Vale Ross Henry Day
Ross Henry Day was an eminent experimental psychologist who was fascinated by illusions. He once joked that he would die in an illusory set of circumstances. However, there was nothing remotely ostensible about his life of achievement.
Ross, who has died at his home in Sale, aged 91, came to Monash as the foundation chair of the department of psychology in 1965. As a scientist, he was determined that psychology should stand shoulder to shoulder with other scientific disciplines. It was his mission to broaden the public’s understanding of psychology as more than a “treatment procedure for people with emotional problems.”
At Monash, the department Ross established profoundly influenced the manner in which psychology came to be represented in Australian Universities. On his watch, it was a discipline firmly embedded within the Faculty of Science with laboratory-based equipment, technical support and resources to match.
He once joked that the word ‘psychoanalysis’ was never uttered in the corridors, “at least not in my hearing.” From 1981-83 he was Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science.
As foundation professor, Ross led by example in a style of leadership which demanded inquiry, rigour, commitment and productivity. His particular areas of expertise was perceptual processes. He saw perception as a window on the dilemma which lies at the heart of contemporary psychology; consciousness.
Ross Henry Day was born in Albany, WA, in 1927. He undertook a BSc at the University of Western Australia in 1946 where he developed a fascination for psychology. After graduating with first class honours in 1949, he was offered a teaching job at Bristol University, England.
Here he combined lecturing with studying for a PhD which examined perceptual factors in the control of high performance aircraft and was funded by the UK’s Air Ministry.
Image published with permission from the Australian Academy of Science.
In 1955 he took up a post as lecturer at the University of Sydney, moving to Monash ten years later. From the very start, he made the focus on postgraduate teaching and research in experimental psychology. As a teacher, Ross had substantial impact on his students and became a role model for generations of PhD candidates.
As a member of the Australian Research Grants Committee (now the Australian Research Council) he was an influential advocate for psychology when it came to research funding.
Ross retired from Monash in 1992. However, he was only away for year before returning to chair the Monash University Animal Welfare Committee (MUAWC), a position he held until 2008. Ross also worked as an Adjunct Professor in Psychology at La Trobe University (Bundoora) and Deakin University (Geelong).
His distinguished work was recognised in 1990 when he was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences – the first psychologist to receive this distinction. In 1992 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), an organisation of which he was President from 1966-1967.
He was a member of the Victorian Psychological Council, the statutory body responsible for the registration of psychologists in Australia for many years (and held Chairs on several other important committees). He was awarded the title Emeritus Professor at Monash in 1993.
Whilst in England, Ross married Grecian, a historian whom he met at a hall of residence when they were both students at the University of Western Australia. In his later years, Ross enjoyed researching and privately publishing a family history.