UQ Gatton Past Students Association Inc

HISTORY OF THE STUDENT UNIONQueensland Agricultural College

UQ Gatton Past Students Association Inc. 2009 OMCGatton-167/Oct09 (14)

QAC Student Union Council 1967

Back row (left to right): EG Spry, KA Shaw, PB OSullivan, LJ Coghill, LA Freeman, HG Debney, DF Power

Middle row: BM Everton, PA Keating, GD Roberts-Thomson, PF Mannion, GL Campbell, PJ Goodwin, DL Stent, RJ ORourke

Front row: BE Watson, Mr DJ Paterson (Farm Manager), JE Bee, DG Nissen, Mr NW Briton (Principal), Mr RJ Talbot (Lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry), DG Stewart

With the formation of the new QAC Student Union in 1967, the Prefect System which commenced in 1926 and which had functioned up to and including 1966, was discontinued.

The 1967 Queensland Agricultural College Annual Report stated that The Foundation of the QAC Student Union may well prove to be one of the most signifi cnt events of 1967. The constitution of the Union as adopted early in the year, resulted from considerable research into the constitutions and functions of Unions in operation at a large number of other tertiary institutions, including Universities and Colleges of Advanced Education.

Membership was open to both staff and students and also to interested past students. Membership offered opportunities for a desirable degree of educational maturity and for a closer liaison between all members of the College community.

Electing members...Members of the Union Council, totalling 25, were elected in accordance with the provisions of the constitution at the initial general elections conducted towards the end of the fi rst term. These elections resulted in the following membership of the Foundation Council:

President: DG Nissen, Senior Vice President: J McNee, Junior Vice President: J Bee, Treasurer: BE Watson, Secretary: DG Stewart

Councillors were also elected to represent the students of the various courses in Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Rural Technology, Poultry Technology, and Food Manufacturing & Technology

Mr RJ Talbot QDH, B.Agr.Sc., Lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry and Mr DJ Paterson QDAH, Farm Manager, were elected as representatives of the Staff Association.

Theoptice the magazine produced by the Union derived its name from the two words Theory and Practice.

1967 D.G. Nissen President QAC Student Union

2008 2009 UQ Gatton Student Association Committee

Front row (left to right): Pam Benton, Jessie McMahon, Pip Hodgson

Middle row: Tom Ferguson, Angus Boileau, Tom Crothers

Back row: Heidi Mitchell, Sophie Hynes

(Absent: Kimberly Lund, William Gall, Trudi Picton, Brodie Quinn)

Th e Association now...The 2008/2009 UQ Gatton Student Association provides social and sporting activities and also undercover car parks for on-Campus students and staff and has been responsible for the running of the Lawes Campus Club Raging Bull Bar.

The Executive Committee continued to use the Association offi ce under Morrison Hall for regular meetings and provided a means of liasion between the University Administration and the Student body.

Achievements of the Union as noted by President DG Nissen in his 1967 Report

Introduction of use of cars to College for students

Dining Hall dress standards modifi ed to make them more convenient and practical

Special organized night leave arrangements for second year Diploma and Certifi cate students under the age of 18

Three editions of Theoptice published. Nine copies to be produced from 1968 onwards

Inaugural ball held at Riverside ballroom in Brisbane on 2nd September

Future Ideas for the Council

Identity cards

Membership fees to be raised from $2 to $5

Various associated bodies to be formed in conjunction with other unions and youth organisations

plan to take over the running of the College sporting committee

approach the College and Education Authorities on the matter of the length of the weekly timetable

convince staff and students that this is a period of change old fashioned boarding school ideas no longer have a place in any tertiary institution

The Union cannot rest on its laurels. It must go forward; but it can only do this if members of the Union are willing to join in and give of their time and of their ideas.

1992 was the 25th term of offi ce of the Students Association. Meetings of the Association Council were held monthly and all students were welcome to attend. The Executive Committee held meetings each Wednesday lunchtime in the Association Offi ce under Morrison Hall.

The Association provided numerous services, including covered parking spaces, a laundrette, a discount shop, TVs and refrigerators, and made space available to the Westpac and ANZ Bank Agencies and the McCaffertys bus agency.