Sir Hugh Cairns Scholarship

The Sir Hugh Cairns Memorial Scholarship was established in 1953 by a donation of $2,100 to the University by the Committee of the Sir Hugh Cairns Memorial Association for the purpose of founding a prize to perpetuate the memory of Sir Hugh Cairns, a former student of the Adelaide High School.  The Endowment now supports a scholarship of $3,000 for a student of the Adelaide High School who is commencing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Degree at the University of Adelaide.

Hugh William Bell Cairns (1896-1952) was born in Port Pirie, South Australia.  He was the only child of William Cairns a timber contractor from Scotland and Australian-born Amy Florence (nee Bell).  He attended Riverton High School and Adelaide High School and then commenced his medical degree at the University of Adelaide in 1912.

While at the University, Cairns won the Davies-Thomas Scholarship and the Everard Scholarship (both Scholarships which are still awarded at the University today).  He graduated MBBS in 1917 and the same year was awarded the South Australian Rhodes Scholarship. 

Cairns went on to become a leading figure in neurosurgery.  The establishment of neurosurgery as a specialist discipline in England was his major contribution to surgery.  He was the first Nuffield Professor of Surgery at the University of Oxford.

Cairns always took great interest in the medical graduates of the University of Adelaide who were studying in England.  His interest in medical education was always keen.  It can truly be said that his wise counsel helped many of the University's graduates in their post-graduate work abroad.

A plaque was erected as a visible memorial to Sir Hugh in the main foyer of the Medical School in 1954 which read:

This tablet commemorates Sir Hugh William Bell Cairns, KBE, MA, DM, FRCS a graduate in medicine of this University, first Nuffield Professor of Surgery in the University of Oxford and eminent neurosurgeon. His work reflected great credit to this School, in whose graduates he maintained a life-long interest.Plaque erected 1954 Adelaide Medical School (c/- University of Adelaide Archives)

For a confidential discussion about how you can support the University with a gift in your will, please contact the Development team on +61 8 8313 5800 or development@adelaide.edu.au.