VALE Emeritus Professor Kenneth (Ken) Dutton AM FRSN

Special Collections

4 weeks ago

Professor K.D. Dutton, Professor of French, and from 1982 Vice-Principal at the University of Newcastle

In memory of Emeritus Professor Kenneth (Ken) Dutton

By Dr Marie-Laure Vuaille-Barcan

Professor Ken Dutton passed away quietly in his Newcastle apartment on 27 February, aged 87.

“Ann Hardy and I had the privilege of interviewing him in September 2025 in his apartment. The interview formed part of Copley-funded research on the creation of the Alliance Française de Newcastle, of which Ken had been President in the seventies.

To our surprise, although he was already frail following a very serious infection, the interview became an opportunity for Ken to give us a remarkable forty-five-minute performance, reflecting on his long career. The interview was recorded by Ann, transcribed by me, and then checked with Ken. Ken felt that his voice was not strong enough for the audio recording to be used on the University website.

Ann and I were amazed as he recited from memory extracts from plays and poems in French, quoted from a German play, and even sang a song in Occitan. It felt like a kind of spontaneous testament to his deep love of words and of the French language and literature, from the man who, as Professor of French, had appointed me in 1995.

As described by Emeritus Professor John West-Sooby, one of his former students: “His final years were spent on biblical exegesis, drawing on his knowledge of ancient languages. He was a true scholar.”

Interview [transcript] with Emeritus Professor Kenneth (Ken) Dutton – AVAILABLE HERE

This is an edited transcription of an interview with Emeritus Professor Ken Dutton, recorded at his apartment on 3 September 2025 in the presence of Dr Marie-Laure Vuaille-Barcan ( President of the Alliance Française de Newcastle and Senior Lecturer of French Studies, University of Newcastle) and Dr Ann Hardy (Co-ordinator, GLAMx and Digitisation Projects, Hunter (Living) History Initiative, Special Collections Services, Auchmuty Library, University of Newcastle).

Professor Dutton was appointed Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, effective January 1, 1982.

At 43, his elevation to this senior leadership role followed a distinguished career in academia and linguistics, highlighted by:

Academic Excellence: An alumnus of Sydney Boys High and the University of Sydney, where he earned a First Class Honours MA and the University Medal, followed by a doctorate from the University of Paris.
Professionally: After serving as a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University, he joined the University of Newcastle in 1968 as the Chair of French.
Scholarship & Honors: A prolific author on French literature and a Fellow of the Australian College of Education, he has remained a cornerstone of the University’s academic community since 1969.

VIDEO – “Chasing Our Pioneering Tales – Stories from the Secret Archives” University of Newcastle (2005) (Ken Dutton introduces the prehistory or paleo-history of the University.)