25th anniversary events at Melbourne campus

Message by Associate Vice-Chancellor (Victoria) Dr John Ballard

Celebrations for the 25^th Anniversary of ACU are underway on the St. Patrick’s Campus in Melbourne.

We began at the end of April with the Hildegard von Bingen and the Living Light performance to a capacity audience in the St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop Chapel.

On the morning 14 May we launched the “Purple Rain” art installation in St. Mary MacKillop Square, aimed at raising awareness of homelessness, followed by a low key celebration for students and staff, organized in conjunction with the Melbourne Campus Student’s Association, also in the Square.

Food vans with diverse offerings ranging from bagel’s to burgers and Greek doughnuts, topped with walnuts and honey, lined the Square (see photograph above).

The heavy rain on the day meant that the live music was curtailed and we will find an opportunity in spring to revisit the celebrations.

Other events this month include:

·        Friday, 22 May 2015, we are holding the Melbourne Scholarships bursaries, faculty prizes and awards ceremony in Philippa Brazill Lecture Theatre at 2pm and look forward to a strong attendance from staff and students to celebrate with both recipients and our very generous benefactors. Each year this event becomes larger and we look forward to being able to offer a wider range of awards next year.

·        Exam break begins 25 May.

·        ACU Career Advisory Conference 29 May brings together School Career advisors from across Melbourne and Victoria to gain an opportunity to understand ACU’s latest opportunities and initiatives and experience first-hand, the St. Patrick’s Campus.

In the three years that I have been on the St. Patrick’s Campus, this is the first time that I recall that we do not have major works underway on Campus that pose the risk of disruption for the mid or final year exams and for the research periods between semesters. 

The Young Street works are beyond our control and undertaken by City Water. This hiatus in major works is likely to extend to mid next year when work commences on the construction of a new teaching facility adjacent to the Mary Glowrey Building. 

Best wishes to all of our students preparing for exams and for our academics facing the arduous process of marking and grading. Hard work for both groups.