The Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus alumni dinner in Kuching on 11 April was well received when about 100 guests turned up to enjoy an evening of friendship and relaxation.
The dinner was hosted by Swinburne alumnus, Datuk (Dr) Philip Ting, a member of the board of directors at Swinburne Sarawak, and his wife Jenny at their residence in Petra Jaya.
Members of the alumni, who included recent graduates and those who had completed their studies in Melbourne as far back as 45 years ago, were treated to a host of mostly local Sarawakian fare.
Also in the crowd were members of the local Swinburne Alumni Association of Malaysia.
As the guests dined and whiled away the evening, they were entertained by a six-piece band.
Mingling with the guests and enjoying the evening were Swinburne Vice-Chancellor Professor Linda Kristjanson, Sarawak campus’ Deputy Vice-Chancellor and CEO Professor Janet Gregory, as well as senior officers from the Melbourne and Kuching campuses.
In her short address, Professor Kristjanson spoke about the many outstanding achievements of Swinburne after becoming a university in 1992, and the future direction of the university.
She also highlighted some of the partnerships and collaborations Swinburne Sarawak had established with industry and other institutions of learning both in Malaysia and abroad in the past year.
The host Datuk Ting, and fellow alumnus Barry Lim Sun Heng had the chance to catch up with their former teacher, Associate Professor Bruce McDonald. Mr Lim, 74, an entrepreneur from Penang, had graduated in absentia from Swinburne in Melbourne in 1971. At the university’s graduation ceremony the following day, he was presented with his business diploma – almost five decades later – witnessed by his wife in the audience.
The evening ended with a group photo.