Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE FRS FAA

Sir Gustav Nossal has served our nation well. Born in Bad Ischl, Austria in 1931, he moved to Sydney with his family when he was eight years old to escape Nazi occupation. Unable to speak English, a young Sir Gus worked hard and graduated Dux of his secondary school before going on to study to be a doctor and researcher at the University of Sydney. After a short appointment at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, he moved to Melbourne and commenced working with Macfarlane Burnett in medical science at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Sir Gus earned his PhD from the University of Melbourne.

During his life, he has filled many important roles in a range of positions in the community. Among them, he has served as the Director of the Walter and Eliza Institute, President of the Australian Academy of Science, served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, and Chairman of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. For two years from 1998 to 2000, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.

Internationally, Sir Gus has also served in a range of roles including: the Assistant Professor of Genetics at Stanford University, served at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Vaccine Program, been a special consultant to the World Health Organisation, and chaired the same organisation’s Global Program for Vaccines and Immunisation.

In 1970, Sir Gus was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and then in 1977, he was knighted for his revolutionary discoveries in immunology. Sir Gus has since been the recipient of the ANZAAS Medal, the Companion of the Order of Australia, the Albert Einstein World Award of Science, the Koch Gold Medal, and in 1977 he was identified as one of Australia’s 100 Living National Treasures. In 2000, Sir Gustav Nossal was named Australian of the Year.

He is the author of books and numerous scientific papers.

Who Are We?

Nossal High School is Victoria’s first fully academically selective, coeducational Government High School, and one of only four academically selective high schools in the state. Nossal High School has been purpose designed to suit an adult, academically focused and highly aspirational cohort of students, who regularly achieve outstanding academic results while also developing equally impressive community and humanitarian responses to local and global issues.

The school buildings are high tech. and ICT rich, mirroring features and approaches usually found in universities. Our location and partnership with Monash University, Federation University and Chisholm Institute, offer our community access to programs and facilities at both secondary and tertiary levels and enable the development of rich links and challenging opportunities.

We offer a broad range of curricula and co-curricula experiences and programs, strongly influenced by the students themselves who have an active and authentic voice in the running of the school. We offer significant sporting, creative, performing, musical, community, cultural, social and leadership opportunities to our students alongside a comprehensive academic study program.

Teaching staff at Nossal are selected as they are outstanding educators and they too undertake ongoing and rigorous professional development to ensure they provide the best possible learning environment and outcomes for our students. For our students, they model and exemplify the Monash motto… “I am still learning”.

It is the school’s great privilege to be named after one of our nation’s most celebrated scientists and research biologists, pioneering researcher, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE FRS FAA

Sir Gustav Nossal Statue Unveiling

Nossal High School unveiled our first community arts project, a life-sized bronze statue of our namesake, Sir Gustav Nossal AC.

The statue, unveiled by Sir Gus himself, commemorates not only his commitment and support of our school, but also his life-long dedication to medical research, especially immunology and his passion for a range of humanitarian causes.

The statue is the work of internationally celebrated sculptors, Gillie and Marc and is located at the main entrance to the school. The artists have captured the warmth and welcoming nature of Sir Gus as he takes up a relaxed, seated pose ready for a chat with those who pass by.

The ceremony, which was held on Monday 20 November 2023, was a celebration attended by a range of special guests representing our generous corporate sponsors; Sir Gus’s family; Nossal High School Council, Parents and Friends Association and the Old Nossalonians Association; students, staff and members of the wider Nossal High School community.

Previous School Council President, Dr John Inns said the project had taken a little longer than first envisaged due to the impact of the pandemic. First launched as a Community Arts Project in 2019, it was originally planned that the statue would be a feature of the school’s 20^th Anniversary celebrations in 2020.

Foundation Principal, Mr Roger Page, reflected on the inspirational and integral role that Sir Gus has played in the history of the school. He noted how Sir Gus was always a welcome guest at the school, often mobbed by students for his autograph and a selfie with the former Australian of the Year. He added that it was very appropriate to have Sir Gus seated on the bench out the front of the school considering how much he enjoyed the opportunity to attend, stop and chat with students, staff and visitors whenever he visited the school that bears his name.

In his address, Mr Page also paid tribute to the individuals, organisations and groups who had donated to this significant arts project. The statue has been funded entirely by donations made to see it come to fruition.

Prior to Sir Gus unveiling the statue, Acting Principal, Ms Tracey Mackin reminded us of some of the many milestones and achievements Sir Gus has had in his life.

“Most members of our community are aware that Sir Gus arrived in Australia at a young age with his parents, who were escaping of the Nazi’s through their native Austria. Unable to speak English, through his passion for learning and personal, positive drive, he graduated Dux of his secondary school before studying medicine at the University of Sydney. Sir Gus then moved to Melbourne to work under the tutelage of Macfarlane Burnett at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute where he conducted the bulk of his career. It was working with Macfarlane Burnett that Sir Gus achieved his PhD at the University of Melbourne.”

In subsequent years, he has served as Assistant Professor of Genetics at Stanford University, spent time at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, served as a Special Consultant to the World Health Organisation and also served as Professor of Medical Biology at the University of Melbourne.

In other appointments, Sir Gus’s has been President of the Australian Academy of Science, President of the International Union of Immunological Societies, Chairman of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Chairman of the committee overseeing the World Health Organisations’ Vaccines & Biologicals Program and Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Council of the Bill & Melinda Gates