Former staff member Max Lawson passed away on 26 January, at the age of 81. He was an academic in the Faculty of Education, teaching in the history of education and was one of the founders of Peace Studies at UNE.  Max retired in the late 1990’s, pursuing educational interests in Denmark, before returning to Australia.  Max suffered from a lung disease in the final year of his life, and while his mind was still astute (particularly with his keen interest in literature) his body was giving up on him.

Max is remembered as a kind and supportive colleague and friend who contributed  collaboration, patience and solidarity in initiating UNE’s peace studies/education program. He is described as “an enthusiastic scholar and unassuming, genial person, dedicated to teaching, whose interests included Indigenous Australian history and social justice.” He was seen as the epitome of  a UNE academic, enjoying a scholastic life in the rural  city and making a substantial contribution to his field from his tablelands base and home.