Alumni Reunion Weekend 2010
Alan Nicholson, Lynn McClelland, Ian Town, Richard Bentley
More than 300 alumni visited University of Canterbury from 8-10 October to spend a weekend catching up with old classmates and to learn about recent developments at the University.
The 2010 Alumni Reunion Weekend was for the graduating classes of 1970 and preceding years, with special anniversary celebrations also being held to mark the 10th anniversary of the National Centre for Research on Europe and the 160th anniversary of College House.
304 guests were registered, including alumni and staff of the former Canterbury College and former Christchurch Teachers' College. People came from far and wide to attend — from USA, UK, and Australia as well as from around New Zealand.
It was an opportunity for alumni to catch up on the latest in teaching, research and facilities in their subject areas, with seminars and displays put on by staff and students in the foyer of the central lecture theatre block.
Sixteen events featured in the programme for the weekend, which included a number of lectures and dinners for alumni of specific colleges, departments and halls of residence.
Alumni Association President Adrienne Watson and Chancellor Rex Williams cut the Reunion cakeThe Alumni Reunion Weekend Welcome Reception on the Friday evening was hosted by Chancellor Rex Williams who was assisted in cutting the reunion cake by Alumni Association President Adrienne Watson.
New Zealand’s only EU-dedicated tertiary level research centre celebrated its 10th anniversary on the Friday afternoon. About 80 people, including current and former staff and students, friends and supporters attended the special anniversary celebration. Professor Holland said the 10th anniversary “was a time to thank the many individuals – staff and students – who have collectively helped to make the NCRE the success that it is today”.
The School of Law Cocktail evening held on Friday 8 Oct at the Law Society Library was hosted by Associate Professor Richard Scragg, with Justice John Fogarty as the invited guest speaker. A mixture of graduating years including some very recent graduates enjoyed excellent food and wine in the auspicious surrounds of the library.
Four public lectures were held on Saturday on subjects such as who owns Antarctica, dyslexia, toxicology and writing a biography.
The College of Education held a morning tea and tour themed ‘what you might not expect in education’. Hosted by Associate Professor Janinka Greenwood the tour visited the fifth floor of the Te Pourewa building, and featured talks by Associate Professor Ian Culpan, who talked about the College’s Olympic Studies research, and Dr David Winter.
Paul Snape focussed on Technology Education and illustrated how far the subject had come from the old manual or workshop classes. The last stop on the tour was with Lawrence Walker, who wowed the group in our College’s multi-media innovative teaching space.
Among the main events held during the celebrations was the Engineering Dinner on the Saturday evening. Originally scheduled to be held in the Great Hall at the Arts Centre, the venue was changed to Mona Vale Homestead as the Great Hall chimney was one of the many earthquake casualties. Hosted by, the evening included guest speakers. etc
The reunion ended on the Sunday with an ecumenical service in the Rochester and Rutherford Chapel, presided over by our University Chaplain Reverend Tom Innes, with some additional performances by the students of Bishop Julius Hall.
Sue Harrison South, Alumni Relations Coordinator said “the event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase some special parts of the university and connect with older alumni, some of whom were in their 90’s. “