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Memoriesoneredturtle2022-05-10T09:44:55+12:00

Celebrating 125 years

Memories

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We’re celebrating 125 years of the University by sharing our favourite recollections of people, places, and moments.

Browse the collection or go to a specific decade.

We’re celebrating 125 years of the University by sharing our favourite recollections of people, places, and moments.

Browse the collection or go to a specific decade.

View all | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s +

Summer Shakespeare in the Quad

Maryanne Cathro (Hughes)

Before I was even a student, I got involved in the Summer Shakespeare and in 1983 ended up costuming and being a witch in Macbeth. In those days the Quad was still open to the sky and made a most dramatic setting.

The post-apocalyptic-meets-1980s fashion aesthetic meant that my waist-length hair was teased and sprayed into a massive knotty mess, including little plaits with bones and feathers attached. It was my job, among others, to swing a real flaming torch around in the air dramatically before running off the stage with it. I think it is a miracle that a spark never set my hair on fire!


Plays in French and Italian

Kevin Diamond

The frequent lunches organised by romance language students (studying French and/or Italian) on the fifth floor of the Von Zedlitz building, which many of the teachers also attended, were a pleasant moment to get together and also practice our foreign language(s).

Likewise, the several plays put on by the French society students in the university theatre (I remember in particular the Malade Imaginaire by Molière) were great moments. The Italian lecturer David Groves also directed some plays in Italian which I took part in (the Grande Pantomima by Dario Fo was a great production - I can still remember some of my lines!).

All in all a great atmosphere in those two departments and excellent relations between the teachers and students.


Debating censorship with Patricia Bartlett

Bruce Watson

I debated with Patricia Bartlett in the Student Union building. The topic was censorship. The debate took place on Wednesday 13 March, 1985. Patricia was speaking on behalf of the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards (she was the secretary). I was the anti-censorship spokesman. We had a great debate!

Three women in the whole lecture theatre

Edmund MacKay

There were very few women studying for a BCom in 1960s. I remember studying in the brand new Easterfield big lecture room. The three women in the class sat in the front row surrounded by our male friends.

After bringing up a family I went back to Vic and when studying for the new BCA degree (which I finished in 1980) over a quarter of the class were female. Big change!


ALL1950-591960-691970-791980-891990-992000-092010 +

Summer Shakespeare in the Quad

Maryanne Cathro (Hughes)

Before I was even a student, I got involved in the Summer Shakespeare and in 1983 ended up costuming and being a witch in Macbeth. In those days the Quad was still open to the sky and made a most dramatic setting.

The post-apocalyptic-meets-1980s fashion aesthetic meant that my waist-length hair was teased and sprayed into a massive knotty mess, including little plaits with bones and feathers attached. It was my job, among others, to swing a real flaming torch around in the air dramatically before running off the stage with it. I think it is a miracle that a spark never set my hair on fire!


Plays in French and Italian

Kevin Diamond

The frequent lunches organised by romance language students (studying French and/or Italian) on the fifth floor of the Von Zedlitz building, which many of the teachers also attended, were a pleasant moment to get together and also practice our foreign language(s).

Likewise, the several plays put on by the French society students in the university theatre (I remember in particular the Malade Imaginaire by Molière) were great moments. The Italian lecturer David Groves also directed some plays in Italian which I took part in (the Grande Pantomima by Dario Fo was a great production - I can still remember some of my lines!).

All in all a great atmosphere in those two departments and excellent relations between the teachers and students.


Debating censorship with Patricia Bartlett

Bruce Watson

I debated with Patricia Bartlett in the Student Union building. The topic was censorship. The debate took place on Wednesday 13 March, 1985. Patricia was speaking on behalf of the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards (she was the secretary). I was the anti-censorship spokesman. We had a great debate!

Three women in the whole lecture theatre

Edmund MacKay

There were very few women studying for a BCom in 1960s. I remember studying in the brand new Easterfield big lecture room. The three women in the class sat in the front row surrounded by our male friends.

After bringing up a family I went back to Vic and when studying for the new BCA degree (which I finished in 1980) over a quarter of the class were female. Big change!


Celebrating 125 years of our university

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