 At the age of 16 , Massey won a scholarship to the University of Melbourne , which he entered in 1925 . He had thoughts of studying chemistry , but was impressed by the physics lectures given by Eric <unk> . This was a stroke of luck ; first year physics lectures were normally given by Thomas Laby . Massey recalled in 1980 that " in a fairly wide experience I would rate [ Laby ] the worst lecturer I have heard " . At the University he played cricket , billiards , tennis and baseball , which he played for the University . He was awarded his Bachelor of Arts ( BSc ) in physics with first class honours in 1928 , and a Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) in mathematics in 1929 . At a meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in Perth in August 1925 , he met a schoolteacher , Jessica Elizabeth Bruce . They were married on 11 January 1928 at the district registrar ’ s office in Perth . They had a daughter , Pamela Lois . 
