Gippsland Alumni

2002 Graduate and Staff Reunion

On Friday, March 1st, Monash University Gippsland played host to the first major Graduate and Staff reunion. The event brought together past graduates and staff from the days of The Yallourn Technical School, Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education (G.I.A.E.) and Monash University. Among the 400 guests attending was past lecturer The Hon. Keith Hamilton (minister for Agriculture and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs), past student Richard Hancock (C.E.O. Latrobe City Council) and local member Christian Zahra.

The campus' foundations began in 1928 when the Yallourn Technical College began educating many of the 120 Engineering graduates who attended the event. The campus then underwent changes in 1968 to become the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education and then became Monash University in 1990.

The reunion consisted of Campus and Faculty Tours with many of the Faculty/Departments putting on displays of historical importance as well as showcasing new courses and research developments. The Gippsland Centre for Art and Design displayed local artwork as well as local cheeses and wines from the region.

Among the visitors were Carl Bullmayer who is the earliest graduate from Yallourn Technical College, graduating in 1946 in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Heather Joy Maxwell (nee Traill), the first and only female graduate from Yallourn Technical College who graduated in 1969 in Applied Chemistry, and Trevor Charles Allan, the first graduate to graduate

The formal part of the evening was held in the Binishell with the unveiling of a portrait of past Campus Director Barry Dunstan, painted by local Melbourne talent Tom Alberts, by The Hon. Keith Hamilton. Speakers at the event included; Professor David Robinson, Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor Gippsland Campus, Andrew Schmidt, Student Union President and Dr. Meredith Fletcher, Director Centre for Gippsland Studies and author of recently released book "Digging People Up for Coal" a history of Yallourn.

The formalities were followed by a dinner that included 190 past students and 200 past and current staff in the student lounge and bistro. People that attended the dinner were entertained by stories from past students from each of the three stages of the campus; Mr. John Hutchinson (Yallourn Technical College '59), Mr. Richard Hancock (Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education '90) and Michelle Richardson (Monash University '98). from the Binishell in 1980 with a Bachelor of Applied Science.

Honor Board and the Exhibition Boards: A "history in picture and words" displayed on 9 exhibition boards.

Professor Brian Mackenzie said…"It has been a fantastic reunion that has brought together three generations of graduates and staff. The success of the event reinforces the strong bonds and relationships that the institution has had with the community for the past 75 years and which Monash will continue to nurture in the future.