PAUL EVERINGHAM (Chief Minister Northern Territory 1978-1984)
Paul Everingham practised law in Alice Springs and Darwin before becoming leader of the Country Liberal Party, head of government of the Northern Territory in 1977, and then the first Chief Minister in 1978.
Everingham believed that the Territory needed a University in order for it to grow and develop and to help to stabilise its population. He faced opposition from the Commonwealth Government, the opposition party and from some people at the Darwin Community College.
He travelled to Alaska to find out first-hand how their model of a university worked. This model is not dissimilar to what now exists at Charles Darwin University – a multi sector university with campuses spread across a large, and remote, area.
Everingham believed in “hitching their chariot” to high profile people and he appointed Rupert Murdoch as Interim Chancellor of the proposed University.
Although he was not to see the University happen in his time in the NT , he and his government were undoubtedly crucial to getting the University started.