University of Canberra’s communications officer Zoe Spinocchia previews the birthday celebrations.

THIS year the University of Canberra turns 40, and its staff and students are gearing up to celebrate!
A festival of events will be held from August 4 to October 30, including an opening ceremony, various exhibitions, reunions and alumni events and of course, Stonefest – Australia’s largest campus music festival.
Vice-chancellor Professor Stephen Parker is looking forward to welcoming back former students and staff to help celebrate in more than 40 activities and events.
“I hope a key feature of our celebrations will be to reconnect with our graduates from the last 40 years,” he said.
The events will kick off with an opening ceremony on Monday, August 4, and festivities will include Indonesian dance, arts and musical performances, humour from comedian MC Dave Williams, and the placement of a time capsule to be opened at the university’s 50th anniversary.
The opening ceremony will be followed by a special alumni lunch for graduates of the original Canberra College of Advanced Education (CCAE) from the 1968-78 era.
Greg Jones, a current staff member and librarianship graduate from ‘73, is looking forward to reminiscing with his old friends.
“It will be an opportunity to catch up with former classmates, some of whom became staff of the university, whilst others I haven’t seen in over 30 years,” he said.
Mr Jones attended the “Vice-Chancellor’s Foundation Dinner” for the 30th anniversary and has continued to work on campus, currently as director of audit and governance in the legal office.
“So the party continues…” he said.
In addition to the reunions for various groups of alumni, a variety of other activities will be held during the 40th celebrations over the next three months – including a series of lectures and debates, the launch of new courses in urban planning and cultural heritage, an awards ceremony to recognise the achievements of staff, a creative competition for local schools, and of course the annual
Open Day on Saturday, August 30.
An exhibition of the university’s extensive art collection will be on display at the in-house design gallery from September 3 to 17, followed by a heritage exhibition of old photographs, original architectural plans and other memorabilia, from September 24.
University of Canberra art curator Charlene Smith hopes that the Canberra community will take the opportunity to see some of the highlights of the collection displayed together.
“The university has an extensive and impressive art collection with paintings, sculptures and works on paper from some of Australia and Canberra’s best-known artists such as Sidney Nolan, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Margaret Olley, and Garry Shead.
“This exhibition will allow the public to see works that are usually housed in offices or conference rooms. I think people will be pleasantly surprised at the quality and diversity of our collection.”
Both current and former staff, students and alumni are invited to attend the “University of Canberra Reunion Dinner”, to be held in the refectory on October 18.
The 40th anniversary celebrations will end on a high with Stone Day, where old traditions will be re-visited nad the foundation stone re-dedicated. Stonefest promises to be bigger and better than ever, and patrons are advised to keep an eye out for tickets and a band line-up due out soon.
Check out the website – http://www.canberra.edu.au/40 – to see the full calendar of events, update your details with the alumni office, register to attend a function or see if you can spot anyone you know in the gallery of photos from the last 40 years.