Monash Fine Arts graduate and acclaimed glass artist Kristin McFarlane has been commissioned to create a set of glass panels to commemorate the history surrounding Berwick’s Monash University. On Saturday the campus celebrated its 10th anniversary.By Rebecca Fraser
STUDENTS and staff at Berwick’s Monash University took a trip down memory lane on Saturday when the campus celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Saturday marked a decade since the Clyde Road campus officially opened its doors and more than 250 people flocked to the celebrations and took a look back at the university’s first 10 years of operation.
Students first started at the university in 1995 but arrived to a paddock and instead used space at the Berwick campus of Chisholm Institute until the first building was opened in 1996. The campus has grown substantially and is now home to 1950 students and has three faculties – Arts, Business and Economics and Information Technology.
Former and current staff and students and members from the local business community were among the crowd on Saturday and lecturer from Department of Business Law and Taxation and member of the event’s organising committee Paul Sugden said the day was a huge success.
Mr Sugden said everyone had enjoyed a tour of the campus to witness what had changed and what has still remained the same.
Monash University vice-chancellor and president Professor Richard Larkins and pro-vice-chancellor and academic director Berwick Campus Professor Phillip Steele officially welcomed guests and spoke of the campuses’ history and future.
Former Berwick Monash student Emma Watts also reminisced about the past and talked about what it was like to be among the first students at the campus.
Prof Larkins and Prof Steele also unveiled plans for glass panels set to be created by award-winning glass artist and former Monash University student Kristin McFarlane to commemorate the university’s past decade.
The university is selling commemorative wine to help commission the works and these are available on campus or can be purchased through the university’s website.
Ms McFarlane designed this year’s Australian of the Year awards and is a renowned glass artist.
Mr Sugden said the glass works would be displayed in the foyer of the university’s main building and would reflect the university’s history dating back to the days when the site was used as an aerodrome and pastoral land.
As the celebrations came to an end, those in attendance also watched a DVD that saw original staff members sharing some anecdotes from the university’s first few years of operation.
Mr Sugden said some tales included accounts of students feeding the cows that once inhabited the university site.
