Godfrey Tanner

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = Emeritus Professor

| name = Godfrey Tanner

| honorific_suffix = FRGS

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Ronald Godfrey Tanner

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|09|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|07|10|1927|09|24|df=y}}

| death_place = Newcastle, New South Wales

| nationality = Australian

| education = Melbourne Grammar School

| alma_mater = University of Melbourne (MA)
University of Cambridge (MA)
University of Newcastle (Hon DUniv)

| occupation = Academic

| years_active = 1949–2002

| employer = University of Newcastle

| title = Emeritus Professor of Classics

}}

Ronald Godfrey Tanner FRGS (24 September 1927 – 10 July 2002) was an Australian professor of classics, associated for the greater part of his career with the University of Newcastle. Educated at Melbourne and Cambridge, Tanner was appointed to Newcastle University College (NUC) in 1959 and became renowned at the institution for his enthusiastic involvement in student life and for his eccentric character (he cycled about campus in full academic dress as a matter of course).{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastle.edu.au/news/2011/05/11/the-great-godfrey-tanner-lives-again-in-art.html |title=The great Godfrey Tanner lives again in art |publisher=The University of Newcastle |access-date=28 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005645/http://www.newcastle.edu.au/news/2011/05/11/the-great-godfrey-tanner-lives-again-in-art.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}

Tanner was a key figure in the campaign for NUC's independence from the University of New South Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/13/1031608324999.html|title=Obituary for Godfrey Tanner|author=Thompson, Matthew|date=14 September 2002 |publisher=The Newcastle Herald|access-date=17 January 2013}} According to University legend, Tanner officiated at a celebratory bonfire for the inaugural Autonomy Day, during which he poured goon (exploitatively inexpensive cask white wine) libations onto the ground to "sanctify the land upon which the University rests".{{cite web|url=http://archivesoutside.records.nsw.gov.au/grant-of-arms-the-university-of-newcastles-declaration-of-independence|title=Grant of Arms – The University of Newcastle's Declaration of Independence|work=Archives Outside|publisher=NSW Government|access-date=17 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301150224/http://archivesoutside.records.nsw.gov.au/grant-of-arms-the-university-of-newcastles-declaration-of-independence|archive-date=1 March 2012}} The Godfrey Tanner Bar, or "GT Bar", in the Shortland Building was named in his honour and provides $4.50 schooners (as of mythic memory) for students on Wednesdays. As of mid-2020, the bar became the "Local Connections" restaurant.{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastle.edu.au/engage/development-projects/completed-projects/2020|title=Development Projects 2020|access-date=9 May 2023}}