Reunion reports - 2005

1975 Graduates meet to celebrate thirty years - August 2005

In August 2005, the graduating class of 1975 held its 30 year reunion. It was perhaps the best of the three reunions held thus far. It succeeded in recapturing the atmosphere of the lecture theatres we last occupied together so many years ago!

There was meeting and greeting. There was exchange of news amongst old friends who had not seen each other for some time but whom, nevertheless, retained that strong bond of friendship and shared experience that binds us together as a group. There was banter; there were reminiscences; there were tall stories. Legends were re-told and strengthened in the telling. Graduates came from near and far. The food and wine were incidental to the spirit of the evening, as no social lubricants were required (which is not to say that no-one overindulged!).

What were the essential elements of the evening? The graduates were the heart and soul, of course, and a good turn out was the first factor. Over 50% of the year attended. The venue was important. We were at the Australian Jockey Club in a room we had to ourselves, where we could mingle and table hop and stand or sit as we pleased. The staff were tolerant as they served the food. There was a microphone where the extroverted could share their memories with the room if they so desired. No lecturer came to disrupt the flow of conversation! The function was restricted to graduates only, an important element in setting the scene and recapturing the spirit of Bosch lecture theatres circa 1974.

The centrepiece of the evening was the roll call, a feature established at the 20 year reunion, in which a microphone is passed around the tables from person to person, allowing each one to reintroduce himself or herself to the others with name, and a little personal history or an anecdote. (How did our year produce so many psychiatrists? Professor Madison, take a bow!) We heard of the graduates with the most marriages, the most children and the most fascinating career changes. What surprises is the diversity of interests and experiences encompassed by our group who yet retain the bonds of friendship and the over riding history of those remarkable and life-changing experiences afforded us by the six years we spent as undergraduates.

As the reunion came to an end, I think many of those present would have wished that it were not to be 10 years until the next, but perhaps the 10 year interval is what lends to each reunion its piquancy.

I cannot report upon the 30 year reunion without acknowledging and thanking the organiser for his sterling efforts and the inspiration of the venue and the format of the evening. Alan Stern, take a bow, you have earned the right to organise the 40 year reunion!

So, my friends see you all in 10 years. May you look as well in 2015 as you did last year and may the next 10 years treat you as kindly as the last 30 have done. None of you looked a day older!

“So here’s to all our lecturers, those worthy men and true,
Although they didn’t teach us much,
They taught us all they knew!”

Medical Faculty song – fragment (with deep respect)

Christopher Borton


A note from the organiser Alan Stern
Please remember to stay in touch and send me any changes to your email address. If you haven’t sent me your email address, please do so to medreunion75@yahoo.com.au Website and notice board coming soon.