Arthur Williams

Arthur John Williams enrolled at the University’s new Crawley campus in 1930 while also attending Claremont Teachers’ College. He was active in a wide range of student sports and served as President of Sports Council (1939) and President of the Guild Council (1940). He was Convocation’s elected Senate member for the following three years.

In 1942 he joined the Army, enlisting in the AIF. Williams was part of the Western Command Army Education Unit under the command of Major/ Professor Fred Alexander.

This experience led to the appointment, on discharge, of Lieut. A. J. Williams, to the position of Assistant Director of the Adult Education Board at the University and several years later the position of Assistant Registrar. Following the appointment of Col Sanders as Professor of Education, Williams was promoted to Registrar.

Williams held the position for 25 years and was involved in the postwar expansion of student numbers from 2,000 to 10,000. His role in the record keeping of the Senate and virtually every aspect of administration, legislation and publication, and mentoring of staff through those years was widely acknowledged as having been quite exceptional.

He was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Photograph from UWA Archives 6916P
UWA Archives