him a swag of honours including an Order of Australia Medal(AM) for service to indigenous education and the preservation of the Wiradjuri language, and the national Deadlys Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education.

Most recently Mr Grant has assisted CSU to introduce Wiradjuri language programs at the university which will move up a notch with an exciting new development on the radar.

“A diploma course on Aboriginal languages will be introduced at the Wagga campus next year and will be offered right through CSU,” he said.

“Because it is Wagga, the language will be Wiradjuri. It is proposed that a full degree course will follow.

“I have been appointed to the CSU diploma course advisory board.”

Now semi-retired, Mr Grant keeps a busy schedule of teaching and training commitments and Welcome to Country presentations at functions throughout the Wiradjuri nation.

“I am backing away from the language teaching and presentations to give the young people a go,” he said.

“Aboriginal language teachers I have trained are now employed in schools and some are training the future trainers.

“I will continue to produce teaching resources, but leave the teaching to them. It is better they have the jobs.”

Mr Grant believes the custodianship of Wiuradjuri cultural heritage is in good hands.

He said the progression of the living language through to the next generation provided a means for young Wiradjuri people to gain employment, and gave him immense satisfaction.

This was more than enough reward for his efforts, supported all the way by his wife of 51 years Betty, an author herself.

“I couldn’t have done what I’ve done without Betty. She has been by my side all these years.”

The devoted couple have four adult children, including Sky News broadcaster, CSU graduate Stan Grant Jr, and 11 grandchildren.