Dawn Ibbotson. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
More than 600 University of Otago alumni, including their
oldest peer, gathered together to attend an alumni event in
Dunedin on Saturday.
Dawn Ibbotson (96) graduated from the university in 1936 with
a bachelor in home science.
She was "very honoured" to be singled out at the event, the
first to be run in Dunedin for more than 10 years, and she
made it clear she was "proud to be a graduate".
"I think it's a very special place. It's great to look back
on my time here," she said.
Also reflecting on his memories of studying at Otago was
Chris Laidlaw.
The Rhodes Scholar and ex-All Black captain shared with the
group the "dramas over mixed-flatting in the 1960s", duck
hunting on the Water of Leith, and his "most triumphant
memory" of being "in charge of the booze" for Capping Week.
The event, one of the largest in the university's history,
also doubled as an opportunity for former graduates to meet
new vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne.
She said the function, which included a performance by
Dunedin band The Verlaines, was like "a party for my friends"
because she knew so many people in the crowd.
The alumni consisted of such a wide range of people, who had
gone on to do many different things, and she was proud that
they "actually care enough about [the university] to come
back".
"Although this is a school... what makes a university
different is that you are also trying to instil good
citizenship, in the university, and in the world, and when I
look at the list of alumni of the University of Otago, who
have scattered to the winds, we are continuing to do a good
job of it," she said.
- ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
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