Roy Deicke CMG

1990

CITATION

Mr Chancellor,

Mr Roy Deicke's abilities were recognised early by this University when it appointed him a lecturer while he was still in the process of gaining his honours degree in Applied Science. In the days before the great expansion flowing from the Murray Commission report, opportunities at the University were, however, limited, and Mr Deicke left us to provide resel:lfch and later administrative guidance to the sugar industry. 

In succession he was Senior Mill Technologist with the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, Research Officer of Fairymead Sugar Company Limited, and-still in his early thirties--General Manager of Fairymead. In 1972 Fairymead became the Bundaberg Sugar Company Limited and the newly named company, with Roy Deicke as Group Chief Executive, set about acquiring Gibson and Howes Limited and The Millaquin Sugar Company Limited. Mr Deicke has been Chairman of Bundaberg Sugar since 1976, and was Managing Director from 1976 to 1988. 

His service to the wider interests of the sugar industry can be exemplified by his chairmanship of the Commonwealth Government's Sugar Research Council, his chairmanship of the Proprietary Sugar Millers Association Limited, his vice-presidency of The Australian Sugar Producers Association Limited, and his chairmanship of the industry body that merged · both these - associations, the Australian Sugar Milling Council. 

You may have noticed that one word recurs in the title of all these _organisations, the word epitomising the industry with which Roy Deicke has been associated for so long. But that word does not encompass all his contributions to the community. Roy Deicke is chairman of the Board of Governors of The University of Queensland Foundation, having served on the Board since its inauguration in 1982. His impressive talents and willingness to serve have also been recognised through his appointment this year as chairman of the Queensland Industry Development Corpora­tion, a body to which he has already begun making formidable contributions. 

Mr Chancellor, for his manifold contributions to the sugar industry in Queensland, his community service in this State and throughout Australia, and his invaluable work for the betterment of The University of Queensland, I present to you Mr Roy Deicke, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Chemistry and Postgraduate Diploma in Sugar Technology (The University of Queensland), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Techno­logical Sciences and Engineering, Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, for the conferral of the degree of Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, to which he has been admitted by the Senate of the University. 

Awards

Doctor of Engineering honoris causa
1990