Cyril Renwick

1938 was the year that saw the beginning of Cyril Renwick’s journey towards academic greatness; he came first in the state for English and completed the leaving certificate with honors from Gosford High School.

He went on to University of Sydney and earnt First Class honors in Economics and went onto be a lecturer in this field.

 Renwick became the youngest ever at twenty-seven to become senior lecturer and associate professor at the NSW University of Technology at age thirty- three, when he also published with his University of Sydney colleague, G.A.J Simpson-Lee the text “The Economic Pattern”.

In 1954, Cyril went on secondment to the Newcastle University College, which he was initially happy about as he found Professor J.P Baxter’s leadership at the Kensington campus as too absolute for his liking.

Unfortunately, the realities of moving to a new workplace set in and Baxter’s continued interference from Kensington added to Renwick’s discomfort. The next year was to be more promising as out of the tragedy of the Maitland flood, which greatly affected the Australian economy, came The Hunter Valley Research Foundation that Cyril helped establish.

This foundation worked in with the public and private sectors and authorities in NSW of mines, ports, water, conservation, and agriculture. Its importance related to the rising interest in the Hunter Valley due to coal exports, wine industry and various industries.

By 1956, the project had attracted high profile supporters like Labor Premier Joe Cahill and head of CSIRO, Sir Ian Clunies. Renwick risked catching pneumonia by walking through heavy rain in order to register the foundation. It is thought that his dedication was due to contemplation of a career outside of academia.

In that same year, he was professor of Economics at Newcastle University College (NUC) and Director of Research in a voluntary capacity.

 But Renwick missed out on becoming Deputy Warden to James. J. Auchmuty, who viewed Cyril as his rival, Renwick reportedly thought other candidates had not been shown equal consideration.   

Research at the Hunter Valley Research foundation garnered interest from advertising executives as Renwick’s analysis of the Hunter Valley and his belief that it represented a snapshot of Australian culture and habits. As a result, these executives used the Hunter as a testing ground for products like polymer banknotes, pasta sauces and hamburgers.

Other research focused on resources such as water and coal. By the 1970s it moved into examining people within their environment and how they were impacting it through activities like mining of arable land.

He acted as Director until 1985; two years prior to this, Renwick received Officer of the Order of Australia, the Advanced Australia Award, and Centenary Medal.

 Renwick served on the Board of Trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW during this time. He survived by  his niece  Helen Sloan and a former colleague. His legacy that is the HVRF still continues to this day.