Comments on: First graduating class of 1970 celebrates 50 years

By: Jackie Gent

Jackie Gent — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:31:54 +0000

Dear Dr Cogger

We have updated the story to reflect this and are grateful to you for pointing it out.

Many thanks
Alumni Relations

By: Hal Cogger

Hal Cogger — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 01:38:03 +0000

Having been there, I found this feature brought back many pleasant memories of my time at Macquarie and the joys of working in those early biology labs.. However I’m a wee bit miffed at being written out of the story of the University’s first graduation ceremony in March 1970. I recollect that I was one of the University’s first and only two PhDs awarded at that ceremony, and, through an alphabetical accident, I was also the first to have my degree conferred by the Chancellor. I certainly don’t claim any precedence over Dr Kirby, but in any historical account of that first ceremony I would have hoped that my doctorate, as one of only two conferred on the day, might rate a statistical mention! C’est la vie.

By: Kathleen Warren

Kathleen Warren — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 01:14:26 +0000

While I was not in the group that graduated in 1970 I was a member of the first intake in 1967 but being part time took longer to complete my degree. A years after my graduation I joined the staff of the School of Education as a tutor (later senior tutor) . I moved from Macquarie to a lecturing position at a CAE but a few years later when tertiary institutions were amalgamating I returned to Macquarie as a lecturer ( then senior lecturer) in the newly established School Early Childhood where I remained until my retirement having completed an MA(hons) and later the degree Doctor of Education. Later stil I was appointed to the Macquarie University Governing Council
I have many warm memories of my connection with the university!

By: Joanne Blissenden

Joanne Blissenden — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:02:51 +0000

I was excited to see this article celebrating 50 years since the first graduation. I have the exact original graduation booklet, address and tickets belonging to my dear Dad who passed away in 2012. He was 40 years old with a young family, working as a Maths Master at Normanhurst Boys High (followed by a career in academia lecturing in Mathematics) and completing his Master of Science part-time. Francis William Morgan is listed as a Master of Science graduate in the School of Mathematics and Physics.This was a wonderful achievement,

Since Dad’s graduation on 21st March 1970, I graduated for Macquarie on 6th May 1987 with a Bachelor of Economics.

Once again on 14th April 2016, my son, Frank’s grandson graduated, Thomas William Blissenden graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with the Bachelor of Laws with honours.

We are fortunate to have had three generations graduate from Macquarie and look forward to future possibilities…….

Thanks again I enjoyed the article.

Joanne Blissenden