Salmond finished the year on a high, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the college. The reunion was a year late due to the pandemic, and it was a significant occasion to reflect on the purpose and meaning of college life, and the vision of Salmond.
The weekend celebration reflected the whakataukī gifted to the College in 2020: “Ko te toa i a tini, i a mano o te takata - It is the bravery of a multitude, of thousands of people”, and the feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.
A highlight of the weekend was the inauguration of the Salmond ‘Wall of Fame’ which celebrates Salmond alumni, the careers they have pursued and the lives they have lived. The Nithvale lounge was set up as a treasure trove of Salmond memorabilia for the weekend, and people pored over photos, newspaper clippings, and old t-shirts for hours.
The Gala Dinner was attended by four previous Heads of Salmond – Tim Gray, Bruce Cowan, Jamie Gilbertson and Maurie Jackways, with Tim and Bruce giving excellent addresses. The guest lecture by Professor Robert Patman, reflecting on the post-Cold War era, the milieu in which Salmond was built in 1971, was fascinating. The special chapel service led by Margaret Garland and Anne Thomson was also a very special event, and a chance to reflect and appreciate all that had gone before.
The weekend was marked by the rekindling of old friendships and lots of banter. It was great to have inaugural Salmond College Students Association President Marilyn Mackinder cut the cake at the conclusion of the Gala Dinner.
