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Premier re-dedicates UNE building for community

May 11, 2005

Bob CarrNSW Premier Bob Carr today re-dedicated The University of New England’s CB Newling Building as a cultural and educational facility for the local community. More than 100 people attended the event, which also marked the official opening of the New England Conservatorium of Music.

In his speech the Premier spoke of the important role the Newling Building had played in the establishment of The University of New England, and in opening up higher education to people in rural NSW. He said he was delighted to be re-opening a building that “symbolises for so many the aspirations of the Armidale community”, and that he hoped it would once more become a “driving force” in the region.

“I’m glad to say the NSW government has been behind the project from day one,” he said.

Professor Ingrid Moses, Vice-Chancellor of UNE, thanked the Premier for lending his support to the idea, first mooted in 1997. “UNE has created a strategic alliance to use the building with the New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM), TAFE NSW and the UNE School of Music,” Professor Moses said.

One of the users of the CB Newling Building is NECOM, which the Premier officially opened during his visit. The aim of NECOM, an idea first conceived in 2001, was to develop a “conservatorium without walls”, and this has been achieved with spectacular success. In the past 12 months, NECOM has grown to provide 37 Music Educator Members to 981 students in individual lessons. There are a number of other users of the CB Newling Building. UNE is responsible for its care, control and management.

Initially established in 1928 as Armidale Teachers’ College, the building was preserved by the efforts of the Friends of the Old Teachers' College, formed in 1997. The Friends raised over $250,000 through fund-raising campaigns and submissions to government, and this money was used to refurnish the auditorium, to re-equip it with sound and lighting systems, and to provide fire protection for the whole building. Further restoration work has been due to UNE selling a parcel of land connected to the building in 2003. The sale raised $1.2 million, and this has been used to redevelop parts of the building, allowing the community greater access to it.

During his visit to the CB Newling Building, Mr Carr enjoyed performances by the New England Singers and the Cantilena Singers. He also observed young children getting their first taste of music in the Mini Minstrels Early Childhood Music program, which introduces the fun of music to children as young as four months. The Premier also observed a high-tech trumpet lesson, given to a student in Tenterfield via video-link. The Turkish Delight Ensemble farewelled the Premier and his entourage.

A photograph is available to accompany this story. For more information contact Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at May 11, 2005 09:43 AM