John Davis McCaugheyAC (12 July 1914 – 25 March 2005) was an Irish-born Australian academic theologian, Christian minister, university administrator and the 23rd Governor of Victoria from 1986 to 1992.
In 1953 the McCaughey family emigrated to Australia for him to become the ProfessorofNew Testament Studies for the theological hall at Ormond College, University of Melbourne.[2] He was Master of Ormond from 1957 to 1979. He served as Deputy Chancellor of the University of Melbourne in 1978 and 1979. He was also involved in the foundation of La Trobe University in the mid-1960s.[3]
McCaughey's approach to this largely symbolic vice-regal role differed from his predecessor, Sir Brian Murray. He opened Government House, Melbourne, to the public, exchanged the Rolls-Royce car for an Australian-made vehicle, flew business class instead of first class and dispensed with military aides de camp.
Cain said of McCaughey: "He was unassuming, down-to-earth, unfailingly courteous to everybody and unaffected by the trappings of the office."[6] Kirner commented: "He was one of the few people who could bring common good and a broad sense of morality to life."[7]
McCaughey married Jean in 1940, the year of his ordination as a minister. Their five children are the former National Gallery of Victoria director Patrick McCaughey, theatre director and classical scholar James McCaughey, primary school teachers Brigid McCaughey and Mary Nicholson, and director of the Astra Choir John McCaughey.
Imagination and the future: essays on Christian thought and practice presented to J. Davis McCaughey on his 65th birthday, edited by John A. Henley. (1980) Melbourne : Hawthorn Press,.
Fresh words and deeds: the McCaughey papers (2004) edited by Peter Matheson & Christiaan Mostert, introduction by Harry Wardlaw, Melbourne, David Lovell
McCaughey was a very early contributor to the new television medium in Australia. Discovering the Bible was an eight part series presented by McCaughey about the meaning of the Bible. It was broadcast live in Melbourne and kinescoped/telerecorded for Sydney, these being the only Australian cities with television prior to 1959. The first episode aired in Melbourne on 6 July 1958[8] and the final episode aired on 26 October 1958 on ABV (Channel 2).[9] It was aired in Sydney from 27 July 1958 to 2 November 1958 on ABN - channel 2.[10]
Back to the drawing board: reflections on the idea of a university in Australia (1988)
Biblical faith and secular obedience in a pluralist society: the inaugural Rollie Busch lecture at the University of Queensland on Friday 20 October 1989
Christian hope: a lectured delivered at the annual conferment of degrees and diplomas by the Melbourne College of Divinity on 23 June 1954
Inaugural addresses: the Uniting Church in Australia / by J. Davis McCaughey [and] Phillip Potter. [1977].
"Piecing Together a Shared Vision" 1987 Boyer Lecture (1988) ABC Enterprises for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Crows Nest, N.S.W. ISBN0-642-53091-2
Christian obedience in the university; studies in the life of the Student Christian Movement of Great Britain and Ireland, 1930–1950. (1958)
Commentary on the Basis of union of the Uniting Church in Australia (1980)
Diversity and unity in the New Testament picture of Christ (1969)
Gospel for our day (1978)
Kingdom, church and world: five studies in St. Matthews gospel. (1963)
New Delhi Assembly, World Council of Churches, November 1961: implications for the Australian churches. (1962).
Piecing together a shared vision, 1987 Boyer Lecture (1988)
Place of the university collegiate residence and its role in society 1980–2000
Repining restlessnesse: diversity and dissent (1993)
Teachings of Jesus for us today (1978)
Tradition and dissent (1997) The Miegunyah Press at Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic ISBN0-522-84764-1 (pbk)
Joint
Ronald Frank Henderson 1917–1994: a tribute (with Jean McCaughey) (c1997)
Victoria's colonial governors, 1839–1900 (with Naomi Perkins and Angus Trumble) (1993) Carlton, Victoria Melbourne University Press at the Miegunyah Press.
