Thursday 2 August 2018 1:56pm
New Plymouth’s iconic Govett Brewster Art Gallery was the venue for the University of Otago’s well-attended alumni function on Thursday, 2 August.
Guests were treated to a newly-installed water inspired exhibition in the atrium as they made their way to the function and early in the evening enjoyed viewing one of Len Lye’s kinetic sculptures.
Event host Chancellor Dr Royden Somerville QC opened the evening by acknowledging our most senior attendee, Dr Bill Frengley (MB ChB 1956) and the trustees of the Priscilla Sandys Wunsch Trust.
The Trust provides generous scholarships for undergraduate students from Taranaki to study at Otago.
Dr Somerville then updated guests on current developments at the University and highlighted changes on campus. While many exciting projects had been completed, many more that would enhance Otago’s research and teaching capabilities were in the offing. He also outlined Otago’s steady increase in teaching and research outputs.
Dr Somerville also encouraged guests to think about returning to Otago next year to join in 150th anniversary celebrations. While numerous events in 2019 would be of interest, those planned for Queen’s Birthday Weekend in early June – which included a convocation ceremony, a series of anniversary dinners, departmental and residential college open days, and a gala concert – might be of special interest.
The evening was a wonderful opportunity for alumni to test their knowledge through the specially-prepared New Plymouth quiz, share memories and stories of time spent at Otago, and (we hope) make plans for a return.
