Forty years ago when Rockhampton's higher education institution first opened its doors, there was no extensive campus with purpose-built facilities to greet staff and students.

In fact, the early classes were held in the Technical College at Bolsover Street until the first building at Yaamba Road could be completed.

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Early science graduate Bob Wells went on to become a secondary school teacher. Bob is drinking from the Defiance Cup, which was presented to the Rockhampton Rugby Union by Defiance Flour. Bob and his brother Peter played half and five-eighth for Institute at the end of the 1960s, at the same time as Phil Procopis played lock

Even when the campus opened for business, early staff and students recall cars sliding on muddy grounds, the principal (Dr Alan Skertchly) ferrying students across floodwaters in his 4WD, improvised experimental equipment and temporary accommodation on mattresses for students waiting for the residential college to open.

It was a blokey place, with a 1969 intake of 50 males and only one female (who was obliged to wear a dress and stockings).

It was also a small and intimate setting for study where everyone knew each other - in fact one undergraduate student (Phillip Procopis) was able to romance and later marry the Director's personal assistant (Beverly Borthwick). Mr Procopis is now a specialist on ethical behaviour who has worked as an investigator for the Crime and Misconduct Commission and is now Director of Assurance and Risk Management Services at UQ. 

Despite these humble beginnings, the pioneering students went on to forge impressive careers, several of the early staff members have continued at the institution and many thousands of residents have been able to pursue higher education in their home region.

These wonderful memories and many more were recalled during CQU's 40th Anniversary Reunion Dinner, held on Saturday, November 24 at the Capricornia College.

The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor with early graduates (from left) Greg Low Choy, Brian O'Driscoll, Lois McBow, Philip Hoare, Des Pearson, Peter Wells, Tony Heffernan, Phillip Procopis, Bob Wells, Bob Dalgleish, Allan Johnson, Ray Hutchings

Those invited included original staff members, current senior executives and graduates from the 'First Congregation for the Conferment of Academic Awards' of the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education in 1971. The original students enrolled with the Queensland Institute of Technology (Capricornia), which was renamed as the CIAE and later gained full university status and became Central Queensland University.

The current CQU Chancellor Rennie Fritschy gave a speech focusing on the early days following the initial enrolment of 19 full-time and 52 part-time students.

"The first graduates could probably not have envisaged the Rockhampton Campus as it is today, let alone the other regional, interstate and overseas campuses and delivery points that now make up CQU," he said.

Mr Fritschy also helped those present recall the institution's first Open Day in 1969 when 5000 people visited to see the 3 buildings and to view demonstrations of scientific and technical equipment.

The Chancellor noted that early students were community minded, helping distribute plastic money boxes to fund the residential college, pushing beds up Mt Archer for a nursing charity and boosting the local rugby and rowing competitions.

Current Vice-Chancellor Professor John Rickard gave a speech contrasting the original graduation of 38 students, compared with current graduation numbers of around 3000 a year.

Early staff at the dinner (from left) Royce Sadler, Bob Hay, Blair Smith, Andy Drummond, Barrie Harvey, Judith Egerton, Rita Hatfield, Kay Schatkowski, Pauline McNee, Marshall McCarthy, John Wilkinson, Dave Cardnell, Kay Hanschen, Bob Steer, Kevin Fagg and Joe Czekanski

He noted the birth of CQU came at a time of great societal change, including the Vietnam War, the introduction of decimal currency, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy and the moon landing, "which Brian O'Driscoll remembers watching from the Chemistry lecture theatre".

"Gough Whitlam was soon to be elected PM, effecting the first change of government in 23 years. As graduates of your local university, you were equipped to be at the forefront of a new, modern and distinctly Australian era of Australian history," he said.

Professor Rickard noted some of the early staff members of CIAE were still working at CQU, including Dave Cardnell, Judith Egerton, Pauline McNee and Kay Schatkowski.

He also mentioned some early staff members who consistently figure as positive memories for graduates, including the late John Carkeek, Frank Schroder, Bill O'Connor and Kevin Fagg (now an Emeritus Professor who gave an address on behalf of staff members).

Professor Rickard noted that one former student - Greg Low Choy - had flown from New Zealand (where he is now a computer programmer/analyst) to take part in the reunion dinner.

Early staff member Kevin Fagg with wife Glenda

Des Pearson, who is now Auditor-General for Victoria, gave an address on behalf of graduates.

Professor Rickard (right) with Des Pearson, Peter Wells, Tony Heffernan (1st postgrad), Bob Wells, Phillip Procopis and Bob Dalgleish

He remembers that availability of tertiary education in Rockhampton provided an alternative to Teachers College or taking a clerical position with a bank or insurance company. His fond memories included the accessibilty of lecturing staff and interaction with students from other disciplines.

Early engineering graduate Evan Flower, who has forged an international career in executive development and Safety, Health and Environment consultancy, recalls that he was a "renegade student always looking to push the envelope".

Mr Flower was involved with "liberating a yard glass from a local hotel to conduct oil viscosity experiments", in the early days when equipment was scarce.

"My current project is establishing a domestic aquaponics system that operates with minimum energy and water ... I suppose this is a testimony to the impact on me of the original motto of CQU ... forever learning."

Another graduate who has embraced life-long learning is engineer Darryl O'Reilly, now an independent consultant who has recently worked for the United Nations Development Program in Iraq and is currently completing his MBA degree, with "no plans to retire yet".

Early staff Marshall McCarthy and Dave Cardnell
Barbara Dalgleish, Sandra Pearson and Sandy Hoare 
Kerry Wells, Peter Wells, Moreen McCarthy and Marshall McCarthy