Reunion - February 2011

Some of the 1971 graduates at our February 2011 reunion in Sydney

Back row (L to R): Jim Scott, Dan Ryan, Geoff Ward, Frank Nicholas, Rob Maxwell, Duane Norris, Peter Cowman, Nick Truelove, Lisle Brown

Middle row (L to R): Pete Nethery, Peter Sydney, ??, Alan Vaughan, Bill Esler, Neil Black, Sam Hawkins, Roy Menzies

Front row (L to R): John Rumble, Bernie McGrath, Helen Zaman, John Wilkins, Mal McNiven, Mike Titley

Some reminiscences on the 40-year reunion of the BScAgr class of 71 - by Frank Nicholas

There was something a bit different about the people who commenced university in 1967: very few, if any, were school-leavers. Why? Because the previous year (1966) had seen the last of the school leavers trained under the five-year Leaving Certificate in NSW.

In contrast, the first of the school leavers from the new six-year Higher School Certificate were not to emerge until 1968. 

Those who commenced university in 1967 had, therefore, been out of school for at least one year; many had been out for several years. Whether this worldly experience made for a more mature class of undergraduate is for others to judge. It certainly made for an eclectic bunch of young and not-so-young men and women who commenced the BScAgr degree in 1967. 

The newcomers were given a warm welcome by some restless souls who, for various reasons (e.g. “majoring in cards, billiards and horse racing”) were having another go at first year. Others joined the class in subsequent years; some found greener pastures along the way. In one way or another, a sizeable group cleared the last hurdle in December 1970, and graduated BScAgr the next year as the class of 71. 

Forty years on, 23 members of this class (together with husbands/wives/partners) re-assembled in Sydney on 19th February 2011 for a harbour-cruise reunion dinner, followed by a picnic the following day at Robertson Park, Watsons Bay. Arranged by Peter Sydney, with help from Mike Titley and Neil Black, the reunion was a great success. Once-familiar faces were (mostly) recognised; friendships were renewed; adventures re-lived. 

The current Alumni Relations Manager of the Faculty, Skaidy Gulbis, gave us an update on the Faculty and on the new alumni organisation that we will soon be able to join. 

Mike Titley did a great job in having something memorable to say on just about everyone present. Some were even heard to say that, even though certain subjects had not made much (any?) sense at the time, they now realise just how important they were! 

Of the 11 members who circulated brief autobiographies before the reunion, at least nine have spent many years, and some their whole careers, working in one or other of the subject areas included in the BScAgr degree. Some are still passionately involved: Duane Norris, for example, is devoting much energy to advocating what he sees as a truly sustainable form of agriculture: see http://www.nsfarming.com/. 

Thanks to the enthusiasm of Peter and others, the class of 71 is now looking forward to the 50-year reunion in 2021!