Alumni reunions might not get any more nostalgic than this – with a group of 90+ year-olds revisiting UNSW Sydney this week to celebrate an astonishing seven decades since they all graduated.
The six alumni are surviving members of a cohort of 17 who were some of the first to graduate from the School of Electrical Engineering way back in 1955.
Two additional former students were unfortunately not able to attend due to medical reasons.
Amazingly, the alumni have all still kept in touch regularly ever since and even created their own walking group, nicknamed the Wobbly Walkers, around the time they all retired more than 20 years ago.
The UNSW alumni were treated to a tour of the campus and a special lunch to celebrate the extraordinary milestone, hosted by the Dean of Engineering Professor Julien Epps, and the current Head of the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunication Professor Jinhong Yuan.
Back in 1955, Australia’s first commercial television network, Channel 9, had only just been launched, while the microchip was still three years away from being developed.
At UNSW, it wasn’t until 1956 that the first digital computer was installed – a single machine specially imported from England which took up most of a whole room in the University’s Main Building.
Prof. Epps said: “We were thrilled and delighted to welcome back such an esteemed group of electrical engineering alumni to UNSW.
“I know their pioneering spirit and dedication, starting all the way back in 1955 when they graduated, laid the groundwork for a host of impactful contributions during their long careers.
“This group have such a wealth of knowledge and experience and it was fascinating to speak with them and to hear their stories about what life was like as a student at UNSW 70 years and more ago.
“It was a joy and privilege to celebrate this group’s achievements and to see their camaraderie, and the lifelong bond they have made with each other, and with the University.”
The members of the veteran group are all actually older than UNSW itself, with the university recently celebrating its 75-year anniversary having been founded in 1949.
Geoff Stutchbury, one of the returning alumni, presented handmade badges to Prof. Epps and Prof. Yuan at the lunch event to welcome them as honorary members of the Wobbly Walkers.
The special lunch was also attended by current electrical engineering students, and Geoff was fascinated to speak with them and discover what they now learn compared to what he studied back in the early 1950s.
“The whole world was completely different back then, not just in terms of electrical engineering, so I was so interested to find out what is being taught nowadays,” he said.
“We didn’t have all these computers like they do now. I just think of all the amazing things I could have done back in those days if I’d have had one.
“Back in the 1950s I was involved with transformers and we used to have them impulse voltage tested which more or less meant firing at the coils with the equivalent of a bolt of lightning to see how it fared, so it was all a bit primitive!”
Gordon Sharpe, another of the 1955 UNSW graduates, says he is thankful that a small group of strangers he first met more than 70 years ago have become such wonderful lifelong friends.
“I could never have believed at that time that these people would become some of the best friends, and most respected colleagues, I would ever have,” he said.
“We were just young men back then, so we grew up together, got to know each other’s girlfriends who then became wives. We’ve been to each other’s weddings, we know each other’s children and grandkids and we’ve all just got on so well together as a group.
“It’s been such a lovely situation and it’s like having a second family who all support each other.
“Coming back to the university commemorates that, but for me it’s also about looking forward to the future.
“I’ve heard about UNSW’s Progress for All strategy, and that's also what I’m interested in – knowing what people here are doing in relation to helping society and also helping develop current students who will be the ones trying to solve the big challenges and issues ahead in the next 70 years.”
Key Facts:
UNSW Sydney electrical engineering alumni commemorated after making a special return to campus.
Contact details:
Neil Martin, News & Content Coordinator, UNSW Engineering
email: [email protected]
