James Cook University chancellor Bill Tweddell retires as Bavelin Gill graduates
The well travelled Townsville local has shaken the hands of thousands of graduates over a storied career. See his last ever graduation ceremony, and what he’s doing next.
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North Ward boy Bill Tweddell is embracing retirement after seven years as James Cook University chancellor.
Mr Tweddell said it was an honour to hang up the ‘weird hat’ after a lifetime spent orbiting Townsville.
“I did all my schooling in North Ward, all my university in Townsville and this lead to a career that took me around the world,” Mr Tweddell said.
“I worked in foreign affairs for 40 years and I always requested to be in the Asia-Pacific area. I worked in Bangladesh, Greece, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, London, Hanoi and Manilla.”
Mr Tweddell saw off his last every batch of Townsville graduates on Thursday, December 15.
“My term ends in March so this is set to be my last Townsville graduation today,” he said.
“This is the most delightful part of my job - it’s about the students and I get to see their faces.”
Mr Tweddell said almost everyone smiled when facing him on stage, but a few got pretty nervous.
While handshakes have been the MO for years, since Covid they’ve been switched out in favour of Mr Tweddell passing a scroll to students.
“We have the scroll and we also do a doff of my weird hat,” he said.
“And they say you can’t teach a 70-year-old new tricks.”
From Cardwell to North Dakota
One student among the final graduating class was Cardwell girl Bavelin Gill.
The medicine graduate is the third of three sister to graduate from JCU after completing placements in rural North Dakota and Mt Isa.
“In North Dakota the town was Harvey and it’s about as big as Cardwell but it’s got a hospital,” Miss Gill said.
In the town Miss Gill was mentored in the hospital while also going ice fishing, sledding and cross country skiing.
In Mt Isa she road along with the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service.
“It was an eye opening experience to see the doctors delivering essential health services to rural people.”
The sister grew up on a banana farm and all went into the medical field.
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Originally published as James Cook University chancellor Bill Tweddell retires as Bavelin Gill graduates
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