By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on November 28, 2019
A FORMER Albany Senior High School student’s career-defining work in the field of experimental psychology has been immortalised and commemorated with a special seat within the school grounds.
Emeritus Professor of Psychology Ross Day was born on March 20, 1927 and attended ASHS from 1941 to 1945.
His family operated Day Brothers Bakery and he was often found helping deliver bread with his siblings in a horse-drawn cart.
Known for his enthusiasm and passion for learning, Prof Day pursued his tertiary education at the University of Western Australia and graduated with honours in 1949.
It was at university that he developed an interest in experimental psychology; he went to England the following year to undertake his PhD and work as an assistant lecturer at Bristol Unversity.
He returned to Australia five years later and worked in the psychology departments of the University of Sydney and Monash University.
It was at Monash that Prof Day established the first psychology department and demanded it be placed within the Faculty of Science, not Art – a first for Australia.
He was awarded fellowships by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of Science and one year before his death, was awarded a jubilee fellowship by the Academy of Social Sciences.
He earned the title of Emeritus Professor upon his retirement at age 65.
Prof Day passed away on October 22 last year aged 91 and to honour his memory and time at ASHS, his family has donated a wooden bench with a plaque on it to the school.
“He was the best friend I ever had,” his brother, Warren ‘Snow’ Day, said.
“He really loved the high school here – he even helped dig the trenches here during the war.
“He loved learning and we wanted to recognise his efforts.”
