A record Armidale snowstorm failed to chill the warm reception and hospitality Rural Science graduates enjoyed when celebrating their 35-year UNE reunion last weekend.
Nor did the freezing temperatures prevent a brief campus tour and visit to UNE’s acclaimed livestock methane mitigation research facility, guided by Professor Fran Cowley.
“Visiting this world-class facility was a real thrill for the group of 26 who attended the reunion,” said one of the organisers Rob Lawrence, a beef cattle nutrition consultant and graduate of 1994.
“A Rural Science degree from UNE remains a premier qualification and it was impressive to see where it had taken our cohort.”
Among the returning alumni were people who now work in technical and production roles across beef cattle nutrition, wine-making, feedlot management, dairying, agronomy, farming, the live export industry, renewable energy, soils and regenerative agriculture.
Image: Rural Science class of 1994/95
“Our UNE education has equipped us to pursue diverse careers. We are serving on boards and peak body organisations and participating in research teams that make a significant contribution to our respective industries,” Rob said.
Penny Milson, a fellow organiser with Grant Garey and Charlie Culley, married Rob 20 years after studying Science at UNE. She said alumni and their partners travelled from as far afield as Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland to attend the reunion and several now have children studying at UNE.
“It was a terrific weekend, although many of us had to take the scenic route home after snow closed the New England Highway,” Penny said. “Our time together at UNE was so special and a quiz over lunch generated great memories and much laughter – reminding us of who lectured in Biochemistry 220 and even what cars we drove back then.”
The weekend’s celebrations centred around a long lunch at The Cottage Bar and Restaurant and an evening at The Welder’s Dog.
