June 2022
It has been a very exciting time at the University of Southern Queensland since our last alumni newsletter. In late May, the University of Southern Queensland was chosen as one of the Federal Government’s six Trailblazer Universities, for our Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Hub. The iLAuNCH Hub involves an $180M total program value over four years, including $50M from the Federal Government and $56.5M in industry support. We are the lead university, in partnership with the University of South Australia and the Australian National University. We are also a partner in two other successful Trailblazer bids; the Food and Beverage Accelerator led by the University of Queensland, and the Recycling and Renewable Energy Commercialisation Hub led by Deakin University. You can read more about these exciting projects in the article below.
On May 9, we officially opened the new B Block Art Gallery and events space at the Toowoomba Campus. At the event, the Chancellor announced that the building has been officially named the Bobbie Brazil Building, in honour of our former Chancellor Dr Bobbie Brazil AO and the considerable contributions she has made to the University. We also launched the A Walk Amongst the Trees with Dr David Hinchliffe exhibition, to pay tribute to the Japanese Garden as an icon on our Toowoomba Campus. Many of you will be familiar with B Block, which was one of the original buildings on campus, and for many years served as the main administration building. You would not recognise it now, and if you happen to be in Toowoomba, it is well worth a visit – the Gallery is open Tuesday-Friday from 10am – 3pm.
On 30 May, we officially launched the 55/30 Anniversary of the University, marking 55 years since our inception and 30 years as a university. During this event, we honoured our current Chancellor, John Dornbusch by renaming the main driveway from West Street on our Toowoomba Campus to John Dornbusch Drive.
In the next newsletter I will provide all of you with an update on some very exciting changes coming to our University’s branding.
Until then, please accept my warm regards.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie, University of Southern Queensland