And interesting perspective on this is provided by Matthew Donovan at Independent Australia.
![Picture](/uploads/8/4/1/7/8417532/8362717.jpg)
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil John Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for selected foreign students to study at the University of Oxford.
Rhodes' legacy specified four standards by which applicants were to be judged:
- Literary and scholastic attainments;
- Energy to use one's talents to the fullest, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports;
- Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship;
- Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.
Selection in each Rhodes constituency is by committees comprised of Rhodes alumni and distinguished non-Scholar members of the community. Though the selection criteria are uniform across all countries, there are some eligibility requirements that vary.
In short, if the applicant can impress the panel on most or all of the key selection criteria, they are awarded the scholarship. It is not an undeniable indication of intellect as academic achievement is only one of the 4 key criteria.
Former winners for whom it is has not been necessary to keep mentioning their award include:
- 1958 - Kris Kristofferson - singer, actor
- 1965 - Bill Bradley - former NBA basketballer
- 1972 - Geoff Gallup - former WA premier
- 1973 - Kim Beazley - former ALP leader, current US ambassador
- 1975 - Mel Reynolds - US Congressman ('93-'95), and convicted felon
- 1997 - Simon Hollingsworth - Olympic and Commonwealth games athlete, head of Australian Sports Commission
Rather than focusing on an award from his University days, on whether or not he punched the wall either side of the head of a female student and political opponent, or even his lamentable behaviour as a member of Sydney University's SRC, it seems more relevant to look at political influences of much longer standing. To get a handle on the key influences on Tony Abbott's politics and his political and social thinking, it would a much better indicator to look to his primary mentor... B.A. Sanatmaria. Bob is an influence and a mentor that Abbott continues to mention to this day.
I'm a great believer that there is a great deal of truth in good comedy, and Max Gillies is a brilliant comedian. Take a moment to watch the video below... I'd suggest it contains a great deal of truth about the character of B.A. Santamaria, and by consequence also says a great deal about Tony Abbott.