Rod Gerber remembered in light-filled meeting room

February 22, 2008

Memories of Rod Gerber, a loved and respected former Dean at the University of New England who died last year, will be kept alive in a UNE meeting room named in his honour.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, officially opened the Rod Gerber Meeting Room on Monday at a function attended by members of the Gerber family, former colleagues, students and friends, and representatives of the Armidale community including the Mayor, Councillor Peter Ducat.

The focal point of the meeting room is a striking portrait of Professor Gerber painted by local artist Don Gentle and donated by the Gerber family to the University. Elegantly furnished, the room (in Professor Pettigrew's words) "attests to the elegance of the man".

Professor Gerber was Dean of UNE's Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies from 1995 to 2002. Internationally recognised as a leader in the field of geography education, he is remembered by his colleagues and students as both "inspiring" and "compassionate".

"Rod had a very personal approach," said UNE's Professor Victor Minichiello in his introduction to Monday's proceedings, "and a lot of people were touched by that. He was a very generous leader." Professor Minichiello, who is Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the newly-formed Faculty of The Professions, said that many of the decisions taken by Professor Gerber had contributed to the strength of the new Faculty.

Professor Pettigrew welcomed Rod Gerber's wife Michelle, son Andrew, and daughters Elizabeth and Catherine. He said the enduring partnership between the University and the Gerber family was represented not only by the meeting room and the portrait, but also by the family's provision of an annual scholarship: the Rod Gerber Memorial Scholarship for a Higher Degree Research Student in the Faculty of The Professions.

"Thank you for allowing us to honour Rod in this way," he said.

Andrew Gerber thanked the University for dedicating the room in his father's memory. "It gives us great pride to see the portrait of Dad displayed in a room such as this," he said.

The Rod Gerber Meeting Room is a light-filled room on the top floor of the Education Building, Faculty of The Professions. The portrait of Professor Gerber is pictured here.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at February 22, 2008 10:31 AM