College Functions
Formal Dinners
Commencement Dinner - This is our first official Formal Dinner of the year. It is a time where we acknowledge the academic efforts of those students from the previous year across all faculties. Scholarships are awarded to those who excel in their chosen area of study and others who performed at a credit average or above are awarded with a medallion and a certificate of excellence. It is wonderful to see everyone in their formal gear, celebrating their fellow students.
D H Drummond Dinner – This is an annual formal dinner that recognises the contributions made by D H Drummond to secure a regional teachers college in Armidale. It is from here that the University became existent as the teachers college outgrew its capacity as an institution, hence the creation of the University of New England. With special guest speaker, the Hon. Richard Torbay in 2007, the dinner commemorates the person for which the college was originally named.
Christmas in July – HO HO HO! Let’s celebrate with a delicious formal dinner with a roast and Christmas pudding. Held in D’Week, Christmas in July is all about giving. Secret Santa names are given out to all those who wish to participate. It isn’t about getting an expensive present, just $5 or $10 will do to find a present worth a laugh. Santa will be there in all his glory to hand out the presents from under the Christmas tree.
Sporties – This function is a formal dinner which recognises the achievements of individuals in both men’s and women’s sport as well as our cultural side of the college. Students are awarded trophies, medallions and certificates for being involved in the different sports and cultural events. Sportsman, Sportswoman and Cultural person of the year are awarded at the end of the dinner.
Valedicts – It is time to say goodbye to those who have completed their degree. A formal dinner is held to congratulate their academic success and to farewell our graduates. Valedictorians are presented with a gift of appreciation from the principal for their studious efforts over the past years. Also at the dinner, the college person of the year will be announced along with the Gil Macpherson award for outstanding achievements in the cultural aspects of the college.
Ball
Ball – Drummond and Smith's Annual Ball is our most formal occasion. The afternoon is spent getting ready for the greatest night of the year. Girls get the hair done and their nails done (usually by other girls at College), dresses swap hands, boys iron their shirts and shine their shoes. Most people catch the bus to the function, but for the lucky ticket holder 6 friends travel to ball in style. They are treated to a Limousine ride with champagne and great company. Everyone enjoys dinner and dessert while listening to a live band and getting photos taken with the professional photographer. Don’t forget that you will need to get up at 9am the next day for Recovery.
Ball Recovery – After a night out for Ball, it is time to get up for a day of fun. Everyone can relax in the sunny courtyard and listen to the college band. There's the kiddies paddling pool and a jumping castle, snacks and drinks on a wonderful lazy afternoon.
Competitive fun
Dogs Day – There are two parts to this function. The first part is a game of paintball played out at the venue. With two teams going head to head, they must complete the tasks and overcome the enemy. Try and work together to be the number one team because if you make a wrong move, then you may come away with some war wounds. The second part is a unique experience shared by the whole college. We venture out to Echidna Gully by bus where we are met by beverages, a giant BBQ, a bonfire and karaoke. Always a GREAT night enjoyed by all.
Seniors – Another inter-floor competition to see who has the capability to best dress their floor to the chosen theme. Each floor will decide on a theme and will begin the transformation into something that could resemble: Melbourne Cup, Under the Sea, Medi-evil, or the jungle etc. With surprises around every corner, beware of your rival floors trying to do what ever it takes to win.
More dress-up fun
Casino Night – Dress to impress with your op shop best and travel to Vegas for some serious betting. Go to the different stations and lay down your monopoly money to get the highest possible amount. At the end of night there is an Auction. Those with the most monopoly money have the greater chance of winning the secret prizes. You may lucky enough to win a great prize, auction your money wisely as the wrong bet could mean the difference between a good and a bad prize.
O'Week – O’Week is designed to welcome our first year students. A week full of fun before the rest of the college students return for another year. Full of dress up parties, games, Back to School night scavenger hunts and a progressive reverse formal dinner; O’Week is a fun way to meet everyone and learn your way around College.
Each year the traditional Thunderbolts function allows everyone to dress up in their rural outfits and have a great day of activities.
D'Week – The beginning of semester 2 brings along another week full of functions. Similar to O’Week, D’Week comprises of 5 separate functions. The first is Mad Hatters, Tuesday and Friday night are dress up functions. Wednesday is the Drummond and Smith Mini-Olympics. Events include egg throwing, potato sack races, egg and spoon races, husband and wife carrying and much more. Thursday night is Christmas in July with a very special visit from Santa to hand out the secret Santa presents while having a delicious roast formal dinner.
But wait, there's more!
Suitcase party – Everyone wants to win this….. Raffle tickets are sold to college members to enter a draw to win a holiday to a secret destination. The winning ticket will be able to take one friend on an all expenses paid holiday. No one knows where the trip is to; the winner has to pack their bags and is informed of their destination as they board their travel. A weekend away for the price of a raffle ticket, not bad!
UNE Open day - Spend all day walking around the residential colleges at the best University ever. Get hold of the freebies and experience what it would be like to live in Drummond and Smith. You will be shown around to see for yourself why you should live at our College during your degree.
Melbourne Cup – It is that time of the year where the whole nation stops in its tracks to watch the most prestigious horse race in our country. The college celebrates by holding three separate sweepstakes and having a few drinks while watching the big race. Join everyone else in the GB room and gaze at the big screen TV to determine if you are the winner of either sweepstake to take home the money.