Tuesday 04 March 2025: Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars studying at the University of Oxford were excited to receive a visit from former Prime Minister and Ramsay Centre Director the Hon Tony Abbott AC last month.

Mr Abbott was in the UK and invited the University of Oxford scholars to meet with him to discuss their study experiences, and future aspirations.

Approximately 10 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars met with Mr Abbott at his alma mater where six years ago he delivered an address as part of the Oxford Union’s ‘People Who Shape Our World’ series.

2024 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholar Justin McGovern aspires to a career at the Bar, advocating for fundamental freedoms, defending the rule of law, and shaping public discourse on the Western tradition.

Now studying a Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford, Justin said it was a great privilege to have Mr Abbott visit.

“Mr Abbott reflected on his own time as a student at Oxford and how that experience fortified his appreciation for Western civilisation and formed his own approach to serving his nation in public office,” Justin said.

“He also shared heartwarming tales of his own friendship with the late Paul Ramsay AO, including the motivation for establishing the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation.”

Justin said scholars engaged in a lively Q&A with Mr Abbott traversing a wide range of topics ranging from the proper place of protest to changing one’s mind. He said Mr Abbott encouraged the scholars to be true to themselves and their well-formed principles, “exhorting those gathered not to be shrinking violets, but to act as courageous advocates in their respective fields”.

“If you think something is good, say so. If you think something is bad, say so”, Mr Abbott said.

Finally, Justin said Mr Abbott emphasised the intellectual creativity which Oxford’s unique approach to academic instruction inspires, including instilling the intellectual humility and honesty required to change one’s mind when the relevant facts change.

The catch-up was hosted at Oriel College by Provost Lord Neil Mendoza, who reiterated Mr Abbott’s encouragement of all those scholars present to consider strongly how best they could contribute to the preservation and propagation of Western Civilisation in their respective fields.

As Chair of Historic England, Lord Mendoza affirmed the centrality of our common heritage and how a deep knowledge of this inheritance can inform our own efforts to make a difference to people’s lives, including creating vibrant and flourishing places. Lord Mendoza also strongly encouraged those scholars present to embrace the challenge of leadership and consider serving their communities in public office.

Interested in learning more about the Ramsay Centre’s Postgraduate Scholarships? Visit: https://ramsaypostgradscholarship.com/ Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098 / sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org