Kay Fraser with Kevin Petrie and Glenn Townend

Mayor here for milestone

Thursday, March 31, 2022
Brenton Stacey
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Brenton Stacey

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Brenton is Avondale University’s Public Relations and Philanthropy Officer. He brings to the role experience as a communicator in publishing, media relations, public relations, radio and television, mostly within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific and its entities.

University Celebration a reminder of the journey so far

Welcome, generous, inclusive. This is how the mayor of Lake Macquarie describes Avondale. “Every time I come I feel this warmth,” said Kay Fraser in a speech during our COVID-delayed University Celebration this past week (March 22). Addressing the students who attended the Preston Place event, she added, “You’re very privileged to come to Avondale. This university will grow, it will prosper, and it will be held in high esteem.”

Avondale is the first—and only—university in the city, “and I’m so proud of that,” said Cr Fraser. “You have been a standout college, and it’s been acknowledged, and that’s why you’ve become a university.” Later, in a post on her Facebook page, Cr Fraser made a comment about Lake Macquarie being under-serviced by the higher education sector, so “we’re looking forward to welcoming more students—both school leavers and mature-age.”

Among the invited guests at the celebration were members of Avondale’s governing council, chaired by Chancellor Pr Glenn Townend, and the three most recent past presidents. Most of the milestones on the journey toward university status came during the tenures of Drs Geoff Madigan, John Cox and Ray Roennfeldt. These included two previous applications for university status, the building of a research profile and the introduction and expansion of higher degrees by research such as PhDs, the granting of self-accrediting authority, and the addition of Avondale to the “Australian University College” category.

While Dr Jane Fernandez led the application for this change of category in her role as then vice-president (quality and strategy), university status is now the “defining moment” not only for Avondale, but also for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and for Christian higher education. “We praise the Lord who sowed this vision into our souls, knitted into our palms the grit and determination of more than a century of work, and graced our minds with the promise of this auspicious day.” Before offering a prayer of dedication, she added: “God reigns His light over all our seasons, and it shines brightest today for Avondale.”

While the celebration looked back, Vice-Chancellor Professor Kevin Petrie acknowledges university status is but a step—although a significant one—in “recognising our commitment to provide high-quality student experiences and to deliver strong student outcomes through teaching, research and service to the communities we serve. We will continue to do what we’ve always done: transform lives.”

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