Owen John Nugent

The University of Queensland, Doctor of the University honoris causa, 2004 Award:

John Owen Nugent, OAM, is a former mayor of Ipswich who has spent most of his life working in aviation electronics and in local government.

Mr Nugent was born in Brisbane and grew up on dairy farms around Esk and Goodna.

From 1954 to 1960 he worked for the Department of Civil Aviation as an electronics technician specialising in ground based electronics for aircraft around Australia. His career in military electronics began when he joined the Amalgamated Wireless of Australasia from 1960 to 1988.

Mr. Nugent married Glenis in 1960 and raised two daughters and a son and now has seven grandchildren. Glenis passed away suddenly in December 2003.

Mr. Nugent has been a tireless community worker serving in many local government positions since 1973, from councillor to mayor.

For 16 of those 31 years, he was mayor of Moreton Shire and of Ipswich City Council, a post from which he retired on March 27 this year. While in council, Mr. Nugent was committed to building key services in Ipswich, attracting business investment as well as supporting UQ Ipswich and promoting environmental and cultural issues.

He spearheaded a regional approach to fix the water quality of Moreton Bay and is proud to have lead the council that introduced Ipswich’s environmental levy.

He has served on many local, regional and State Government committees and forums, including as Executive Member of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and Deputy President of the Asia/Pacific region World Technopolis Association.

In 1988, he was awarded an Order of Australia for his service to the community and his 15 years with the Goodna Rotary Club has earnt him Rotary’s highest honour, a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Since leaving the Ipswich City Council, Mr. Nugent has been busy working with regional water management groups, the World Technopolis Association and a part-time consultancy with land developers.

Chancellor, in recognition of his distinguished career in service to the Ipswich community and for his support of UQ Ipswich, I present to you Mr. John Nugent, OAM, for conferral of the award of Doctor of the University honoris causa to which he has been admitted by the Senate of the University.