Thousands expected to return for Centenary reunion weekend

Thousands of past students and staff from all over Australia and the globe, including Governor-General Dr Quentin Bryce AC and Dr David Malouf AO, are planning their return to The University of Queensland for the Centenary Alumni Reunion weekend on July 2-4.

Included in the weekend’s program is a Carnival in the Great Court, which is open free to the public, and will feature live music, a reunion meeting hub, international food stalls, kids’ activities and sports demonstrations.

Director of Alumni and Community Relations, Ms Lea Sublett, said the weekend provided the perfect opportunity for alumni to reminisce about their university days, and to help re-establish their old network of friends.

“UQ alumni are part of a network of over 180,000 people, living and working in over 150 countries,” Ms Sublett said.

“The Centenary Reunion Weekend presents an opportunity to celebrate and honour this network of highly successful people, and to find out how our diverse community of alumni will impact our second century.”

Ms Sublett also said that despite the weekend being about alumni, the community was invited to enjoy the public events.

“UQ alumni have made valuable contributions to the lives of many in local, national and international communities, so it’s only fitting that members of the public join in as we celebrate the success of our graduates, plus our current and former students and staff,” she said.

Other events and activities open to the public are a lecture at 12pm by the University’s Global Change Institute Director, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg , a special talk at 1pm by alumnus Mr Graeme Wood, co-founder of Wotif.com, plus tours of the Queensland Brain Institute, a public debate on the sustainability of Australian mines and the popular Alumni Friends Book Fair.

Since its official inception in 1910, UQ has grown into one of the top 50 universities in the world with over 40,000 students across 3 main campuses and over 45 research and teaching sites.

Notable graduates of UQ include Academy-Award winner Geoffrey Rush, former Australian Wallabies captain John Eales and Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC.

More information: www.alumni.uq.edu.au/reunionweekend

Media: Claire Corones, Alumni Relations Communications Officer (07 3346 3908, c.corones@uq.edu.au)