OUSA’s former executives gather
WHILE being shown around Otago University Students’ Association buildings at the weekend, executive members of the past remembered how the buildings came to be.
Former association executives gathered at their old stamping ground at the weekend for a series of events including tours, debates and drinks.
More than 30 from the 1970s to the present day registered for the dinner on Saturday night, travelling from as far as Ireland and Perth.
Being inside the association’s Clubs and Societies building reminded some returners of when the idea first came up in the late1970s.
Its 1977 executive in charge of finance Murray Coates said he remembered going out to architects and sifting through the proposals as to what type of building should replace the dilapidated Catholic church on the Albany St site.
‘‘But I’ve never actually seen it. This is the first time I’ve been back since I graduated. It’s a fabulous building with excellent facilities.’’
It was not built until 1980. Thenpresident Paul Gourlie said it was his executive that looked like the ‘‘heroes’’, but much of the work was done in previous years.
The reunion was part of the university’s 150th celebrations, but it was good to compile a list of past executive members for next year’s 130th students’ association anniversary, he said.
To find many of them required sifting through old photos which are now part of the Hocken Collections.