Image: Mr Stephan Knoerles, Associate Professor.Jane Clark and Professor Debra Dunstan cutting the ribbon to formally open the Library.
An enthusiastic crowd of students and staff came together to celebrate the official opening of a new Psychology library last week Wednesday.
The new library is a significant upgrade from the old space – a storeroom with major space and WHS issues – and was made possible with CapEx funding. The new room provides a modern and functional space that allows for safe storage of psychometric tests and offers teaching space for clinical students.
The Library is named the Warick Olphert Memorial Psychology Test Library in recognition of Warick Olphert, a long-time UNE academic who retired in 1990 after almost 30 years of service to the University.
Warick was a founding member of the New England branch of the Australian Psychological Society and a memorable figure dressed in either his grey sport jacket or tweed jacket. After retirement, he stayed connected with the School of Psychology as a teacher, reader and supervisor, serving in this honourable role until well into his 90’s before stepping down in 2019. Upon his passing in 2023, aged 98 years, Warick bequeathed $100,000 to the School. This legacy is earmarked for an annual public psychology lecture and is being managed by A/Prof. Sue Watt.
During his welcome speech, Test Librarian, Associate Professor Warren Bartik, remembered Warick as “a quiet and unassuming man, but possessed with a great intellect. While he might have shunned the limelight, his distinguished academic service of nearly 60 years, his love and passion for learning, teaching, and the promotion of the science of Psychology, makes it fitting that the Psychology Test Library be named as a memorial to him.”
In attendance at the event were former Head of School of Psychology Professor Debra Dunstan; Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning from the Faculty of Medicine and Health, A/Prof. Jane Clark; former colleagues of Warick, Stephan Knoerles and Julian Rote; Matt Schapel who was responsible for the building design; as well as staff and students.