FORMER LISBURN MAN HONOURED BY AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY
A
FORMER Lisburn resident has been honoured by an Australian
'University where he worked almost forty years ago. Bill
Lowry, the son of the late John Lowry, an RUC Sergeant in
Lisburn, and Isabella Lowry, was educated at Brownlee
Primary and Wallace High School.
After graduating from Stranmillis College he taught in Ballynahinch before moving to Sydney. He was then recruited by the Department of Education and moved to Wollongong where he lectured in Art and published textbooks for New South Wales High School pupils.
On returning from Australia Bill taught Art in Wallace High School and coached hockey and cricket for many years, succeeding the late Ken Hord.
Bill then moved to Lisburn Technical College as Head of General Studies and on to Castlereagh College as vice Principal before finally moving on to be Principal of Armagh College of Further and Higher Education.
Bill then decided to take early retirement in 1993, after eight years as principal in Armagh and relocated to County Clare where he and his second wife Phyllis have an award winning Bed and Breakfast in Bunratty.
The University of the South Coast in awarding Bill an honorary doctorate of Philosophy recognised that in his own distinctive way he made an enormous contribution to public life in education, culture, sport and community service in Ireland and abroad.
On receiving his Doctorate Bill commented: "It was excellent, it's a great honour to be remembered by both colleagues and students. Many of my former students are teachers now and I've been back to Australia to see them a number of times.
"I also travel back to Lisburn occasionally and visited again recently. It has changed a lot since I lived and worked there but it is always wonderful to go back."
Dr. Lowry is a former member of Lisburn Cricket Club, Lisburn Golf Club and long time player and administrator of Lisnagarvey Hockey Club.
Bill still has strong links with Northern Ireland as his son Darrell is a doctor in Craigavon and his daughter Shauna is a well-known, Lisburn born, TV presenter now living in London.
22/04/2005
