2013 Reunion 'Campus Kids'

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Days of growing up on the campus recalled, 10 September 2013.

Children of staff members who lived in college houses knew the Lincoln campus as home for many years. On 10 September these ‘campus kids’ came together to relive their time as playmates on campus.

Jean Moffat of Taranaki, daughter of Professor Jack Calder, wrote to the University in July saying how much she would love to make contact with other ‘staff kids’ from her era. Jean’s father was a staff member from 1927 to 1958 and for 21 years the family lived in the two storied house on the corner of Calder Drive and the Lincoln-Springston road.

In her letter Jean mentioned the names Linda Baird, Philippa Blair, Elizabeth Burns, Anne and Jean Hudson and Shona and Phillipa Mackey. She also recounted childhood memories of drays “clopping down the drive to work and Malcolm (her brother) and I walking on the warm dung, keeping our feet warm”.

Shona McCartin of the Library and staff of the Alumni & Development Office soon formed the basis of a small get-together. Anne Lucas (nee Hudson, daughter of Professor Eric Hudson) was committed to coming over from Australia to visit her sister Jean in Christchurch, Elizabeth Berry (nee Burns) and sister Carolyn Burns (daughters of Sir Malcolm Burns) expressed interest, as did Hugh Flay (son of Associate Professor Albert Flay), and Jen Halliday (daughter of Professor TW Walker). Vern Clark, a retired staff member who knew Professor Hudson and Sir Malcolm Burns well, was also invited to participate.

The reunion took place and was a combination of looking over parts of the campus familiar from the past, lunch in the Vice-Chancellor’s lounge, viewing photos, and reminiscing. Vice-Chancellor Dr Andrew West met and spoke to the group, as did Chancellor Tom Lambie.

Highlights were the presentation made by Jean Hudson and Anne Lucas to the University, of an illuminated scroll presented to Professor Eric Hudson on his retirement in 1952; and the gifting of an oilskin sou’wester raincoat that belonged to Associate Professor Albert Flay (staff 1929–1964) by Geoffrey Sullivan, General Manager of Hamer Ltd, Christchurch. Mr Sullivan had been given the coat many years ago by Flay’s daughter Lorna Hyde.

‘Campus Kid’ Jean Moffat was accompanied by her husband Bob Moffat, an alumnus (BAgrSc 1956, MAgrSc 1958). Source: AlumniLinc (October 2013)