UQ Gatton Past Students Association Inc

THE COLLEGE AND THE ROYAL NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

© UQ Gatton Past Students Association Inc. 2009 OMCGatton-167/Oct09 (18)

In 1900, the College began exhibiting at the National Show in Brisbane. The fi rst exhibit included butter, cheese, condensed milk, evaporated milk, bacon, hams, and lard.

The Queensland Agricultural College and since 1990, The University of Queensland Gatton Campus, has been associated with the Royal National Association for over one hundred years.

After examining a College display in 1927, the Governor, Sir John Goodwin, remarked “That it was the fi nest display he had seen exhibited by an Agricultural College”. He also suggested that an improvement would be made if the exhibits were housed in a suitable building.

1906 – Queensland Agricultural College produce display at the National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland

Exhibition, Brisbane (courtesy John Oxley Library)

1909 – Queensland Agricultural College display at the National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland

Exhibition, Brisbane (courtesy John Oxley Library)

Exhibiting stock...Over many decades, College exhibited their range of stud animals, mainly cattle, horses and pigs with considerable success. The stock were prepared for exhibit by students undertaking the Diploma Course in Animal Husbandry. Also, the students were given the opportunity to gain experience by assisting the judges as Honorary Stewards. As noted in the 1928 College Magazine – “The fourth and fi fth year students entered for the Young Judges Competition and with the aid of tuition from Mr. McKenzie his sound advice was a dominant feature in their success with student W.P. Hamon winning the “Andrew Mole Memorial Plaque” in judging Illawarra Milking Shorthorn Cows.

1928 – View of interior of College Exhibit Brisbane Royal National Association Exhibition

Establishing the animal nursery...The Animal Nursery was the brainchild of the late RNA Senior Vice-President, Frank Robertson, who had a young family in the 1960’s. He took them to see young animals in different pavilions before deciding it would be a better idea to house a collection of these animals in a central place. The Principal, Mr. N.W. Briton, agreed to provide student assistance as a service to the public and as a training exercise for students.

The inaugural Farm Animal Nursery was staged by College on behalf of the RNA in 1964 and was located at the end of one of the dairy cattle pavilions. With the popularity of the Nursery, mainly for the children of Brisbane and its value to the RNA, the Association constructed a new building which was completed for the 1972 Exhibition. Since then the Animal Nursery has been an enduring tradition at the “Ekka” and enjoyed by all.

Relaxing over a “cuppa”...The new building also contained an area of accommodation for the students and a section of this area was made available to the Past Students Association. The Lounge provided a facility for past and present students and staff to relax over a “cuppa” and relive their College and now University days. A Past Student Association Committee member was present each day of the Exhibition to assist visitors by bringing them up to date with Campus activities and to enable the Association to keep in contact with past students and their whereabouts.

1994 – UQ Gatton College Students assisting at the Animal Nursery, Brisbane Royal National Association Exhibition

(Photo courtesy of Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd)

1973 – Display in the College Information Centre, Brisbane Royal National Association Exhibition

1972 – A section of the Animal Nursery Exhibit in the new building – Brisbane Royal National Association

Exhibition

1936 – The Exhibit which tied for second place in the competition for the “Best turned out group of stock and attendants” – Brisbane Royal National Association Exhibition

1906 – Queensland Agricultural College produce display at the