Agent TypePersonActivities & OccupationsAcademicsHistoryEmeritus Professor John Riddoch Poynter was born in Coleraine in 1929 in the Western District of Victoria. Riddoch graduated from the History Department the the University of Melbourne and pursued further studies at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in 1951-1953. After returning to Melbourne he taught at Trinity College and in the Social Studies Department, rejoining the History Department in 1963. In 1966 he was appointed to the Ernest Scott chair which he occupied until becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 1975. Poynter held various academic positions within the University of Melbourne from 1953 onwards reaching the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) 1975-1990, served terms as Dean of Arts, Dean of the Faculty of Music, Visual and Performing Arts and was Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Cultural Affairs) from 1991-1994. Other roles, appointments and honours include Professorial Associate, Australian Centre from 1995; Section Editor, Australian Dictionary of Biography 1978-1990; Victorian Rhodes Scholar 1951; Australian Secretary of the Rhodes Trust; and President, Citizens Welfare Service 1972-1991. He is also a Fellow (and one-time Dean) of Trinity College. His areas of research include philanthropy, Australian biography and social and cultural history among others. Melbourne University Press published his “Russell Grimwade” (the first volume in its Miegunyah imprint) in 1967, “Society and Pauperism” (1969), “A Place Apart” (a history of the University of Melbourne, with co-author Carolyn Rasmussen, 1996), “Doubts and Certainties: A Life of Alexander Leeper” (1997) and “Mr Felton’s Bequests” (2003 and 2008). He also contributed the chapter on Australian Rhodes Scholarships to the official history of the Trust (1999), and in 2010 published privately “The Tarnished Swan, and Other Sardonic Pieces”, a small volume of verse and memoirs. As Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Cultural Affairs) his role was to develop a cultural policy at the University of Melbourne; provide input regarding strategic planning; liaise with External Affairs staff so as to ensure publicity for Melbourne University's arts and cultural events; oversee and advocate on behalf of University collections such as those held in Archives, the Grainger Museum and Prints; and liaise with Faculties regarding Arts and Cultural issues. John Poynter retired from the University and from the role as Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Cultural Affairs) at the end of 1994. Upon his retirement, the various tasks and responsibilities he had held in the role of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Cultural Affairs) were split between other senior Melbourne University staff and the role appears to have been discontinued from that point onwards.
![[UMA-SRE-20140092] Papers of Professor John Poynter Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Cultural Affairs)](/img/placeholder.gif?1768172494 "[UMA-SRE-20140092] Papers of Professor John Poynter Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Cultural Affairs)")