Cassandra Pybus - Gross Moral Turpitude: The Orr Case Reconsidered

CASSANDRA PYBUS

GROSS MORAL TURPITUDE

THE ORR CASE RECONSIDERED

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for Lucy Frost

Acknowledgements

Researching this book has made me realise what sterling people are archivists. My thanks go to Ken Smith, archivist, Sydney University; Shirley King, archivist, University of Tasmania; Michael Saclier, archivist, Business and Labour Archives, Australian National University, and Robert Smart, Keeper of the Muniments at St Andrews University, Scotland. For Frank Strahan, the splendid archivist of Melbourne University I reserve a special, heartfelt thanks. My regrets, too, that despite his best efforts I was not permitted access to the papers of SS Orr, in the Melbourne University archives.

I must also record my appreciation for the assistance of Professor Alan Gilbert, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania and the University Secretary, Ross Skinner. As well my thanks go to Gwen Harwood, Meriel Wright, John Biggs, Shirley and Jan Tanner, Henry Findlay and to the many people who were so willing to share their memories. I am grateful for the grants from the Literature Board of the Australia Council and the Minister for Education and Arts through Arts Tasmania, which greatly assisted the research and writing of this book in 1992.

List Of Characters

Geoffrey Allison Chemistry student at the University of Tasmania in 1955. Appointed demonstrator in chemistry in 1956. Gave evidence against Orr. Married Suzanne Kemp in 1958. Set up a chemical testing business in Hobart.

Paul Berry ABC radio announcer during Orr case. Member of Scots Kirk 195658. One of the citizens committee formed to support Orr.

John Biggs Student of Orrs in 1945 and 1955. Gave evidence in support of Orr to Supreme Court and to the Scots Kirk.

Ken Buckley Secretary of Federal Council of University Staff Associations (FCUSA) 195758, 196061.

Stanley Burbury Solicitor-general in Tasmania 195556. Succeeded Sir John Morris as chief justice. Member of the university council. Knighted in 1958.

Sam Warren Carey Professor of geology at University of Tasmania from 1946. Internationally acclaimed geologist. Chairman of the professorial board 195456. Active in staff association. Took a leading role in royal commission into the university administration. Established a fund for Orr family after Orrs death.

Alf Conlon Leader of a legendary research unit during the war which included Panzee Wright, Isles, McAuley and Kerr. Had a reputation as the doyen of backroom operators in Sydney in the 1950s and 1960s.

Bishop Cranswick Counsellor to Orr 195253. Expressed concern about Orrs morality to the university in 1955. Later claimed to have been deliberately misled by the universitys legal advisor and called for new inquiry.

Ken Dallas Lecturer in economics at the University of Tasmania. While not a member of the communist party, had strong left-wing political associations.

Hector Dunn Moderator of the Scots Kirk Session 195661. Enthusiastic Orr supporter. Initiated an inquiry into Orr case through the Kirk.

WHC (Harry) Eddy Senior tutor in extension courses at Sydney University. Author of a major analysis of the Orr case in 1961. Very close to Orr, who lived with him 196061.

Frederick Eggleston Distinguished lawyer, diplomat, writer and liberal intellectual who had been very influential in the establishment of the Australian National University. Knighted in 1941. Died 1954.

Gerald Firth Professor of economics at the University of Tasmania from 1947. Active in staff association and royal commission.

Alexander Boyce Gibson Professor of philosophy at Melbourne University from 1935. Appointed Orr to lectureship at Melbourne in 1947. Referee for Orr in 1951. Opposed Australian Association of Philosophers support for Orr.

William (Bill) Ginnane Lecturer in philosophy at Sydney University, then at the Australian National University. Strong supporter of Orr within the AAP.

Kenneth Green Supreme Court judge. Heard the case Orr vs University of Tasmania in 1956. Knighted in 1957.

Geoffrey Harrison University of Tasmania accountant in 1950s. Active in staff association and royal commission.

Gwen Harwood Australian poet. Married to Bill Harwood, lecturer in English during the Orr case. Close friend of Edwin Tanner.

Malcolm Hills President of Student Representative Council at the University of Tasmania in 1956. Gave evidence for Orr at the Supreme Court and the Scots Kirk. Remained a strong Orr supporter.

William Hodgman MHA for Denison from 1955. Orrs solicitor and junior barrister in Supreme Court case.

Donald Horne Freelance writer and editor. Published the Observer. Became editor of the Bulletin.

Torleiv Hytten Born in Norway. Economics advisor to the Bank of NSW 193549. Vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania 194957.

Keith Isles Tasmanian graduate who became professor of economics at Queens University, Belfast. Returned to Tasmania as vice-chancellor in 1957. Sued by Orr in every Australian state, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Tony Kearney Assistant registrar at University of Tasmania in 1950s. Active in staff association and royal commission.

Suzanne Kemp Student at the University of Tasmania in 195455, majoring in philosophy, French and German. Complained in March 1956 that Orr had seduced her. Daughter of a prominent timber merchant, Reginald Kemp. Married Geoffrey Allison in 1958.

John Kerr Distinguished lawyer and prominent member of the Australian Council for Cultural Freedom until his resignation in 1961. He reviewed the Supreme Court evidence with Hal Wootten. Became Governor General in 1974.

Phillip Lake Philosophy student. Lived briefly in a ground-floor flat in Orrs house after 1956. Gave evidence in support of Orr at the Supreme Court.