26 August 2009

On Friday 21 August the Faculty of Engineering hosted a dinner to celebrate the graduating classes of 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989 and 1999 as well as the launch of The History of the UNSW Faculty of Engineering: 1949–2009. Among the 250 guests were industry partners, past and present staff members, and alumni, who had travelled from as far afield as Darwin and Hong Kong for the event. It was a time to reconnect, remember and take a look at the future.

When the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Graham Davies summed up the Faculty’s history and achievements as ‘simply the best’, he certainly struck a chord with alumni in the audience. The message from them was clear: studying in the Faculty of Engineering at UNSW had positively impacted both their professional and personal lives. Ammar Alammar, a 1999 graduate of Computer Engineering, said “I am a passionate badge-wearer for the Faculty of Engineering. Computing has shaped my life from late high school and I now work in IT. I love it as much as ever.”

Throughout the evening, films of the Kensington campus through the decades brought back happy memories – and some hilarity. Computer Engineering graduate from 1999 Susan Ghaemi was keen to identify familiar faces. “I came to UNSW the day after I arrived in Australia from Iran, so it feels like a home to me. Studying Engineering has affected my life in every possible way – I can handle the most difficult situations,” she said.

In his address, Professor Robin Batterham AO, President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) spoke of the unchanging fundamentals in engineering. “The more soundly the fundamentals are taught, the more useful the foundation for an ever-changing world.”

Chemical Engineering graduate from 1979 Fouad Ibrahim reiterated the sentiment. “Engineering is a great discipline. I learned that as long as you understand the principles, you can understand how things work. It has given me a strong foundation in all areas of my life.”

Electrical Engineering graduates from 1959 Raymond McDermott and Ian Shearman, who were among those who began their degrees at the Sydney Technical College at Ultimo, took a trip down memory lane and recalled the transport difficulties of the early days.

“Students had to travel between the Kensington campus and Ultimo,” said Raymond McDermott. “Few of us had cars and trams were the major form of transport. I had a Triumph motorbike and I charged my pillion passengers one apple pie for the ride. I thought that was a pretty good deal.”

Ian Shearman spoke of the photocopying process which involved going to ‘the photocopy man’ who took a photograph of the material with a camera on a stand. “You were lucky to get the copy back within two weeks.”

Mr Eric Lesleighter provided the alumni perspective address at the dinner. He graduated in Civil Engineering in 1959, and described the engineers of his day as carrying “a Phillips-head screwdriver, a copy of Quantum Physics, and a peanut-butter sandwich in their briefcases”. Mr Lesleighter, who has worked in more than 20 countries since graduating, has undoubtedly seen some changes, whilst some things remained constant. “I am clear. UNSW holds top place in this country as the university that launched many top engineers.”

The dinner was also the occasion of the launch of The History of the Faculty of Engineering 1949 – 2009. Former Vice-Chancellor of UNSW and Former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Emeritus Professor Mark Wainwright AM provided some background to the book. In 1999, as a part of the Faculty’s 50th anniversary, he commissioned a history of the Faculty, which began with the Oral History Project, run in conjunction with UNSW Archives. As a result of the oral history project it was decided to prepare a written history of the Faculty. Graduates and current and former staff contributed greatly to the development of the book by responding to surveys and providing photographs and other materials. In 2007, the authoring team of Blanche Hampton, Ben Allen and Robert Loeffel was commissioned to prepare this faculty-wide illustrated history. An Editorial Committee with representatives from most Schools in the Faculty was convened to work actively with the authors. The History traces the Faculty’s origins from Sydney Technical College to the internationally recognised education and research institution it is today.

Professor Robin Batterham AO, who wrote the introduction to the book, launched it to the large dinner audience. He commented that the book “is a marvellous tale that chronicles the history of the University of New South Wales Faculty of Engineering from its humble beginnings based at Sydney Technical College to the internationally reputed education and research hub that it is today, and it’s a darned good read”. Professor Batterham applauded the Faculty of Engineering at UNSW as “first class” and “world beating”, commenting “It produces not just engineers, but very good engineers.”

The History of the Faculty of Engineering 1949 – 2009 is available for purchase through the UNSW Press website www.unswpress.com.au or by calling UNSW Press direct on 02 8778 9999.

Emeritus Professor Albert Willis, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering 1956 - 1967 (third from left) catches up with a group of 1959 Mechanical Engineering graduates.