Unbelievably, another of our friends passed away last night, just a few days short of his 80th birthday. I say unbelievably because when we saw him for dinner last Thursday night he seemed well enough. I would have scoffed at the very idea that he might not have another good decade left on his dance card.Professor Jim Hagan was a former Deputy Chancellor of Charles Sturt University 1990 – June 2001; former Chairman of the Board of Governors, Riverina College of Advanced Education 1976 – 1989; former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Wollongong; and author of several major works on Australian History, amongst other things.Rob went to work for him 18 years ago as a research assistant. The two became firm friends, as often seemed to happen with Jim and folks he worked with. Jim and his wife Lois have been regular features in our lives the…