New Zealand’s third oldest university - Lincoln - founded as a school of agriculture in 1878 - is holding its first ever ‘generations’ function for past students, staff, current students, family members, friends, supporters, and community and industry representatives.
Called ‘Generations at Lincoln’, the event is being held at Christchurch’s Wigram Air Force Museum on Saturday 27 October, and tickets are available now through the Lincoln University website.
“For this special occasion, the major social function hosted by the University for 2012, we are focusing on the unique generational aspect of Lincoln University,” says Alumni Relations Officer Penny Curran.
“Because of its specialised land-based courses, and because of the special role of the land-based industries in rural and urban New Zealand, Lincoln University has been the university of choice for generations of New Zealand families.
“Going back through the past 133 years, there are instances of five generations of some families being represented among students here, and four and three generations are common.
“The current president of our Alumni Association, Jo Spencer-Bower, nee McCaw, is an example of a five-generation family member who was a student here.”
The Air Force Museum venue allows the University to also celebrate and remember the lives of former students who served in the Air Force during the Second World War - like the Alumni Association president’s grandfather, Flight Lieutenant Jim McCaw DFC. Nearly 300 former Lincoln students, who had been enrolled up until the war years, served in the armed forces and over a quarter were in the Air Force. Over half of the 34 who died on active service were Air Force personnel.
The evening takes the form of a dinner with a guest speaker and plenty of opportunities before and after dinner to mix, mingle and socialise. 1940s-style big band Sideline Swing will provide the music.
The guest speaker is one of Lincoln University’s most distinguished alumni, a former Vice-President of the Students’ Association who went on to become Deputy prime Minister of New Zealand and Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Sir Don McKinnon ONZ, GCVO.
“We invite all those who have been associated over the years with Lincoln University, or its former guises Lincoln College or Canterbury Agricultural College, to get in touch and book a place for this first-ever Generations at Lincoln function,” says Mrs Curran.