About the Author

Brenton Stacey

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.

Celebrating 50 years of service at Avondale

It is a significant milestone. Our technological and applied studies strand convenor Dr Robyn Pearce is celebrating her golden jubilee as a lecturer at Avondale University—and wore a yellow dress on the day we recognised her service. We asked Robyn seven questions. Here are the answers she gave.

You’ve worked at Avondale for 50 years. What about the institution needed to change—and has? What should never change?
Equal pay and conditions for female lecturers. Caring staff members committed to practically sharing God’s love with students and each other.

You’re a food scientist. I expect your understanding of good health is different now to what it was in the 1970s.
It is. I—we—now have a greater understanding of the influence of food and the gut microbiome on brain function and mental health.

Name your top professional achievement at Avondale.
Slowly completing my PhD so I could still have time for my husband and children. [Robyn surveyed all vegetarian cooking demonstrators and instructors in Australia for her thesis, Volunteers in Community Nutrition Education: An Australian Perspective.]

What still surprises you about your students?
Their uniqueness and how much I need to learn.

What are you reading?
Dark Winter: An Insider’s Guide to Pandemics and Biosecurity by epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre. Two other books are also on my list: Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown, and; Embrace Kids: How You Can Help Your Kids To Love and Celebrate Their Bodies by Taryn Brumfitt and Zali Yager.

Encourage us with a piece of advice or a life motto.
“We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright!” (1 Corinthians 13:12, The Message).

Complete this sentence: “My greatest love in life is . . . ”
Richard, whom I met in chemistry classes at Avondale. He died of a brain tumour in 2002. I’ve just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.

About the Author

Brenton Stacey

Celebrating 50 years of service at Avondale

Nursing: I just knew

Storyteller

“I want to give back”