Mildura: 62 Years of Memories

Memories shared over a photograph of long ago at the 2009 reunion.	Prof. Warren Bebbington, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Relations) hosted this year's reunion.

Mildura Branch Alumni Reunion Luncheon

More than 100 alumni and past professors attended the 62nd year reunion of the Mildura Branch campus on 28 March. Over lunch the group reminisced alongside Emeritus Professor David Penington, AC, Mildura alumnus, past Vice-Chancellor, and current Chairman of Bio21 Australia Ltd., as he traced both the professional and social developments in Australia since the Mildura Branch closed. Other alumni also shared stories of the 'Church of Turkey' and of Dame Blackwood.

Dr George Hale also shared the exciting developments with the Mildura Alumni Scholarship. The core fund is now worth almost $200,000. To date, five students have been supported by the scholarship program, with two in their second year of scholarship tenure.

To support the Mildura Scholarship, please download this gift form.

The 1947-49 alumni at the reunion.

Photo Gallery

To view a gallery of all the photos from the lunch, please click here.

The Mildura Branch - A short history

The Mildura Branch of the University of Melbourne opened on 17 May, 1947. For the more than 1300 students and staff in the faculties of Architecture, Engineering, Dental Science, Medicine and Science who were part of the ‘Mildura Experiment’, it was a formative experience.

The idea of transferring first year students from five disciplines of the University of Melbourne to an RAAF Base at Mildura was born a result of the huge demand for entry into the University at the end of the war in 1945.

The Mildura Branch was Australia’s first completely residential university and an outstanding success. In 1987, on the occasion of the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the Mildura Branch, the then Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Sir Douglas Wright remarked "There was apparently a spirit at Mildura that wasn’t in any other academic institution.”

Following the 2005 reunion it was decided that the time was right to establish an enduring memorial to Mildura and to give back to the community which had provided them with such an enriching experience.

In response, the Mildura Alumni Scholarship Committee was formed, chaired by alumnus Dr George Hale (MB Bs (1953) MD (1959)). Since its inception the Committee and Mildura alumni community have supported 5 students from the Mildura region to move to Melbourne and take up studies at the University.

If you would like to receive further information on the Mildura Group or the Mildura Scholarship, please contact the Alumni Office.