Final UQ Senate ushers in new century

Members of UQ’s 31st Senate and special guests reflected on the original intentions of The University of Queensland’s forefathers and anticipated the next 100 years at the final 2009 UQ Senate meeting on Thursday December 10.

To mark the imminent start of UQ’s Centenary in 2010, the final meeting was held in The Red Chamber at Parliament House, Brisbane, and included congratulatory speeches from Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley.

Other guests included Queensland University of Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake, Central Queensland University Chancellor Mr Rennie Fritschy, and former UQ Vice-Chancellors Professor Emeritus Brian Wilson and Professor Emeritus John Hay.

UQ’s Chancellor Mr John Story opened the meeting and quoted William Kidston, the Queensland Premier of 1909, about the aspirations of UQ:

"I would have the Senate always remember that it was the desire of our people that inspired the crowning of our educational system by the establishment of a University, that in very truth the Queensland University is 'of the people’."

The Senate and guests then enjoyed a re-enactment of extracts from the debate of The University of Queensland Bill, taken from the transcripts of parliamentary proceedings, Hansard.

The Red Chamber was the site of these debates, 100 years ago, when it was home to the Legislative Council.

After the meeting, members of the UQ Senate and invited guests convened in the Parliamentary Annexe Speakers’ Hall for a celebratory dinner.

During dinner, UQ’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield anticipated that UQ would continue to have a great impact on global communities.

“Kidston held that whilst not everyone could have the privilege of attending or directly sharing the advantages of a university, the whole community should benefit from it,” he said.

“The ‘whole community’ no longer means the people of Queensland – it is Australians and people the world over.”

To view additional photos from the evening and watch the official proceedings,
visit the Centenary website.