Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This year the University of Newcastle is celebrating its 50th year of autonomy and last Thursday evening I had the pleasure of opening 'Our Community, Your University', an exhibition at the Newcastle Museum. Over its 50 years, the university has helped to inform our city's transformation and has helped Newcastle realise our potential.

The exhibition highlights the university's success and outlines a vision for its future. Spanning an impressive 40 lineal metres, it is divided into four sections. The first is 'Celebrating our community', which marks the milestones in the university's and Newcastle's history, including the establishment of the now internationally renowned medical school, the life-changing enabling programs and the Wollotuka Institute. The second section is 'Celebrating our leaders', which is an honour roll of founders, today's researchers and professional leaders, students and community leaders who have contributed to the world-class institution the university is today. 'Celebrating our graduates' is a graduate wall, comprising images and stories of 240 graduates. The final section is 'Celebrating our future', a wonderful opportunity for visitors to contribute their ideas about their vision for the university of the future.

I can also proudly advise the House that the future of the university and our city took a further step forward on Friday, with the turning of the sod at the new inner city campus—thanks to $30 million of funding from the former Labor government. Congratulations to all involved.