Mervyn Austin

Mervyn Neville Austin (1 August 1913 – 11 June 1991) was an Australian headmaster and professor.

Early life Austin was born in Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia,

From 1927 to 1931, Austin was a student at Melbourne Grammar School. For three years, he was a member of the school's 1st XI cricket side and was captain in his final year. He was a resident of Trinity College within the University of Melbourne and graduated as a Bachelor of Arts. In 1936 he was elected Victorian Rhodes Scholar and in 1937 entered Christ Church, Oxford.

While at the University of Oxford, Austin won a Blue in cricket as a right-hand batsman, bowling leg-break, and googly. He was later awarded a Master of Arts, in 1943, and a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of London.

Career During World War II, Austin enlisted in Melbourne and served as a flying officer with the RAAF., including flying Mosquito night-fighters in RAAF 456 Squadron in the UK. Upon his return to Australia in 1946, he was appointed senior classics master at his old school. A trust funds a bursary for students of Ancient Greek in memory of Austin's considerable contributions to the study of Greek, the classics and ancient history at UWA. This has now been converted to support a fund for visiting lecturers.

Honours Austin was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) during 1981 in recognition of his service to education.

Publications An ignorant man thinking: essays and addresses (1966)