Recognised as the world’s oldest graduate by the World Record Academy in 2012, Dr Allan Stewart OAM passed away on 1 March 2018 at the age of 103. Born on March 7, 1915, he was already the holder of the Guinness World Records title for being the oldest graduate after completing a law degree with UNE in 2006 at the age of 91.
His funeral service will be held in the Uniting Church, Myall Street, Tea Gardens, Saturday 10th March 2018 at 11.30 am. It will be followed by a private cremation.
UNE’s then Smith’s newsletter ran a story in November 2006 on this remarkable man which is reproduced below:
Proving you are never too old to learn, a 91-year-old man from the Mid-North Coast of NSW has graduated from UNE with a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Allan Stewart, from Tea Gardens, received a standing ovation as he climbed the steps to receive his testamur from the University’s Chancellor.
Dr Stewart was born on March 7, 1915, a little over a month before the first Anzacs landed at Gallipoli. He already holds a number of degrees from other universities, and has had a distinguished career in dentistry.
He played down the significance of his achievement, describing himself as an “average, middle-of-the-road Australian.” “I feel a little humble about it,” he said.
Dr Stewart finished what would normally have been a six-year Bachelor of Laws degree in four-and-a-half years – “because of my age”, he said.
“There is a saying in law that time is of the essence,” he said. “I think if I had let it run too much longer I might not have finished it. I really started off thinking I might not get through the course, but when I got halfway through I thought I had to finish it.”
He said he had decided to return to study after his son completed a counselling degree at UNE.
“I wanted to get back to university life,” he said. “I am a great believer in keeping mind and body active. I have been told that although I am 91 years old, my biological age has not kept up with me.”
Completing his law degree presented a number of challenges to Dr Stewart, not least because his course material was mostly delivered over the Internet.
“I was not literate in computers at all,” he said. “I was completely self-taught as far as that was concerned.”
He said he hoped his graduation would serve as an inspiration to other people to take up study in later life. “I think it is an encouragement to the community in general, and to people of my generation in particular,” he said.
Dr Stewart is still considering whether or not to undertake further study to be admitted as a barrister or lawyer. He said if he were to be admitted into the legal profession he would be interested in doing pro bono work for the benefit of the community.
“I would like to give something back to the community because I have received so much from it,” he said.
I am a Senior Research Assistant working for Professor John Croucher of Macquarie University, Sydney Australia. Professor Croucher is currently writing a book on 100 Older people who have achieved great things in later life. One of the people whom he would like to honour is Allan Stewart who is featured in this article as UNE’s oldest graduate. We wondered if we could use the above image to accompany his biography. We would, of course, credit the image appropriately.
I am a Senior Research Assistant working for Professor John Croucher of Macquarie University. Professor Croucher is currently working on a book on older people who have been great achievers and would like to honour Allan Stewart in this book.
I am seeking your permission to use the above image of him in the book. We would of course acknowledge your journal as the source and include any other acknowledgement that you require.
I was Allan’s study buddy at UNE from day 1 of starting the law degree. Each and every semester we would catch up at Residential School. Allan was an inspiration. We often spoke by phone. We caught up a couple of times at his home in Tea Gardens. May my dear, dear friend rest peacefully.
In 2014, I interviewed Allan for a radio segment. Here is the link to our interview.
“Allan Stewart Interview by Syd Watson” https://m.soundcloud.com/sydwatson/allan-stewart-interview-complete
I used Allan as my role model when I went back to Southern Cross University to complete. Master of Clinical Science – Lifestyle Medicine in 2010. I was 63.
After my retirement, in 2012, I decided to go to university for the first time. My inspiration came from. a newspaper article I had pinned up in my office, about Allan Stewart (then 95), about to enrol (again) at SCU. The day of my orientation at SCU was also the day of his Graduation with a Masters in Clinical Science. I luckily met him that day, telling him it was his story that inspired me to go to Uni at the age of 62. His answer, “you’ll be fine, you are such a young thing”! I still cherish his words.