Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton with Professors Emeriti Simon Turner (left) and Peter Nelson (right), from the School of Natural Sciences

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They are an integral part of the University’s history, having taught thousands of Macquarie graduates, collectively published thousands of papers, initiated now-flourishing partnerships and established disciplines for which we are now renowned.

Forty-two of the University’s professors emeriti were welcomed back to campus earlier this month, for a morning tea at the Macquarie University Art Gallery hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton. Several other members of the executive were in attendance, with the event emceed by Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Taryn Jones.

“I feel an enormous sense of pride and gratitude to be with you today,” the Vice-Chancellor told the emeriti. “We could not be where we are today without your intellectual rigour; your expertise in the classroom, in the lab, and in the field; and your contribution to the social fabric that makes Macquarie University such a wonderful place to be.”

L-R: Professor Rorden Wilkinson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Patrick McNeil, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Medicine and Health) and Professor Emerita Zada Lipman (Macquarie Law School)

With the emeriti having experienced many changes in the higher education sector during their careers, there was much discussion of the Australian Universities Accord and its anticipated impacts. And, not surprisingly, many emeriti noted the ongoing transformation of Wallumattagal Campus, including the impressive 1 Central Courtyard and soon-to-be-completed Michael Kirby Building.

L-R: Professors Emeriti Gabrielle Meagher (School of Social Sciences) and Vijaya Nagarajan (Macquarie Law School) with the Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor with Professor Emeritus Richie Howitt (School of Social Sciences)

Professors Emeriti Ross Street and William Chen (School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences)

Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) with Professor Emerita Pamela Peters (Department of Linguistics)

The Vice-Chancellor with Professors Emeriti John Lechte (School of Social Sciences), Nick Mansfield (MCCALL) and John Stephens (MCCALL)