Dr Kenneth Stewart McWhirter (Fr 1950)
1932 – 2021

The Principal, Council and St Andrew’s College community honour the life of Dr Kenneth Stewart McWhirter who passed away on 22 December 2021, aged 89. 

Ken attended St Andrew’s College from 1950–1954. He was an enthusiastic participant in several sports. He was a member of the Fresher's Rugby and Rawson Rugby teams, the Challenge Rowing crew and also competed in Cricket and Golf. Most notably, Ken was on the 1951 Rawson Football team that returned the Rawson Football Cup to College after an 11 year absence.

Ken was a diligent student of agriculture, earning his Bachelor of Science (Hons 1) in 1955 from the University of Sydney. He began working for the NSW Department of Agriculture in Grafton in 1956 and shortly after was awarded the Sir Benjamin Fuller Scholarship to study overseas. He was accepted into a doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin and moved to the United States with his new wife Elissa by his side. In 1961 he completed his PhD and the family returned to Australia.  

In 1964 Ken joined the University of Sydney's Faculty of Agriculture where he lectured in genetics and plant breeding and worked at the University’s Plant Breeding Institute at Castle Hill. He worked extensively with the soybean growers of the Riverina area of NSW. Ken retired from the University in 1987.

Ken is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elissa, and his two sons and two daughters.

The McWhirter family is held strongly in our thoughts and our dearest sympathy is extended to all who knew Ken.

Dr Kenneth S McWhirter pictured in 1950, front row, eighth from left.

Dr Kenneth S McWhirter from the 1951 Rawson Football Team photo.

Dr Kenneth S McWhirter pictured with the Rawson Football Team in 1951, front row, first from left.