Emeritus Professor Colin J Masters (1927–2012)

Colin Masters died on April 6 from cancer, after making outstanding and pioneering contributions to biochemistry and biotechnology in Australia and to the development of Griffith University in SE Queensland as a major research based university. Colin was born in Taihape, a small town on the north island of New Zealand. In his view, the rural setting was an ideal background for his early childhood, full of friendship and scope for youthful adventures, such as canoeing on the local rivers, and exploring the caves, cliffs and other features of the local farmland. Subsequently, he attended a number of different primary schools (as his parents moved from town to town), and then won a scholarship to King’s College (one of NZ’s leading private schools) for his secondary education. There, in his final year, he was the top science student and gained a scholarship to university. He was also a school prefect, head of a house, played in the first fifteen and the first eleven, and represented the school at athletics, gymnastics and swimming. Casting back to his early boyhood, Colin was fascinated by science from an early age, and when only 10 years old had set up quite a sophisticated chemistry laboratory in a shed at the rear of his parent’s property, where he spent many hours experimenting. He maintained this interest in science throughout secondary school and university, and graduated from Auckland University with a Master’s degree in science. His first employment after graduating was as a medical scientist in charge of a biochemical laboratory in Auckland. He was keen to further advance his interest in this subject, and moved to a teaching and research position at the University of Queensland in Brisbane in 1960. He stayed there for 15 years, eventually heading the Department of Biochemistry, before accepting a position as the foundation professor of biochemistry at Griffith University. In subsequent years at Griffith University, he served as Dean of Science, and then as Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and on several occasions Acting Vice Chancellor—all the time maintaining his interest in science, and eventually being the recipient of three doctoral degrees. Among his many other academic roles, he chaired key university wide committees, including the academic, education and research committees, and was responsible for introducing many major educational streams, which are now features of the university’s offerings. He was also a member of the State Government Working Party, which advised on the tertiary entrance system in Queensland, and served on the inter-university Advisory Council, which oversaw the physical and academic development of Bond University. Many of these aspects of his career were brought into focus at his retirement ceremony in 1992, when he was described by the University Chancellor as a gentleman of science, a man of outstanding scientific achievements, broad international reputation, high academic integrity, excellent administrative abilities, and a calm and efficient style of administration.