The past, present and future heads of CQU Bundaberg were recognised during the opening of CQU Bundaberg’s new $4.7 million Academic and Research building last week.

Former head Professor Alex Grady was congratulated for his vision, current head (acting) Dr Helen Huntly was recognised for guiding the project to completion, and incoming head Professor Philip Clift was welcomed.

Dr Huntly expressed appreciation to Tropical Architects, Murchie Construction and CQU Facilities Management staff members Gene Robinson and Phil McBryde.

She also recognised the planning contribution of local staff members Desirae Kirby, Margaret Flanders, Helen Afflick and Angelika Schlotzer.

“And on this last official duty as acting head of campus, I thank all the Bundaberg campus staff members,” Dr Huntly said.

CQU Vice-Chancellor Professor John Rickard commented on the “wonderful new environment”.

He went on to urge stakeholders to take pride and pleasure it what has been achieved at Bundaberg, considering that CQU only marks its 15th anniversary as a University in 2007.

“I like everyone else would prefer more rapid development ... but I urge you to see the glass as half full ... this is a significant milestone and along with the recent opening for the Library and Information Commons development we have had a couple of significant milestones in a short space of time”.

Professor Rickard acknowledged the contribution from the Wide Bay Institute of TAFE in providing CQU student access to its laboratories over the past decade.

He said CQU Bundaberg could now provide dedicated chemistry and biology laboratories as well as research spaces and additional capacity for science, IT and multimedia programs.

Member for Hinkler Paul Neville noted “another coming of age for this University” and reflected on his long association with CQU. (The MP was on the University Council for “three seminal years” during the institution’s transition from college of advanced education to university college to full university in the early 1990s).

He remembered an even earlier period when “a group of us met in the then Mayor’s office and talked about having a first-year campus in Bundaberg affiliated with a number of institutes of higher education”.

“Within months of putting this model together, the Dawkins reforms overtook us ... we started in Bundaberg with 14 students in the first location at the Old Christian Brothers College opposite the back of City Council, followed by the Bright Horizons School at Kepnock”.

Mr Neville said there was a need to acknowledge that building a university campus in a country area is not an easy task when developing a regional university from Mackay to Pomona.

“Successive directors and Vice-Chancellors have stressed never to allow CQU to become a Rockhampton-centric organisation,” he noted.

“Sometimes, it is hard to get Canberra to recognise you need core facilities at a range of locations ... there’s a need for capital expenditure magnified many times over.... That’s a message I’ve been trying to reinforce.... It’s important we keep that message firmly in front of governments.

“The government is not just investing in bricks and mortar ... we are investing in the future of the regional community and in securing the economic success of this region”.

Photos: The new building .... and MP Paul Neville, Dr Helen Huntly and Professor John Rickard at the opening ceremony.