Celebrating 50 Years
Duval College – VIVIMUS VIVAMUS2009 will be the celebration of our 50th year. So much remains the same and yet, as one would expect, so much has changed. What a truly great privilege it has been to have had the wonderful longevity to work with so many people at such a defining time in their lives.
We have decided to take a ‘trip down memory lane’ and have chosen the weekend of 18 – 20 September to hold a ‘back to Duval’ extravaganza.
I would warmly invite you to gather up as many of your contemporaries as you can and come join us for this time. We will be encouraging everyone to select their favourite ‘old room’ – (perhaps back to room preferences, only hopefully post the numerous buckets of water!). Sadly, I can assure you that the bathrooms remain all but the same so there are very limited ‘en suites’! If you would prefer to organise other accommodation, this is the link to the Armidale Visitor Information Centre: http://www.armidaletourism.com.au/accommodation.asp
We will do our very best to encourage as many of the former catering and cleaning staff to join us at the Dinner on Saturday night (Anne Haydon, Barbara Johnson, June Haynes and ‘Normie’ Hyatt from the dining hall staff all live relatively close by, as do many of our former house staff–Pat Creagan, Denise Mason, and Helen Stace just to name a few). For almost two decades Sally Stratton was part of the team which was as much part of the institution as the College itself. I am really delighted to say that Sally will also be here in Armidale to help celebrate this weekend of much festivity.
The current President of our Senior Common Room is Kay Hempsall (late 70’s). We are also lucky to have other former Collegians; Christine Perrott (Ewing), Jennifer Miller (Walters) and Lynette McLean (Downie) remaining active members. Jason Wall is our Assistant Principal–and Jason covers the past decade of Duvalians.
For those who were passionate about the ‘car parking’–there will be plenty of that available during the reunion weekend but the boom gate has been lifted on a permanent basis as students and staff now have to purchase annual parking tickets.
Whilst we have a long list of our alumni, many people have been lost to us by virtue of all the expected reasons. If you can help us to connect with former residents then please would you encourage any of your contemporaries to make contact and provide us with their updated information. Most importantly, tell as many former Collegians as you can about this weekend and encourage as many people to make this as a special commitment and help celebrate our first fifty years.
I do believe that news is already filtering out there in the ‘real world’ about our celebrations as Jenny Miller and I have already received quite a number of emails from former Collegians. Above all–we so much want to make this a HUGE celebration and we so much want to have the ‘historical facts’ become realities–not just memories……and to do this we need you to be part of this special weekend. I sincerely hope you will be able to make it a priority.
With my warmest best wishes.
Sincerely, Edwina Ridgway, Principal
Reunion updates: http://alumni.une.edu.au/event/duval50
Give us your word: http://alumni.une.edu.au/surveys/?id=Duval_College_History
Proposed Program
RSVP: Friday, 28 August 2009Program of activities (There will be a copy of this program in your registration satchel.)| Friday, 18 Sept | From 6.00 pm | Registration and buffet dinner | Duval Conference Centre and Duval College dining room | Bring your photos and stories! |
| Sat, 19 Sept | From 9.00 am | Registration | Duval Conference Centre | |
| 10.00 am | UNE Campus walking tour | Map in your registration satchel | Start at Booloominbah for a self-guided walk around campus (weather permitting) | |
| 10.00 am | Blue Hole walk | Oxley Wild Rivers National Park | Meet at JCR to co-ordinate travel (weather permitting) | |
| From 12.00 | Lunch | Make own arrangements | Cafes and pubs in town (Impies is the 2009 College pub) | |
| 1.00-3.00 pm | Archaeological dig | Site of the “Duval” huts up top | Find out what evidence is left of those early “second women’s college” days. Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty are required. | |
| 2.00-2.30 pm | Booloominbah tour | Booloominbah | Meet at the Booloominbah car park. | |
| 2.30-4.30 pmVarious starting times | Duval Challenge | Sport UNE | Get a team of 4 together for some indoor team sports. Prizes to be awarded. Sports shoes required. | |
| 6.00 pm -1.00 am | Reunion dinner and ball | Duval College Dining Room | Formal dress. Cost includes pre-dinner drinks, hors d’oeuvres, two course meal and entertainment. | |
| Sun, 20 Sept | From 8-10.30 am | Breakfast | Duval College dining room | The café will be open for breakfast (own cost if your accommodation is other than in college) |
| From 10.30 am | NE Winery tour | Make own arrangements | Visit the newest designated wine region in Australia. Brochure included in your satchel. |
Presidents of Duval
Year | Fname | Family Name | Maiden Name | Year | Fname | Family Name | Maiden Name |
| 66 | Joan | Wilkinson | McMullen | 88 | Peter | Lewis | |
| 67 | Wendy | Wilkinson | 89 | Bradley | Denham | ||
| 68 | Helen | Langley | 90 | Peter | Harden | ||
| 69 | Gwendolyn | Gordon | Bull | 91 | Alan | Hogge | |
| 70 | Susan | Moloney | 92 | Benjamin | Hawke | ||
| 70 | Margaret | Clarke | Morrow | 93 | Matthew | Ryan | |
| 71 | Sandra | Reilly | Beacham | 94 | Andrew | Hutton | |
| 72 | Julie | Cruice | Ferris | 95 | Michael | Cowled | (deceased) |
| 73 | Sally | Hall | Reddall | 96 | John | Prentice | |
| 74 | Janet | Redman | Playfair | 97 | Martin | Ruggeri | |
| 75 | Kay | Petherbridge | 98 | Penny | Simpson | ||
| 76 | Mary | Grace | 99 | Leith | Tilley | ||
| 77 | John | Bruce-Smith | 00 | Gregory | Noonan | ||
| 78 | Lou | Martel | Capel | 01 | Andrew | Gahan | |
| 79 | David | Ward | 02 | Stephen | Coyle | ||
| 80 | Brigitte | Ward | Vella | 03 | Philip | Rodgers | |
| 81 | Alan | Ball | 04 | Ben | Quast | ||
| 82 | Ross | Fulloon | 05 | Erin | Worboys | ||
| 83 | Ian | Robertson | 06 | Matt | Fraser | ||
| 84 | Bronwyn | Glyde | Trainor | 07 | Jarrad | Smith | |
| 85 | Geoffrey | Melville | 08 | Felicity | Squires | ||
| 86 | Tina | Mcpherson | miles | 09 | Paul | Moffatt | |
| 87 | Gary | Cox |
Costs
Registration and payment (Please note you can register and pay online at: alumni.une.edu.au/event/duval50)| EVENT | COST/PERSON |
| Registration fee | $10 (non refundable) |
| Friday night buffet | $25 + Cash Bar |
| UNE Campus walking tour | free |
| Blue Hole walk | free |
| Archaeological dig | free |
| Booloominbah tour | free |
| Duval Challenge | $5/person |
| Saturday night reunion dinner and ball | $80 + Cash Bar |
| College accommodation - Bed and Breakfast (Due to anticipated numbers, College accommodation will not be suitable for children) | $20/night |
Memorable Merchandise
| SIZE | COST | |
| Canterbury jersey Duval College anniversary | XS | $70 |
| S | $70 | |
| M | $70 | |
| L | $70 | |
| XL | $70 | |
| 2XL | $70 | |
| 3XL | $70 | |
| 4XL | $70 | |
| Child 2, 4 or 6 | $55 | |
| Child 8, 10 or 12 | $55 | |
| Archaeological dig T shirt | S | $10 |
| M | $10 | |
| L | $10 | |
| XL | $10 |