The 60s

My relationship with USQ stretches right back to 1967 when, as an eight year old, I would accompany my father to the campus to pick up my sister, Dianne Perren [nee Klease], a foundation staff member. There were only a couple of buildings and not many students, but there was so much potential.

Over the ensuing years, I enjoyed USQ's cultural offerings, even went on my first date with my husband to a rock concert at the refectory and, like many Toowoombaites, watched the University grow in reputation. To really round out my relationship with USQ, I am about to complete my fifth year as the Townsville Regional Liaison Officer.

Chris Klease
Regional Liaison Services, DeC

1967 DDIAE Rugby League Players

These guys seem small for rugby league players but it was before they put the growth hormones into chicken. The next year we did better and Dave Cleary was selected for Queensland.

Bob Murison
BAppSc(Maths) 1974

In 1967 we did 32 contact hours per week and almost as much at home to keep up. Courses ran all year and were examined in November. Fail one subject and you failed the year. Students knew that was the deal and accepted it.

Dr Barker's student welfare system was "Shape up or ship out" which was low-cost, effective and fair enough.

As well, we lived in a shoe-box. We were lucky.

Bob Murison
BAppSc(Maths) 1974

One Sunday night Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' was on TV. The next morning not one brave male student walked across the windswept gap between the residential college and the campus - they all took the bus! Just by the roadside was a dead tree with dozens of magpies perched on the branches - just waiting for the first victim!

The tough John Coonan's and Dan Casey's of the rugby team joined the engineering students - we had to go to the Tech College, Margaret Street, but they were just going across the road - by bus!

Kev Bickhoff
BEng(Civil) 1970