We would love you to contribute a story or thoughts around your time since graduating from Massey. If you can spare the time to write 200-300 words we will be delighted to include it in this memento of the 50th anniversary celebrations. You can submit your stories here…

 

• 1950's
• 1960's
• 1970's
• 1980's
• 1990's
• 2000's

 

Alex Buchanan
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1957
Alex Buchanan was at Massey from 1953-56. He was one of 4 Australians who did the B Agr Sc (Dairy Technology) degree, sponsored by the Victorian Department of Agriculture. He later did an MSc degree at Iowa State University and a PhD at London University. He joined CSIRO in 1963 and developed a high protein milk biscuit. Sales to the Australian Government alone were 4,700 tonnes and they financed a stockpile of 100 tonnes which was used to respond quickly to emergency situations around the world.
Later he went to Thailand where he developed a new infant weaning food which is still being produced commercially by Kasetsart University in Bangkok. This led to his staying in South East Asia for 13 years with responsibility for the ASEAN-Australia Economic Co-operation Program which is also still operating with the ASEAN countries.
He waa elected to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2009.

 

Chinese students at New Zealand universities are common enough these days, but in 1947 I arrived in NZ as one of very few Mandarin-speaking Chinese enrolees.

 

I had left Shanghai on 31 December 1946 on what was in those days, literally a slow boat from China. It was a smallish vessel - an inter-island ferry sold to the Chinese from NZ. It was sailing to Newcastle, Australia for a re-fit. After many stops during the voyage for fresh water, fuel and sheltering in a bay to dodge the aftermath of a seasonal typhoon - it finally staggered into Sydney Harbour on 28 January 1947.

 

My last mile, to cross the waters to NZ was delayed, by a lay-off of the regular passenger ship Wanganella which had hit a rock a few days before I reached Sydney. I stayed in the YMCA on Pitt Street for a month or so, enjoying Sydney’s summer, and the sights and hospitality of new found friends. Eventually, Marine Phoenix of the Matson line provided me with a steerage berth from Sydney to Auckland. I arrived in Wellington by rail on 1 March 1947 - just in time for the start of the term on 3 March, and my first 4pm lecture on Organic Chemistry at Victoria University College for the "Intermediate" year.

I didn’t know much about New Zealand when I arrived, and in 1947 spoke no English! Not surprisingly university lectures were impossible to understand at first. So I became a regular patron of the local cinema and avid fan of the many black & white Hollywood and British movies on offer, which served as my English language tuition. With much nostalgia, I still enjoy re-runs of those films when shown on TV and can often pick the movie from the actors’ voices.

In 1949 after two years at Victoria University College, Massey became my home away from home - the place where I established my career and made so many life-long friends.

I then had 18 fruitful years at the Manawatu campus, achieving a Bachelor of Agricultural Science 1954, Master of Agricultural Science 1st Class Honours 1956, and PhD 1967 together with teaching and research roles as a faculty member.

Of course it was not all work and academics. My prolonged tenancy in the Pink Hostel (1949 – mid 50’s) qualified me as an observer of the “aqua-mafia” activity. Some prominent Massey graduates – all names shall remain anonymous! were regular practitioners of this culture with remarkable accuracy. They’d drop water bombs on pre-selected victims from a hidden high point without mercy, then disappear without a trace. The victims, and I was on one occasion, were offered no chance of retaliation. Cop it and cool it was the name of the game. To this day, I’ve been puzzled by the origin and purpose of this amusement or punishment – depending on your stance. If I was to hazard a guess, it’s a form of “humblisation” which only your mates can teach you!

I also remember the days, 60 or more years ago, when we struggled to field a worthy sporting team at the NZ University tournaments because of our small number of students. However this handicap proved no barrier for the Massey spirit, and made our victory in the 1952 NZU Winter Tournament - carrying back the trophy for the Championship in Men’s Basketball, all the more memorable.

More personally, I was lucky enough to come across a beautiful young dancer, Shirley Wong Poy, who was bicycling through the campus looking for the newly completed Wool Room for ballet classes during one summer recess. Little did I know she would one day become my beloved wife.

In 1968, Shirley and I, with our two young daughters Sharyn and Kerryn in tow, bid farewell to our friends and my Massey mentors Professor Al Rae and Bob Barton, for me to accept an appointment with Dr Helen Newton-Turner at CSIRO’s Division of Animal Genetics in Sydney, Australia.

After almost two decades I retired from CSIRO in 1986, by then as a Principal Research Scientist in the Division of Animal Production led by Dr Trevor Scott. However, my association with Massey continued across the ditch, by accepting Massey appointments as an external post-graduate thesis examiner.

It’s now 2019, I’m 91 and Massey is the largest university in NZ. Congratulations, Massey! With a tinge of sadness I’ve noticed the shrinking role of agriculture, and particularly, animal husbandry (including genetics and breeding) in the total curriculum activities of Massey. So perhaps it’s timely to spur on another Massey victory? With my very best wishes for the future, I hope that Massey’s contribution will once again be recognised as a traditional supplier of innovation and discoveries for NZ livestock improvement.

 

 

Rod Dennis
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1954
My introduction to Massey Agricultural College came after two years completing the intermediate exam and Stage 1 economics at Auckland University.  We “Dairy techs” were a minority seeking the specialised degree. That year we had 4 Dairy Techs – the largest ever! Three were from Australia.  We took a bit of flak from the “general” B.Agr-Sc students who irreverently referred to us as “bottle washers”.  We retaliated by calling them “ditch diggers”. In the food tech option we spent the first year as Massey for the normal three terms but for the next three years we only had two terms. The plan by Prof. Riddet was to enable us to get the best possible practical experience in a range of dairy products.

I worked in Mt. Eden butter factory, Hastings Milk Treatment Co., Roto-O-Rangi cheese factory and East Tamaki milk powder factory in Manurewa.

A huge advantage for me was financial. Working  in these factories involved working a 7 day on – 1 off roster at quite good rates (Double time on Sunday etc). At my last practical assignment I was promoted to first assistant – a rare event for a student.

I met Elaine in September 1950 at a YMCA dance. We both loved dancing and this striking blond 17 year old could dance very well. We got engaged in 1953. I finished my degree in August 1953 and started as the first ever Chemist for the Kaipara Dairy Company in Helensville. We were married on 10th April 1954 – just two days after celebrating my graduation with Massey colleagues.  Elaine was always happy that our wedding was two days later as I needed that day to clear my mind. This April we will celebrate our diamond wedding anniversary.

Career wise – I moved from the laboratory to management. In 1958 I was appointed to the Albertland Dairy Co., at Te Hana – at that time the youngest manager in NZ. I then had fourteen years managing Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company in Edgecumbe. During these fourteen years I became a Fellow of the N.Z. Institute of Agr. Science – and was made one of the three Young Men of the year by the N.Z. Jaycees.

In 1978 I decided to move from working for dairy farmers to establish my own consulting company – International Dairy Consultants and spent the next twenty years working in thirty developing countries on dairy projects. A very exciting period.

I have been in Rotary for 52 years (and currently) and am heavily involved in Rodney Aphasia Group Inc. which was started after I finished up with Aphasia following a stroke in 2003.

 

Alan Shadwel
Diploma in Wool & Wool Technology
My career since Massey in 1953/4 - I joined the Wool Dept. staff at Massey in 1956 & retired  early in 1962. During that time I qualified as an accountant extra-murally through the University of NZ. I joined Mair & Co. in Christchurch in 1962 rising to Group M/D in 1979 resigning in 1988. I became a professional Company Director. I was the inaugural Chairman of the NZ Futures & Options Exchange in 1984-96, The inaugural Chair of the Lyttelton Port Co. 1988-96, a Director of PDL Electronics & Southern Cross Engineering from 1988-2000, President of the Canterbury Manufacturers Assn, 1986-88, Pres. NZ Manufacturers Federation 1991-2, Chairman of Goaling for Goals, in Christchurch 1988/9.
I have been a long term amateur photographer enjoying the world of digits.
I retired from commercial work in 2000 & now live in Nelson.

 

Massey College changed my life and set me up for a long career in teaching Ag.
During that time I maintained contact with numerous Massey staff members; kept up with current developments and frequently visited with senior students.
In 1960 after graduating, I had no idea how important Massey was going to be in influencing my life.
1960 to 1964 saw efforts on the home farm and surrounding neighbours including milking, fencing, tractor work, shepherding, shearing, scrubcutting and daydreaming.
A neighbour, a good student of human nature, spotted an ad for a teacher of woolclassing at Wairarapa College. After one term I was teaching more or less fulltime and being trained on the job. Classes included Wool, Agri, Science, Biology  Before long I was HOD Ag/Hort, and running a school farm – a stint stretching 1964 – 2010.
My continued link with Massey ran from approx 1967- 2000. During that time I brought many students to visit wool, farm machinery, vet, food tech, dairy /pig farms and
across the road to various plant and animal research units.
The visits were an opportunity for me to keep abreast of latest developments and I hope made my work modern and relevant.
Farmer parents who accompanied my students on 3-4 day visits to various farms, orchards, research centres, processing factories etc really appreciated the value of
education outside the classroom.
I really enjoyed teaching students and seeing them progress from yr9 – yr13.
Many have entered the primary industry sector, but many by being made aware of industries beyond the farm gate have become vets, consultants, rural banking
specialists etc – I would like to think that Massey and I have played our parts!
 
May Massey continue to influence the lives of its students.

 

John Telford
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1961
I am forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to do an Agricultural Science degree course at Massey Agricultural College from 1958-60. It was a formative period of my life in many ways.

I experienced the learning environment to be very supportive with excellent lecturers and the fact that we did field excursions and were required to work on farms over the summer break meant that we had the opportunity to see how the theory worked in practice.

In my case I have not continued working in the agricultural sector all my working life but nevertheless this period of my life gave me a firm foundation on which to build. I worked for three years for the Victorian Department of Agriculture and then for eight years with the Bordertown Farm Advisory Service. Then my life took a different path and I spent fifteen years with an international non-government organisation involved in community development – some of that time in Australia but also in south-east Asia and in Zambia. In many situations my agricultural knowledge was valuable in working with subsistence farmers.

Brian Davies
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1962
My early Dairy Company career began in Eltham, specialising in rennet production. This was quickly followed with a three year stint at Albertland Dairy Company at Wellsford where I established their new laboratory. Then eight years as a Factory Manager / Chemist at Kaipara Dairy Company in Helensville for many intriguing years specialising in a most diverse range of products. Three years as Production Manager at Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company at Edgecombe followed, before nine years as General Manager of Taranaki Dairy Company in Stratford, which had 1000 suppliers. I controlled three cheese factories, two milk powder factories, a casein factory, butter factory and milk treatment station.

When the larger Taranaki Dairy amalgamated with the smaller Kiwi Dairy at Hawera, as was normal the presiding manager was put in charge. I did not accept the offered assistant general manager position in the amalgamated company and started a one man consulting business serving stints in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Americas in various roles and topics. I particularly enjoyed working in Vietnam and Bhutan. I went back to Kaipara Dairy and ran that company for a two year spell and during that time built a highly advanced evaporator/milkdryer for specialised powders and contract drying.

Around this time I developed under contract a prototype milk concentrator to concentrate milk on farms by half to reduce NZ milk collection costs. This development ultimately was not used by the NZ Dairy industry largely for political and logistical reasons. Paradoxically after a long break I am again involved with its offshoot. This is a machine which in different formats is capable of producing potable distilled water, for concentrating foods such as milk and juices or for concentrating industrial wastes such as metal finishing wastes or abattoir wastes. I am actively involved in launching a new venture in this area into Asia with a view to expanding from there.

I married Carole in New Plymouth on 5 May 1962 and have two daughters (Kim and Jan) and a son (Michal). We have four granddaughters and three grandsons aged 9-15. All are in or near Auckland thus allowing regular contact.

We live at Clarks Beach on the SW corner of the Manakau Harbour. Carole is active with the garden group, a craft group and a small local volunteer library, local rate payers, and pilates. I am active with the local bowling club as treasurer and play badly on occasions. I still play music by ear – graduating from the mouth organ of Massey days to guitar and a bit of keyboard.

During my consulting career Carole and I took the greatest pleasure in travelling in Europe mainly by campervan free camping everywhere. We spent considerable periods of time mooching around various corners of the continent as far as Turkey, way above the Arctic circle, several times around all of mainland Europe (except Russia and immediate satellites), and Eire and the UK.

I went to the last two Olympics for the most wonderful sporting carnival imaginable but will probably give this next one a miss. Retirement beckons and I hope to travel some more not by campervan but probably by car staying in B&Bs etc.

 

 

Robin Fenwick
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1962, Master of Agriculture 1964
During my time at Massey I met and subsequently married a Palmerston North nurse, Carolyn Torlesse. We had a highly adventurous life together. We volunteered with Volunteer Service Abroad and served in Rajkot, India. At various times we lived and worked in Kenya, Korea, and California, and travelled extensively in Europe and the USA. Eventually we settled in Wellington where we had a home in Ngaio. We had two sons (Peter and Gary) and today we have an Irish and a German daughter-in–law and, so far, one grand daughter. I currently live in Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt, but sadly Carolyn became unwell so she now lives in care nearby.

Professional: I stayed at Massey long enough to earn an M.Ag.Sc. (Dairy Tech) and got my first job with N.Z.Coop at Matangi. We did the quality assessment of milk powder for the recombining trade which was then very new business.
My first career was international dairy development. This had three stages:

• The commissioning of a laboratory in a dairy plant in India. The facility had been provided by UNICEF and the plant was operated by the Government of Gujarat.
• Teaching at Diploma level in a facility at Egerton College, Njoro, Kenya. FAO had provided a pilot dairy plant which the students operated daily and were taught in attached lecture rooms. Students came from countries around English speaking Africa.
• The establishment of a dairy processing company in Korea. This project was funded by the World Bank. It imported cows, established them on farms, collected the milk, processed it into UHT liquid milk and infant formula powder.

My second career was at Massey where I lectured in dairy science and technology at Diploma and degree levels while obtaining a PhD. My thesis topic was concerned with the nature of protein and its modification during homogenization.

My third career was in technical marketing with the N.Z. Dairy Board based in Wellington. At various times (spread over 26 years) this involved me in butterfat products, protein products (both casein and whey), and the funding of research (both for processing and on-farm). I travelled extensively around Asia and the USA. This included 2 years based in California where we established a research and marketing facility.

I retired when, in 2002, the Dairy Board folded its tent and was reincarnated as Fonterra in Auckland.

Interests: Although I played rugby at school, my sons were devoted to soccer so I wound up transporting them and raising funds for team trips and the like.
I travelled extensively in my work and this also gave the family lots of opportunity to visit Europe and USA as tourists. We have special interests in Ireland and Germany because our daughters-in-law come from there. My favourite country was probably Kenya. We were there soon after independence while the infrastructure was intact and people were convivial. We saw the game parks before the rush of tourism.
In my later years, in Wellington, I took up competitive public speaking and debating. At first this was terrifying but progressively I gained the skills and wound up with trophies in oratory and debating.
I kept an interest in science and was in frequent contact with the research efforts at DRI, Massey, and Ruakura.
I now follow theatre, films, opera, and (believe it or not) liberal theology. I maintain a large garden. I am a member of Rotary and of my local church.

 

Lynette (Lyn) Wright
Bachelor of Arts (English and Geography) 1966), Master of Arts (Geography) 1968 and Diploma in Health Administration (1984)
I taught at Feilding Agricultural High School for about 15 months after leaving university then left for Britain where I intended to do a further qualification in town planning. My British cousins suggested I take a summer job with BOAC (now British Airways) until the new academic year began, which I did. Starting out in crew rostering, I soon joined the planning section where I participated in assessing options for London’s new international airport, possible expansion of Heathrow Airport, planning new flight routes, obtaining political permissions for foreign overflights,  and running the charter and freighter operations. I never did do that town planning qualification!

In late 1977, I returned to New Zealand with my English husband and took a job with the Department (now Ministry) of Health in Wellington.  Thus began a long career in policy analyst and managerial positions in a variety of area,  e.g. secretary to the Special Advisory Committee on Health Services Organisation, service planning, Workforce Development and HIV/AIDS. My career also took me through a variety of other health agencies such as regional health authorities and the Clinical Training Agency.  En route, I did a part time Master’s degree in Public Health with Merit (Otago, 1996).

When my second husband, Laurence Malcolm, retired from his Otago professorship (Wellington campus) in 1995, we moved to Governors Bay, near Christchurch, and set up a health consultancy business that operated until his death in 2010, just prior to the earthquakes.  While his health was deteriorating, I completed a Diploma in Book Editing and Publishing (NZIBS) and still edit theses, mostly for students whose first language is not English.

Fortunately for me, the recent earthquakes caused ‘cosmetic’ rather than structural damage to my home and EQC has repaired this to a high standard. My family were also lucky, with both my stepsons’ homes having minor damage and my granddaughters’ education unaffected. Most of my own family still live in Palmerston North but the remainder of my step-family are in Australia. My third stepson, his wife, three children and their three children (my great grand-children) live in, or near, Adelaide  and my step-daughter, son-in-law and sister-in-law all live in Sydney. This family spread gives me a great excuse for travel.

Over the years, I have maintained my interest in music. I am a member of the Christchurch Harp Orchestra and run a small baroque orchestra/ensemble from my home.  Other hobbies include tramping, family history, ski-ing, bridge, gardening and quilting.

 

Don Miller
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1968
The relief at getting away from Palmerston North’s wind was enhanced by spending 1968 in Napier’s balmy weather - as a scientist with MOW Water and Soil Division.  That year persuaded me that a post- graduate qualification was essential and I completed an Agricultural Engineering masters at Lincoln in soil physics and hydrology in 1971.

I needed to experience a bit more of the world at this point and so spent two years as a VSA volunteer lecturing agricultural engineering at the new Khon Kaen University in North East Thailand, a now well established campus with many ties to Massey.  I returned from there with a different view of the world, shaped partly by Khon Kaen’s proximity to Laos and the Vietnam/American war.  I knew someone was lying when B52s bombers flew overhead and yet “Laos is not being bombed”.

On my return to NZ I was sent to Gisborne and largely ignored by MOW as I was regarded as a nonconformist “trouble maker”.  I spent that time developing the equipment needed to install and monitor groundwater piezometers in active earthflows and the impacts of various stabilising treatments on groundwater and pasture production.  All fairly boring (pun intended) but it gave me the chance to help raise our two children (both engineers now) and establish my own small research farm and organic persimmon orchard. 

Various manipulations of government departments saw me transferred to DSIR Land Resources and occasional work in the Cook Islands.  This provided valuable background on land mismanagement and inappropriate responses to severe soil erosion.

The Upton upheavals saw me leave DSIR - and my data base “lost” somewhere in a computer system in Wellington.  It is ironic that the information I had obtained is now relevant to fracking processes in that Gisborne East Coast Region.

I then worked as a geotech consultant for 10 years while also lecturing in Earth and Environmental Sciences for Waikato University degree courses at Tairawhiti Polytech.  Concurrent with this I was consulting internationally on erosion control and environmental restoration for various organisations in a number of tropical countries.  Myanmar was the most interesting of these but the longest association was with Vanuatu where I developed revegetation techniques for extremely eroded gullies in red acid soils, to prevent sediment from smothering coral reefs.

When this work dried up (corruption is one of the world’s real problems) I worked briefly for the Gisborne District Council defending rate payers against cavalier developers.  VSA approached me again and I spent 2006-07 in Vietnam teaching environmental protection on a floating classroom in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.  While there I met my partner Helen (another Kiwi), who was teaching English in Hai Phong, few hours bus ride away.

We had a final VSA assignment in Vanuatu where I was able to follow up on my earlier work and discover just how very effective it had been.  This led to the development of a system to allow shifting cultivation on steep slopes while maintaining fertility and minimising soil loss.

The steep slopes of Vanuatu and my inherited form of arthritis eventually brought us back to NZ where we now live in the Marlborough Sounds.  My current folly is restoring and assembling a steam boat – using the engine first brought out from the US by the late John Hager.

Geoff Miller
Started anonymously as a Farm Advisory officer in Kaitaia, before following Jack Ripley to Ruatoria. The unexpected arrival of twin daughters (five minutes warning of the second baby), gave me unchallenged credibility when explaining to farmers the virtues of breeding for fertility in their flocks. A challenging seven years in Hawera followed, in that four of those years was as a solo parent of three infants but I resolved this by eventually marrying Barbara, the twins Kindergarten teacher. I was the driving force from a good idea to the reality of the Taranaki Agricultural Research Farm. There was a campaign to have it named after me, but as a public servant I had to be deceased for that honour - at which point it didn’t seem necessary.

My advisory career was at its most productive from Rangiora, North Canterbury. At one stage I was introduced at a Lincoln College function as one of New Zealand’s premier agriculturists. Promotion to Regional Advisory Officer in Hamilton in charge of Waikato, Bay of Plenty, King County, Thames Valley – the second youngest ever appointed to this position. I was chosen by Uncle Sam for an International Visitor Study Grant to USA for seven weeks in 1983. This blew my mind about the position of New Zealand agriculture in the global scheme of things. Didn’t survive Rogernomics and in 1992 took early retirement. This unplanned change in direction led to my current full time career as a Rugby Statistician. Was video analyst for the All Blacks for Rugby World Cup 1995 and have kept the All Blacks up to date with statistical data ever since. For 14 years I have been joint editor of the longest running rugby publication in the world – The New Zealand Rugby Almanack. I have also kept various media outlets and Sky television up to date with information. Watch out for “All Blacks Supreme” due for publication shortly.

We are immensely proud of our children. Craig PhD has been a scientist with CSIRO in Brisbane; Lauren a corporate lawyer with Accenture in London – international mergers and acquisitions are her thing; Karen has been Australasian marketing manager for the surgical arm of Johnson and Johnson. Now juggling her twins with her career and MBA studies. Jan is a preschool teacher in London and Erin a business manager at Oxford University’s Medical School. The eldest of our six grandchildren has just started her fourth year at university.

Along the way we have managed to fit in other family crises such as a brain haemorrhage, meningitis, and fostering a terminally ill infant for a year.


John Reid
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1962
Lucky husband of Claire, a lawyer; father of Thomas, a doctor and Christopher, another lawyer; and servant of gorgeous Red and White Setter, Bailey.

After leaving Massey had three wonderful years at Oxford playing rugby (including versus Wilson Whineray's All Blacks, who broke my jaw) and writing my Doctoral thesis on Marketing NZ Lamb in the UK (a wee bit parochial and practical but it ensured no-one was too interested at the Orals). Never quite made it back to work in New Zealand but fought for the world's unwell at Pfizer, via strategic planning in New York, and operations in India (captained India in rugby against Sri Lanka!) and Bangladesh; then battling for the world's unclean at Colgate Palmolive, again first heading up strategic planning in New York, before leading the subsidiaries in Greece, UK and South Pacific out of Australia, finishing back in New York as CTO, responsible for Global R&D, IT and the Supply Chain; before easing into retirement with four years teaching at Stern Business School at NYU. Not, an absolutely obvious career path for an Agricultural Economist who was lucky enough to have had, effectively, one on ones with Wil Candler and Doc Low in Fourth Year at Massey, been exposed to a special kind of leadership from Stewey and, most importantly, shared three years with the first class to do their full four years for B.Agr.Sci. at Massey.

Currently building stone walls (and planning a dry wall bridge across a small stream - the Romans could do it without cement so why not me?) and battling Russian Olives and other unruly scrub and grass in the fields and among the trees, on our totally non- productive farm at Millbrook, (non-productive, that is, apart from deer, rabbits, beaver, woodchucks and squirrels), in hunt country north of New York City. Over capitalized with a much over-capacity tractor and attendant agricultural toys. Chain saw and split wood to burn in the winters, which often have us under snow for a couple of months - though not this year. Organize the Annual Poetry Night at the Fusiliers, a men's dining club. Carry Claire's luggage on wonderful travel. Backpack once a year with two other "Old Farts", usually in Colorado or the Pacific Northwest. Claire and I hike once year, internationally, with two other couples in the "Phocowee" tribe.

Served on for-profit Boards with Readers Digest and Minerals Technologies and on several not-for-profit ones, e.g. Center for Global Development in Washington, Citizen's Committee for Children in New York, Bardavon Theater in Poughkeepsie. President of the American Friends of Maungatautari, raising money in the US to support David Wallace's bird sanctuary in the Waikato. Senior Warden at St. Peter's, the only "small Episcopalian church on a dirt road" in the New York Diocese - not bad for a Presbyterian from New Zealand. And recently started a Men's book group where we meet monthly to discuss the book, expound on topics of related interest, solve most of the world's problems and toast our wives with the fruit of the vine. Often recall the special times we shared at Massey and give thanks for the wonderful friendships made there and continued to this day.

Clive Palmer
Master of Agriculture Science 1962, Diploma in Education 1972
I was delighted to read that the "Main Building" has recently been named to commemorate Sir Geoffrey Peren. I was President of the Student's Association in 1957 and officiated at a formal student farewell to "Prof", held in what was then the auditorium of the building. Indeed the building brings back many memories as an ag science undergraduate where many of our lectures were held. Later I shared space up in the top floor attics completing my masters, and later on the staff as PRO, my office was on the ground floor.

In 1962, armed with a MAgrSc, I realised that the research lab was not for me, but promoting the activities of a burgeoning Massey, was. I took my first job as Massey's Public Relations Officer, reporting to Vice Chancellor,  Dr Alan Stewart, a hard task master but respected mentor. These were incredibly exciting times. I was involved in promoting an innovative University that was developing a new faculty or course seemingly every few months and new buildings  springing up to match. Part of my responsibility was to keep the local and wider community and schools throughout New Zealand informed of these major changes and the huge numbers of visitors to the campus, farms and research centres.  I initiated the first "Open Days" to show off our progress to the community.

In-house communication was another focus. Growth and new personnel had brought different internal dynamics.  I started the first staff newsletter of campus events and became involved in setting up what was to become a staff watering hole and social centre - Wharerata.

In 1973 I joined DSIR, accepting a posting to the London High Commission as Science Advisor covering UK, Western and Eastern Europe.  1978; back in Wellington my employment covered a range of duties in DSIR HQ, the NZ Planning Council, the National Research Advisory Council, and a Ministerial Science and Technology Advisory Committee. In the early 1990s, as the inaugural GM of the Foundation of Research, Science and Technology I was charged to establish that organisation and its systems. Subsequently I had 10 wonderful years as an independent S & T management consultant, working and living offshore in developing countries.

Retirement has been a time to enjoy our extended family and to research past generations. I am involved in genealogy administration at both local and national levels.

The best decision I ever made was to go to Massey Agricultural College in 1956.

David Dennis
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1962
After graduation I took a position as a horticultural consultant with the NZDA in Auckland city. Specialised in greenhouse crops mainly tomato and cucumber culture. Appointed scientist in 1966 at Levin Horticultural Research Centre (LHRC) where I undertook agronomic research on greenhouse crops, and provided scientific support for other Horticultural consultants in NZDA in this field. From 1968 – 1972 was granted study leave to do PhD at Nottingham Uni. UK. Re- appointed scientist at LHRC 1972 researching environmental responses of green house crops, my PhD study area. My research at LHRC in the greenhouse crops area was aimed at defining the parameters computerised control of the greenhouse environments. In 1978 moved into ornamental research looking at agronomy of export cut flowers especially Protea and Zantdeschia. Following major re-organisation of research in NZ, LHRC closed and I lost my position there. I continued working as a private Ornaments consultant and as N Z agent for Ashiro Gentian Cooperative, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. In 2002 I retired.

My scientific and consultancy activities enabled me to travel internationally extensively attending conferences, giving papers and providing other services. As a result I visited South Africa, USA, Canary Islands, Australia and Japan.

 

I was teaching at Taihape College when I completed my B.A. It was the first ever BA that Massey had awarded. No hoods were available for hire and so Catherine, my wife, set about making one with the help of the Women’s Federation. I well remember two Massey graduates calling on us at the school house with a pattern and some material. I have the hood still with the spot of my wife’s blood on it where she pricked her finger sewing.

• Getting to exams was a problem. One year I left Taihape about 6am and was held up on the way to Palmerston North by an articulated truck unable to negotiate a bend in the main highway! Fortunately I arrived at the exam in time, (English I) and then had to face the drive back to Taihape. Quite a day! You must understand that in the early 60’s, roads and cars were not quite like what they are today.
• Completing a degree was a milestone in my career. I went from Head of Mathematics and Science at the new Taihape College to Head of Mathematics, first at Waiwhetu College in Lower Hutt, then on to the new Porirua College and finally to Hutt Valley High School. From this position I had more freedom. I completed a Diploma in Educational Administration and a Master of Arts with a Thesis on Teachers’ Predictions and Pupil Achievement in School Certificate at VUC. None of which would have been possible without the initial study done at Massey.
• I served many years on Refresher Course Committees administering residential New Maths Refresher Courses at Massey. During my time I got to know many of the students and staff. One group always welcome were the Ag Staff responsible for testing wine. Their brief started thus, “Decant 20 mls and recork the bottle. Our informal testing of the waste was always a pleasure. It came at a time when Corban’s Sherry, beer and whisky were almost all that was available and affordable.
• Acacia-Birch (I think that’s how it was spelt) figured high in the social life of courses. Students and staff mixed there easily and naturally, enjoying the company. Remember that these were the days when a “mature” student was a rarity, so, as a married man with a wife and two sons I was looked on with suspicion.

There is more, much more that I remember about Massey in the sixties. I will say no more, except to hope that current students, full time and extra-mural, get the same pleasure as I did from their study.

 

Anthony R. Bellvé, MAgSc (1st Class), PhD, MRSNZ
Bachelor of Agriculture 1965, Master of Agriculture 1968
Anthony graduated from Rangitikei College; attained BAgSc (1965), Massey University, served as Advisory Officer, Department of Agriculture (1965-66); graduated MAgSc (1968), Massey University, Palmerston North, and vested as scientist, Rurakura Research Centre, Hamilton (1967-68). Thereafter, with Ford Foundation support, he obtained a PhD at North Carolina State University (1968-70) and post-doctoral fellowships, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (1970) and Harvard Medical School, Boston (1971).

As Assistant and Associate Professor, Physiology and Biophysics, Harvard Medical School (1971-1985), he trained medical and doctoral students, and, as Associate Chairman, Division of Medical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, he administered nine PhD programmes (~230 students). Subsequently, he was appointed Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Columbia University Medical Center, New York (1985-2001).

Anthony’s laboratories pioneered cellular and biochemical research on mouse germ cells, from proliferating stem cells, meiosis and spermiogenesis, by creating and applying techniques based on monoclonal antibodies and RNA-based, molecular probes. Novel proteins were sequenced and unique gene transcripts were quantified. The findings were published in two books and 105 papers in leading, peer-reviewed journals. Anthony received a Godding Award for scientific excellence from the Australian Society of Endocrinology and Australian Society for Reproduction.  Appointed to Advisory Panels of the US Population Centre, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, he reviewed funding for ~42 multi-disciplinary Research Centres.

After 35-years in academia Anthony retired to New Zealand where he pursues environmental issues. He is Chairman and Founder, Energy Pacificâ, Hamilton, N.Z., a company focussing on generating renewable energy from marine tidal currents; and Founding Member (2005-) and Board Member (2006-08), Aoteroa Wave and Tidal Energy Association, Wellington. As consultant with Ryedale Consulting Group, Scarborough, U.K. and Hamilton, N.Z., he advises deltaDOT Limited, an innovative company at the Royal Veterinary College, London.  

While living in Whitford, Auckland, Anthony founded and chaired the Whitford Estuaries Conservation Society (2004-2013), and served as Trustee on the Motu Kaikoura Trust Board (2005-2012).  Anthony chaired the Programme Committee and was Board Member, Auckland Museum Institute - Auckland Branch, Royal Society of New Zealand (2008-2012); he continues both AMI and RSNZ memberships.

Anthony has five children and five grandchildren, who live in N.Z. and U.S.A., and he lives with his wife, Renate, in Hamilton, where she works in the mental health field.
 

I have been in Gisborne since 1968, developed an avocado and citrus orchard, and am still actively involved in all aspects of the orchard operation.
My interest in recent years has been to develop an avocado variety that has superior qualities to the dominant black skin Hass.  I have two green skin types showing real promise, and hope to test the market with a small amount of fruit next season.

Tom Mandeno
Diploma in Agriculture 1966
Following Massey; I worked as a high country shepherd in the Ashburton Gorge at Mt Possession and on our family farm at Orere Point - near Clevedon.   In 1969 I was awarded a Producer Boards sponsored International Farm Youth Exchange trip to the United States and Canada. I was then employed as a courier/driver by Contiki Travel for a season of nine week camping tours around Europe. Experience within the agri-business sector was gained from six years as a stock agent/auctioneer with Dalgety NZ at Tuakau.  

My wife Anna and I are hill country sheep and beef farmers near the Waikato west coast at Waikaretu. My election in 1983 as a Raglan County councillor was the start of 30 years of community service and governance experience. My interest in, and study of global agriculture was stimulated by participating in the Kellogg Rural Leadership course and as a Nuffield Farming Scholar and a Winston Churchill Fellow. I have been privileged to serve as a farmer elected director, at different times, of both the New Zealand Wool Board and the New Zealand Meat Board and was also a director of Meat and Wool NZ.  

Almost 50 years after my student days, as a director of the C.Alma Baker Trust, I am fortunate to have an ongoing association with Massey University where a long standing collaborative relationship exists with on-farm research projects funded by the Trust being undertaken by Massey staff at Limestone Downs. I am also a trustee of the NZ Poplar and Willow Research Trust which has its nursery on Massey land. The Poplar and Willow breeding and selection programme develops improved clones for soil conservation and river protection plantings.

 

 

 

I got into agricultural advisory work somewhat by accident as on leaving school I only wanted to go farming. Sir Geoffrey Peren, Rector of Massey at the time, convinced me to undertake a Degree first. The Peron’s were great friends of my parents and they often visited us and I remember the time when they were staying with us at Manly beach when he received his knighthood. “Uncle Geoff”, as I knew, him asked me what would I do if I had an accident while farming with nothing to fall back. I can thank him for a very satisfying life involved in the agricultural service industry as I only went farming on our own dairy farm for a short period of time.

Life as student at Massey was a great experience and one made contacts that cropped up all over the world in subsequent years. Life was never dull as student and I well remember an occasion when I was suspended from the campus for water fighting in the hostel, following a power cut and catching Pete McGillivray when he rounded the corner. I think I might be the only student who was suspended by one Principal to go and stay with his predecessor as I called on the Peren’s for help and they proved me with board, as it was during second year exams. Power cuts were a regular feature of life in the hostels and one had to liven up the boredom of swatting for exams. I can recollect the calls from residents  blaming our Asian students of causing the blow outs as they huddled over a one bar heater cooking up rice or just trying to stay warm!

Recently I had the opportunity of catching up in Adelaide  with an identity of that era John Sharpe,” Sharpie” as he was known to one and all and we had great time reminiscing about stories of the time. We were able to fill in the blanks for each other of many of the pranks that occurred at the time! I know how the damage to Bruce aka “Spaz” Currie’s bed in Pink Hostel occurred!

A graduate degree in agriculture opened up a wide range of career possibilities when one looks at the careers of students that I have knowledge of from around my time at Massey.  I do not think that we realised at the time the possibilities such a degree could have and many have gone on to serve at highest levels in business and politics both in New Zealand and overseas. I have never ceased to be amazed as to where I have met Massey Students and to the positions they have attained. This not only applied to local students but also to many of the Asian students attending Massey in the 60’s under the Colombo Plan Program who went on to be leaders in their countries’ of origin.

Following graduation from Massey I went down an unconventional path and did not join a Government Department. I was appointed to a position as a Farm Advisor to the Mid Northland Farm Improvement Club. In 1970 I went into private practice and established the Northland office of Ashworth and Associates in Whangarei. Ashworth and Associates was the first and largest firm of Farm Management consultants in New Zealand with offices throughout the mid and north of the North Island. The Firm also undertook a number of International Consulting projects in many developing countries in the Pacific, Asia and Africa. In 1974 I transferred to the Head office in Morrinsville and ran the NZ operations. In 1977 to 1980 I was employed as The Dairy Husbandry Officer to the Tanzanian Government on an FAO/World Bank Dairy Development project. I returned to that project in 1982 to complete the write up of the project. At the end of 1979 I was asked to report on the impact of the civil war on agricultural systems in neighbouring Uganda. During the period I worked overseas countries visited in relation to agricultural projects included Thailand Pakistan and Turkey.

In 1983 I retired from Ashworth's and took up a position with Farmer Fertiliser as a Technical Advisor. This began a second career in the Fertiliser Industry from which I retired in 2002 having been the Technical Consultant to Ballance Agri Nutrients for a number of years. Work included advice to the company on many agricultural projects and support to field staff throughout the country. I was involved with the establishment of Ag Research/Fertiliser Industry Co-operative Research programme and the development of the Overseer Nutrient Management programme. I was also involved in developing aerial spreading services for the Company's subsidiary, Super Air, in Malaysia and Indonesia in the 1990's.

After retirement I served for a nine years as a Councillor with the Matamata Piako District Council, serving on a number of committees. For the past two years I tried my hand at managing a golf club which was an interesting experience.

My wife Kate and I have now moved to Papamoa where we have caught up with a fellow graduate of 1967 Graeme Clarke.

 

Following graduation I embarked on a farm advisory career with MAF. My first position as a Farm Advisory Officer was Tauranga where, in addition to my general advisory work, became involved with Dr Graeme Everitt's dairy beef trials in the Bay of Plenty. This was a key factor in being selected, just 2 years into my career, for a UK Exchange position in Ayr, Scotland. (Lyn and I were only married a few months so a world trip came along as a second honeymoon!) On our return to NZ I was posted to TeAwamutu then to Hawera. I also made many trips to Flock House (near Bulls) and Telford (near Balclutha) to lecture to adult agricultural courses.  After 18 years working in dairy, sheep, beef and maize growing areas in the North Island, I then transferred to Invermay Agr Res Centre near Dunedin to establish the Southern South Island Regional Information Centre. 

Another transfer took me to Ruakura Agr Res Centre to manage the Mc Meekan information Centre. Being made redundant from MAF after 25 years I joined a start up advertising company that specialised in agricultural accounts and here I established the video information business, Farming With Pictures in partnership with Colin Follas, ex TVNZ. Following this venture working life has been a mix of marketing manager for a radio station, retirement home sales and management, tour guiding and a little freelance ag info work.
I was a keen member of the NZ Guild of Ag Journalists, serving as president and attending IFAJ conferences in Germany, Finland and Australia.
I am married to Lyn (a school dental nurse from Timaru). We have 3 boys, one works for Fonterra in Northland, the other two are in Britain, one working in IT, the other in building construction. Lyn has been a wonderful support in all my career moves as well as with major cancer and heart problems I have been lucky to survive.
We are now retired in Taupo, often away in our motorhome or travelling overseas.

Photo taken in a Budapest restaurant while taking a farmers' tour to Eastern Europe

Doug Gibbs
Bachelor of Agriculture 1968, Master of Agriculture Science 1971, Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies 1991
Arriving at Massey in 1965 with a BSc from Vic gave me some free time in the second year of the Ag Science course to be a Lab Demonstrator for the Botany Dept., pick up the third year soil science course and be Hostels Representative on the Student Assn Executive.  Fencing (with swords!) had been an interest at Vic and I became a foundation member, Club Captain, coach and first Massey fencing blue of the Massey University Swords Club!

 After graduation in 1968 I was employed as a Farm Advisor for the then Department of Agriculrure in Rotorua.  While there I was intrigued by the innovations of a sheep farmer in the Reporoa district and whether he had any influence on his neighbours.  This was the impetus for a return to Massey in1969 for a Masterate on “Communication Patterns Amoung Sheep Farmers in two North Island Districts of NZ” under Joe Hughes' supervision.  The adoption diffusion process and its role in farm advisory work was a component of the study.  Upon completion I was posted to Kaikohe in late 1970 where I was mostly involved with improving pasture utilisation on dairy farms, and implementing and managing the extension messages from our sheep and beef demonstration farm.

Looking for a wider use of my masterate studies and an international “Rural Extension” course attended in Wageingen in 1973, I joined the Information Services Division of MAF in Wellington in 1977. There, with Geoff Moss's (1957) encouragement I was involved in extension research, staff training in extension techniques, AgLink publications and managed MAF/TVNZ's weekly AgReport extension programme and a Saturday morning radio programme until MAF's 1988  restructuring and my redundancy.  In the 1980's I was selected to promote, the Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau (CAB) within the Pacific area, (an initiative of Clive Palmer's (1962) after his posting to the NZ High Commission in London).  This resulted in occassional  travel through the western Pacific and parts of Asia discussing CAB services with Agricultural Universities and research stations.

In 1988 I joined the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment as an Environmental Investigator.  I also managed the introduction of computers and eventually an intranet set up for the Commission.  A couple of the more notable reports I was involved with were an audit of the Environmental Impact Report for the second Maui Oil Platform and, Possum Management in NZ.(1995).  A continuing hot news topic!

Taking early retirement in1998, we moved onto a 10 acre block with an income from fancy hydroponic lettuces and bordeaux style grapes near Masterton  We enjoyed the busy rural life style    but decided in 2004 to have a weekend to ourselves and retired to Carterton and a half acre garden development.

The 'we' above is Joan (nee Hereford) who delights in telling people she married her fencing coach!Her support and wise council has been a strength over the last 40 mumble years, as have our three children and their families.

The Massey Ag Science degree of the 1960's was marvelously broad and enabled me to take on many roles from the directly agricultural to; media presenter, researcher, trainer, human physiology commentator and even corporate Chairmanship and legal drafting.  Thank you Massey.

Clare (Green) Callow
Bachelor of Agricultural Science 1968
Agriculture has been central to my life. Currently it keeps me at my computer as I generate reports for sheep breeders throughout New Zealand who performance record their sheep with The NZ Animal Breeding Trust of which I am General Manager. My company Agritour Associates showcases NZ agriculture by sharing our farming practices, technology and research with international clients who travel here. I have recent highlights in these two fields to share. There was personal recognition with the 2013 Beef+Lamb award - Allflex Individual or Business Making a Significant Contribution to the NZ Sheep Industry (the photo is my award presentation). As President of the Latin America NZ Business Council (my Agritour Associates connection) I travelled with the Prime Minister on his 2013 Trade Mission to Latin America. That’s the now.

To backtrack. I began my career as a public servant which lasted from 1968 until 1991. I joined the Sheep & Wool Division of the Dept of Agriculture at Ruakura (started the same day as Malcolm Smith), later absorbed  by the Farm Advisory Division in Hamilton. I was a specialist Farm Advisory Officer (Animal Husbandry). Back then a female could not be a general FAO and further my respected boss George Banfield allowed the males to call him George but he asked me to call him Mr Banfield – my, times have changed! Dairy beef was new and I was involved with the development of weight-based dairy beef weaner sales with Graeme Everitt, and calf rearing systems. The name of the organisation changed every other year; they took the fish out of MAF, put forestry in and many years later put the fish back in!

My interest had always been livestock and I became focussed on sheep performance recording. The National Flock Recording Scheme was reviewed and the case made for redevelopment into Sheeplan – spearheaded by Clive Dalton, who coincidentally is currently documenting the history (http://woolshed1.blogspot.com/). With the scheme under the Advisory Services Division I had overall responsibility . Amongst other roles I chaired the Sheeplan Technical Group, quite a challenge being the youngest and least qualified working with icons like Al Rae, Neil Clarke & Clive. From Sheeplan grew Animalplan and then MAF stepped back; The NZ Animal Breeding Trust was settled in 1991 by MAF and Massey with the transfer of Animalplan and myself to the Trust and a shift from Ruakura to Massey. The inaugural Chairman was Stuart McCutcheon and Trustee Al Rae and so I’d gone full circle Massey to Massey. This time Al Rae was my colleague rather than my Prof and I greatly appreciate the contribution he made to my being able to achieve what I have. As with all software systems, Animalplan needed upgrading. The funding was provided by the Producer Boards and they took ownership of sheep recording with the establishment of Sheep Improvement Ltd. The Trust operates their software through its Animalplan bureau.

I married into agriculture with my former husband Tony a Dairy Board CO and then head of Semen Exports. We started Animal Enterprises (AE) and he subsequently left the Board to become Managing Director; I was a Director. By the late 70s/early 80s AE was NZ’s largest exporter of livestock for breeding with some 8000 Sahiwal cross calves being reared annually for export. We had offices in Singapore and Bogata. AE exported sheep to Romania and Al Rae and I went to Bucharest to talk sheep recording. Divorce in 1984 meant the sale of our interest in AE.

I am second generation Massey; my father Sam was a MAgrSc graduate and later a Senior Lecturer in Dairy Husbandry. As children we followed him around dairy farms looking at cowsheds never knowing that in my degree farm practical I’d milk cows in the herringbone he’d done a lot of the early design work for. My mother Nancy was Head of Administration at the Palmerston North University College (later the Massey Arts Faculty). My son Derek had one semester at Massey (not agriculture) while he waited for a placement overseas, played in Massey’s  top hockey team and then left New Zealand and hasn’t lived here since. He’s currently Director and Global Head of Partner Marketing for YouTube in San Francisco. Making time to catch up with him in the many different countries he’s studied and worked in is always a high priority for me.

After graduating I worked as a dairy farm advisor for the Victorian Department of Agriculture – provider of the scholarship by which I studied at Massey. I worked in field extension and in dairy industry policy development. Along the way, I acquired a Master degree and a PhD in psychology from the University of Melbourne. From 1977 to 1999 I was a Lecturer and an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, during this time I was Head of the Department of Agriculture and Resource Management and the Department of Resource Management and Horticulture. I spent time also at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan and, later, I was Principal Research Scientist in the Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences. Subsequently, I was a Professor at Victoria University, Melbourne, and founding Director of Victoria University’s Institute for Sustainability and Innovation. Since 2004 I have been Scientific Fellow at Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and a member of the FSANZ Social Sciences and Economics Advisory Group; and, more recently, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Oakleigh Centre for Intellectually Disabled Citizens.

At Massey, my interest in the study of human behaviour was triggered by Jim Hodgson’s reflective lectures on thinking in farm management and a seminal book on attitude formation by Jahoda and Warren which I read in the subject Agricultural Extension – regarded as a fourth year ‘soft option’. Between stints of commercial and government consulting, most of my professional career has been focused on behavioural research related to natural resource management, public attitude measurement and, later, on water use, while participating in the development of new techniques of cognitive mapping and the measurement of attitude change for use in social-psychological and marketing research. Neil Barr and I co-authored Greening a Brown Land: The Australian Search for Sustainable Land Use published by Macmillan in 1992.

Eileen Fair
Master of Science 1969
B.Sc 1966 (Geography) my first geography lectures (1962) were held over the river and were under the auspices of Victoria University College extension courses before it was take over by Massey
 
M.Sc. Hons 1968 My dissertation dealt with dating the river terraces of the Manawatu River to glacial outwash periods of the late Pleistocene, earliest terrace approximately 50,000 years old. Dating was helped by the band of the Aokautere Ash Shower of 21,000 years BP. The largest terrace the Milson was laid down about 37,000 years ago followed by the Ashhurst terrace as deposited between 23,000 to 20,000 years BP.
 
I continued my career in geomorphology doing a Ph.d  1974 at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois.  This time underground  In the Ozark Mountains relating limestone weathering,   stalagmites and  stalactites, to energy and water budgets.
 
Later  lecturing Physical Geography at Oho University Athens, Ohio.
 
Travel of course is important to a geographer, and I have managed to visit many wonderful places - Galapagos Islands, -cruising up the Amazon, travelling up the Yangtze River as the Three Gorges was beginning, – and a months ‘barefoot cruise ’in the Caribbean  were among the highlights.

M App Sci (Food Tech), RMIT, Victoria Institute of Colleges, 1979
B App Sci (Health Ed), Canberra, 1984
Grad Dip Org Dev & Trg, Southern Cross University, Lismore, 1999
Reflections
In 1964 I was one of the 50 women students on campus outnumbered by 500 men.I well remember the ‘buzz’ of the annual capping and undergraduate parades and the floats marking the transition from Massey Agricultural College through to Massey University of Manawatu and miss the emblem of the three horned ram.

There were a few food tech students who took the product development and marketing major. In those days food marketing involved produce surveys and taste testing as well as summer holiday projects and experience in the food industry. We couldn’t get placements in the freezing works because they did not provide amenities for women at that time and one of our number turned green when we visited an abattoir!

Living in Moginie House for 2 years meant a mile walk to breakfast along with other meals in the dining hall where the cooks served up 3 cooked meals/day including 1 lb of potatoes per student per day. I looked forward to the weekends when supplies were left in the hostel kitchen for us to prepare our own breakfasts. The only drawback was we often ran out of milk and then sugar (I still drink my tea and coffee black and unsweetened). I used to assist in cooking for some of the student Christian camps (breakfast for 120 my largest effort). The food seemed to taste nicer outside the refectory. Over the next 3 years I acted as a companion for an elderly widow living not far from the Square cycling 5 kilometres each way to the campus.
 
 I wonder if any one remembers the number of the women’s toilet on the ground floor of the main building? One of the campus rules of the day was that ‘dress reminiscent of the beach was not suitable for lectures’! The additional issue for women students was that they had to change between farm or practical sessions and lectures as slacks were frowned upon. Another strong memory is the overpowering smell of lanolin from bales of wool in the exam rooms.  AND the day the Wahine sank Winna and I despite our gumboots got bogged in front of the Rivett building helplessly watching our umbrellas go by.

I was fortunate to have several mentors who supported me during those years both on and off campus including Mary Earle, Garth Wallace and AG Robinson the Chief Chemist at Hansells foods who had more than just the required 12 week summer placement for me. When I finally completed my degree I was able to take up an Experimental Officer’s position at CSIRO Dairy Research under the direction of Alex Buchanan. One of the highlights of working for CSIRO was the InternationaI  Dairy Conference in Sydney in 1970. I then undertook a MAppSci at RMIT Melbourne on the functional properties of food proteins. By the time this was completed I was married to George, we’d moved to Canberra and had two sons Martin & Dimitri. I became involved in health education studies as both student and tutor. I graduated from what is now the University of Canberra. I refer to Martin as my reverse brain drain as he and family live in Rotorua where he works for SCION developing biodegradable polymers. Dimitri & family live 20 km from our home in the southern region of Brisbane.

From Canberra the next move was to Morpeth, East Maitland NSW to enable George to undertake theological studies with the Anglican Church leading to his joining the priesthood.
As a sessional lecturer at the Home Science Dept at Newcastle College of Advanced Education now part of the University of Newcastle I supported our family for 3 years. Over the following years I became more involved in community development, social issues, adult education, organisational development and training including tutoring Aboriginal students. For 2.3 years I worked with Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation at Yarrabah as a community nutritionist including encouraging the community store to promote fresh fruit and vegetables and foods with healthy proportions of sugar (<15%) and fat (<10%).
 
From the time George was ordained I changed positions with every change of parish moving 'a little further north each year' until we reached Cairns in 2003. Three years ago we moved south when George took up the role of Rector of St Luke’s, Ekibin - about 6km from the Brisbane CBD. Almost back to the beginning for each of us as George grew up on a guest house and my parents hospitality extended to a diverse group of people that included several of the technology students particularly those from Thailand and Malaysia.
 
I’m officially retired from paid work while providing support for some parish activities, minding grandchildren, following up family history and often hosting friends (or friends of friends) from all points of the compass.

 

M App Sci (Food Tech), RMIT, Victoria Institute of Colleges, 1979
B App Sci (Health Ed), Canberra, 1984
Grad Dip Org Dev & Trg, Southern Cross University, Lismore, 1999
Reflections
In 1964 I was one of the 50 women students on campus outnumbered by 500 men.I well remember the ‘buzz’ of the annual capping and undergraduate parades and the floats marking the transition from Massey Agricultural College through to Massey University of Manawatu and miss the emblem of the three horned ram.

There were a few food tech students who took the product development and marketing major. In those days food marketing involved produce surveys and taste testing as well as summer holiday projects and experience in the food industry. We couldn’t get placements in the freezing works because they did not provide amenities for women at that time and one of our number turned green when we visited an abattoir!

Dalsukh Patel
Diploma in Dairy Technology 1969
After my graduation I joined as an Agricultural supervisor with the Govt of Gujarat for very short tenure and resigned as my admission to Post graduate Diploma was received from Massey University, Palmerstone North. I couldn't Complete it so as an alternative opted for admission in Diploma Dairy Tech.in 1966.I am indebted to Jim Henson of Massey and Ted Baker of Manawatu Co-Op Dairy Co. Ltd. for their help. After completion of Dip Dairy Tech from Massey in 1969,I returned to India and I joined one of largest Dairy Factory- Dudhsagar Dairy, Mehsana Gujarat, processing 30,00,000 litre/day. I resigned from Dairy to start my own business.In 1971 we started canning factory Vasundhara canning Pvt. Ltd  in rented premises of Southern Gujarat Fruit Growers Co-Op Asso.at killa-Pardi. I am one of the promoter of the company and the chief promoter was Late Mr. Prabhubhai Desai who was renown industrialist with a vison to develop Agro based export oriented cannery for the benefit of farmers in Fruits & Vegetables growing area. As a Technical Director of the company I was  incharge of production and R & D Dept. Our products under the name & style "Amrit" brand was brand leader from 1975 to 1990 in foreign market. Our Company was conferred with 12 Awards for outstanding performance in export of processed foods by the State Government. I took over as a Chairman & Managing Director of the company since 1985 and the company is almost a family concern. I am also receipient  of LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT Award of All India Food Processor's Association. New Delhi
I am semi retired now and my both sons are running the business in colloberation with Foods and Inns
Ltd. having more than 5 units all over India.
I am involved in social activities and Trusties of two hospitals and Nursing School. Member of  Executive committee of Small Scale Industries Asso. of Valsad. I am associated with (1)Association
of Food Scientist and Technologists of India.(2) Gujarat Asso. of Agricultural Sciences (3) Horticulture society of Gujarat as life member. Member of Lions club of Pardi-Green city.
In our family I am lucky husband of my wife Maya, Father of Elder son Ashutosh his wife Riddhi & son Adeetya,   Younger son Jay his wife Kashmira & son Dev.
My stay in New Zealand  was really memorable and enjoyable. I  am proud to be Almnus of Massey...
 

Janis Swan (nee Trout). 
Bachelor of Technology (Biotech) 1969, Master of Technology (Biotech) 1971
Professor Engineering, University of Waikato

I worked in industry for two years, returned to lecture n the Technology department for a year before getting a Walter Mulholland Fellowship and then went to the University of Waterloo in Ontario to complete a PhD in chemical engineering.  My research was on  modelling fungal growth on cellulose pulp in airlift fermenters.  I learnt how to cope with lots of snow, but it the weather was an inducement to complete my PhD in three years.  I returned to a NRAC Research  Postdoctoral Fellowship with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and worked with a team developing a commercial process to extract protein from grass.  After three very enjoyable years at Ruakura in Hamilton, I then got a job as a chemical engineer with the Meat Industry Research Institute of New Zealand (also in Hamilton).  A further 16 years (all very enjoyable) were spent investigating firstly rendering and blood processing, followed by meat product development.  I then decided on a change of career and became an academic at the University of Waikato.  As the chairperson of the Department of Technology (renamed Materials & Process Engineering, and then the School of Engineering), I led a team that developed the 4-year professional BE(Hons) degree.   These programmes are accredited to international standards. 

I currently am the Associate Dean of Engineering (first women in New Zealand to lead an Engineering School) and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering.  My highlights have included becoming a Member of the NZ Oder of Merit, being made a Fellow of both IPENZ and NZIFST and getting the JC Andrews Memorial Award.  I’ve was on Ministerial Task force for Crown Research institutes, a council member of the Marsden Fund (and inaugural chairperson of the Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences panel) and have just been appointed to the Government’s Science Board. 

I have always valued my time at Massey.  Getting a BTech opened up many pathways and the technology lecturers of the time were good role models. All my siblings completed Massey degrees – Florence Trout did a BA extramurally, followed by an MPhil, by next sister Elena did a BTech in biotechnology, and my brother did a BTech in manufacturing.  Unfortunately, none of the (limited) next generation have gone to Massey.

I arrived at Massey in early 1995 as a junior lecturer in Zoology having completing a Masters degree at Auckland. Junior lectureships allowed one to do a PhD part time, while earning a salary of 1000 pounds for teaching. I was one of 4 new staff hired to establish and teach the new Zoology courses. Initially, we were housed in the venerable main building but moved to the brand-new Interim Biology Building the following year. I worked on a freshwater snail for my PhD, utilising two campus ponds (now gone) and the Turitea Stream to study its life history. My wife Christine did a PhD in Biochemistry and in 1968 we became the first students to complete doctorates in our respective subjects at Massey University. In those days Massey was small enough to have a strong sense of community and notably, we were able to put out exceptionally strong staff cricket teams (for which I opened the bowling) to play annual matches against the students and Victoria University staff on the green outside the Refectory.  On leaving Massey we did post-doctoral research at the University of British Columbia and then returned to Christchurch where we have lived ever since. My research at the University of Canterbury has centred on the ecology of streams, aquatic insect biology and ecosystem processes. I was appointed to a personal chair in Zoology in 1990 and spent the next 5 years as head of department. I am now retired. Both Christine and I are Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand and in 2011 she was awarded the Rutherford Medal for her extensive research on free radicals. The diverse responsibilities I enjoyed at Massey in the 1960s clearly provided the basis for a rewarding career in research and university teaching.

Photo taken in a Budapest restaurant while taking a farmers' tour to Eastern Europe

 

Roger MacBean
Bachelor of Technology (Food Technology) 1970
I was one of a number of fortunate Australians who attended Massey under a Victorian Department of Agriculture scholarship scheme. I was at Massey in the '60s and graduated B Tech (Food Food) in 1970.

Massey was a small university in those days, but it had a first-rate and well-deserved reputation.

After graduating and returning to Australia, I worked for most of the '70s at the Gilbert Chandler Institute of Dairy Technology in Werribee, Victoria, with some study leave to complete a PhD at the University of NSW in Sydney. Whilst at Werribee, I did some teaching and, amongst other things, was involved with a collaborative program on whey research led in Australia from the CSIRO Dairy Research Laboratory and with links to some international research groups, including in New Zealand.

I then spent a few years as Technical Manager at the Victorian Dairy Industry Authority (a statutory regulatory and marketing body) in Melbourne, followed by a stint at Nabisco also in Melbourne, as Technical Manager.

In 1985, I moved back to the dairy industry and from Melbourne to Brisbane to join QUF Industries Ltd as Technical Manager. I was with QUF (Parmalat Australia after acquisition in 1998) for 22 years, until I retired in 2007, and consulted back to the company for a couple of years after retiring from full-time work. I've done some consulting for other organisations too over the last few years.  My wife Sue and I still live in Brisbane.

I'm very grateful for the years at Massey - the time at Massey was a lot of fun and was a great preparation for a satisfying career in the food industry. The staff in food technology was outstanding and, although a bit reluctant to single anyone out, I would like to record particular thanks to Mary Earle, who as well as being a trail-blazer in product development methodology, was an inspiring lecturer and valued mentor.

 

Donald Bishop
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1971
CUNNING STUNTS
Shortly after arriving at Massey in 1965, senior students borrowed an NZ Army truck from Linton Camp and parked it with the engine running outside the picture theatre on Broadway at 10pm on a Saturday night. This really impressed this fresher from Mosgiel and lead to my personal involvement in many Massey stunts. When PM Kieth Holyoake and Aussie PM Gorton visited Massey they were escorted on to a rickety raft on the Massey lake and Lord Massey sold NZ to Aussie for a leg of lamb and a pound of butter. To promote sales of the capping magazine   “Masskerade,” in 1966 a group of us walked backwards from Wellington to Palmerston North and the following year we did it on stilts.
 

One year we hoisted  bicycles up all 14 flagpoles on buildings around the Square including the Clock Tower. I suppose my own personal greatest stunt was when we gave the Massey University to Queen Elizabeth as a new colony. As Tom Scott recalled in the Listener “The Queen endured Lord Massey’s somewhat slurred and nervous proclamation with a nervous smile, while further back Prince Phillip stood, grinning broadly and saying things like: “Bloody good show.””

Dr Robert (Bob) Stewart
PhD (Social Sciences) 1971
When I was appointed Lecturer in Education at Massey in 1968, I enrolled in a staff PhD. I am proud to say that I completed this in 1971 and was capped (by Chancellor Les Gandar) in that year. My topic was in the field of Psychological Anthropology and I had external advisors from Stanford, Harvard and Columbia Universities in the USA. The computer analysis was much beyond Massey's then IBM 1620 computer and was completed at Harvard. I have been Associate Professor in Psychology at Laurentian University in Canada and Professor of Human Development at the University of the South Pacific. I am now Editor in Chief of an international journal in Social Psychology, which I started 43 years ago at Massey!

Rod Claver
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1972
Farm Advisory Officer Agricultural Engineering from 1972 until 1978.Post Grad Diploma in Ag.Engineering from Lincoln in 1973.Moved to Katikati in 1978 and became involved in the Kiwifruit industry as a grower,politician and packhouse director.For the last 12 years worked in Grower Services for Aongatete Coolstores.Lifemember of the Katikati Fruitgrowers Association.Retired June 2014 and now running a dairy support unit.Spare time spent with horses,cycling,Rotary and family.

Neville Chandler
Master of Agriculture Science 1973
After leaving Massey returned to the Victorian Dept of Agriculture at Ellinbank Dairy Research Station. Subsequently joined Dalgety to commercialise the Protected Fat Project discovered by CSIRO. Was responsible for producing polyunsaturated cheese and yoghurt. In 1980 transferred to the UK to work on the project but it was closed after 12 months. Remained in the UK where I worked for a company blending oils & fats for the animal feed industry. Then became in 1987 a consultant to the National Renderers Association (NRA), a US trade Association. In 1994 returned to Australia and was subsequently appointed Principal of Marcus Oldham College which I held for 2 years before returning to the UK to be the Regional Director of NRA., continued in that position until August 2007 when I decided to retire and return to Australia. Am now living in Nirvana at Batemans Bay, NSW. Of my four children, one is living in Ireland , married to an Irish lass and the other three are married to English people and living in England. They have produced eight grand children. Would like to hear from any former colleagues/students.

 

Rupinder Kauser
Bachelor of Technology 1975
I remember my years at Massey with the fondest memories. The were the best years of my life. I made friends whom I remember till date, though with age & distance coupled with the fact that we have not been in touch for the last 40 years their names & faces are a blur.

 

I was an extramural student intermittently from 1965 - 1974. It suited me to do one or two papers a year, because I lived in the country and had three young children.

The list of books, assignments and outline study guides were rudimentary compared to today, but I appreciated the wonderful library service. I still have my stack of yellow library tickets. Books had to be ordered well in advance and arrived in oilskin bags.

Gradually I accumulated enough papers to complete a B A in history, but had to do stage 3 at Canterbury as an internal student in 1975. It was not possible to do Stage 3 extramurally then.

Apart from the academic study which I loved, a highlight was the holiday courses at Massey - compulsory at Stage Two . It was a delight for those of us who had never been to University to experience lectures and tutorials. They worked us hard during the day and we played hard at night! We were from many walks of life - teachers, , nurses, clergymen - all trying to upgrade or accumulate qualifications; often married. A great opportunity to let the hair down.

I went on to complete a MA(Hons) at Canterbury and taught history at Lincoln High School for 22 years.

 

It wasn't all bell bottoms, Carol King and flat parties. We worked pretty hard too. Long nights in the library - these were the pre-digital days when we had to actually read books and photocopy reference material. And when we got extra marks if our handwriting was neat! But they were fantastic years at Massey, and it was a privilege to be a part of it. David and I were geography students together, and we are still together, so we have more than most for which to thank Massey.

 

Sylvia Irwin Wakem
Diploma in Horticulture 1977, Master of Arts 1990, Graduate Diploma in Adult Learning and Teaching
Sylvia Irwin Wakem finished a Diploma in Horticulture in nursery management,  and a BA in Social Anthropology at Massey in 1976.
She completed an MA in Social Anthropology in 1990, and a Graduate Diploma in teaching, (ESOL endorsement) in  2007 also at Massey. She wrote her MA thesis on the social and psychological effects of ME, (CPVFS) and the problems of recognition.
It was published as a book called "MErely Triumphant" and included her story as a sufferer of ME for 30 years, and  also Marfans/EDS Syndrome, a connective-tissue condition that affects the immune system.
Sylvia started  Alverno Retreat which is a charity that provides affordable holidays, (particularly for people with disabilities), after studying rehabilitation counselling at Massey, Pastoral Care at St Johns and CPE for  hospital chaplaincy.
She also started and animal welfare trust, and advocates particularly for the  neutering of domestic pets and is writing and iillustrating a pet care book.
She is also a civil celebrant and florist and sings in a choir.
Her friend in the photo, is Jude the rescued English Bull Terrier, making like an angel, (after chewing her lead),  just before she ate all the Christmas presents!

Jackie Sayers
Bachelor of Arts 1977, Bachelor of Social Work 1980, Diploma in Social Sciences 1997, Postgraduate Diploma in Social Services Supervison 2002
Besides studying with a major in History and later in Social Work my main memory is being involved in setting up the Tiritea/Turitea Maori Club. As an adult student in the 1970s and with 4 children I was one of the few of that age studying at that time although I wasn't, of course, the only one. I was 20 years older than most students. I am now retired after a career in Social Work.
I was a student from 1973 to 1979 - 7 years in all.

Ashley Burrowes
Bachelor of Business Studies 1979, Master of Business Studies 1982
A twice graduate of Massey University Dr Ashley Burrowes (FCANZ), Professor of Accounting at Woodbury University in Hollywood has been appointed to the Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards Committee of the California CPA Society. He has agreed to sit at the University Canterbury, Christchurch, as an Erskine Fellow this year. Ashley is a visiting Professor at Te Whare W?nanga o Awanui?rangi and a member of Ng? Kaitatau M?ori o Aotearoa (National Maori Accountants Network) . Both of Ashley's daughters, Ingrid and Alison, also are Massey alums.

Madeleine Taylor
Bachelor of Social Work 1980
I am a Massey graduate from 1980. BSW. After working as a social worker in health and mental health I transitioned to the area of organisational development and conflict management. Most recently I have been to a workshop based on research from Minnesota about the Impact of Overindulgence on Children. (As they grow up and then come to work!)From there I have been developing ways of talking about this very important issue in NZ.

Julian Good
Bachelor of Agriculture Science 1982
Graduated BAgSc 1981. Worked in sales for 10 years with an Australian water pump company in sales based in Chch, they moved me to Chicago on a 12 month contract to open an office for US & Latin America, 13 years later we are still here. Now OEM Sales Director for USA & Latin America for Thomas & Betts, large US company owned by ABB. Being a Kiwi with a global perspective is a real advantage working for a US company, the fact I grew up in Chile and speak Spanish also helps. Would encourage all my fellow Alumni to feel proud of your Antipodean ancestry and the unique perspective we are able to offer employers

Michael Godfrey
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) 1983
I was appointed Dean of the Anglican Cathedral of Saint John, Waiapu in Napier from October this year, relinquishing a position in Darwin to take the new post. My book Babylon's Cap, a post-colonial reflection on the biblical Book of Revelation, was published by Wipf & Stock in the USA a month earlier.

 

I started work at New Zealand Steel south of Auckland the day it became an integrated steelworks, manufacturing steel products from ironsand. I worked there for four years as a Production Planner, and Production Engineer in the Iron Plant. After time overseas in Asia and at home with children, I started tasting cheese and milk products part-time at Fonterra Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North. This led to full-time work in the Sensory Team analysing sensory data. I then decided that further study was required in order to be able to do more varied statistical work. I completed a Master of Applied Statistics in 2014, after 5 years part-time study. I’m really enjoying my work as a statistician at the Palmerston North campus of AgResearch, where I’ve been since mid-2011.

 

Zheng Zhao
Postgraduate Diploma in Technology 1988, Master of Technology 1990
Cheese Project was Awarded in China
Zhao Zheng is a Professor of Dairy Technology in Tianjin University of Science and Technology, China. His team of Cheese Science and Technology, worked hard with the Chinese Agriculture University, Gansu Agriculture University and several Giant Dairy Groups in the project of Innovation and Industrialization for Cheese Manufacture and Comprehensive Utilization of By-products. Recently, Zhao’s team and others got a National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Class). Zhao learned dairy technology through a diploma course in Dairy Technology  through 1986-1987 and completed a Master of Food Technology (1st honors) through 1988-1989 in Massey University under the supervision of Mr Rod Bennett. Zhao spent a lot of time in learning cheese technology, with lectures, plant visits and two weeks practice at NZ Dairy Research Institue (now Fonterra Research and Development Centre). After he read the news of his award from the net, he wrote to Rod, “Thanks for your guidance and help, Massey as well, which directed me to cheese.”

The flat , more like woodshed than house .The Fitzherbet jug skuling competitions which record was 1.8 seconds. The soak days which I did not participate were from a parallel universe .

Through all of this the wisdom and genius of Dr William Renault , guided and inspired my way through the challenges of University.

 

Massey provided a chance to learn and too grow as an individual, it was a hugely beneficial time for me and 26 years on I still have fond memories of the staffing faculty led by Dr Renault.

Thanks Massey University your simply the best!

I attended Massey University from 1991- 1994. Graduated in 1995 with Bachelor of Technology majoring in Manufacturing and Industrial Technology, Division II Honours. I did post graduate Diploma in Packaging (with Distinction) in 1997 & Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration – Management in 2005. Both of these from Massey University extramurally.

 

After graduating with B Tech degree I started working as a Process, Research and Development Technologist for a World Class Plastic Packaging Company based in Rotorua. For last 15 years I have been working for Multinational Forestry Company based in Central North Island as a Quality and Process improvement Manager. I am member of New Zealand Organisation of Quality and actively participate in organised events and networking. I have passion for quality & have developed and successfully implemented own continuous improvement program for organisations based on TPM philosophy. I have worked on numerous Business improvement and cost reduction projects since graduating.

I keep work and life balance. I play social hockey, walking, jogging, biking & running in the beautiful forest.

 

 

I believe in continuing education and that is exactly what I have spent the past 20 years doing. I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1990.

After I completed that, I felt the need to further my education and at 23, went on to further study at Massey University, while working full time at Air Nelson as the Senior Cabin Attendant- Line. I recall flying up to Palmerston North to sit some of my exams for the Business diploma I was completing extramurally.

The Business diploma took three years to complete and during that time I moved to a position as an international Flight Attendant with Air New Zealand. Often carrying my heavy text books with me around the world and “studying” beside various swimming pools in places like Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London and Frankfurt to name a few. Occasionally my exams coincided with me being overseas and I recall on one occasion being in Taipei. At a very young age I took a taxi to the inner city of Taipei and went to around the 30th floor of a building where I was placed in a room, alone and sat a three hour examination. It was an amazing feeling thinking that I could sit an examination half way round the world in 1994, pass it, and all thanks to excellent organization at Massey University.

I completed the Business Studies Diploma in 1996. In 1999 I retrained again and achieved a Graduate Diploma in Teaching – Secondary school. I have had a successful career teaching in some of the top schools in New Zealand, Rangitoto College, Diocesan School for Girls and ACG Parnell College to name a few.

In 2008 I won a position as an Education Advisor living and working in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emerites and it was at this time that I decided that I wanted to continue my studies at Massey University and applied for an Executive MBA. I returned to New Zealand when my contract was complete. At the present time I am also considering opening my own Nutrition business as there is a worldwide epidemic of obesity. From 2000- 2005 I became Ms New Zealand, Ms Australasia and 12th in the world in Santa Susannah, Barcelona in Body Shaping as an athlete for the New Zealand Federation of Body Builders. Nutrition education has been my passion now for some time.

For the past year and a half I have been studying towards my Masters degree while working full time in education and being a single parent. I admit at times it has not been an easy road, the study has been challenging and I have made many sacrifices. However, it really makes me feel alive and the more that I learn the more I want to learn. I hope that I am a role model for my daughter, for women and for anyone that I come into contact with.

I recently went on a study tour of the USA as part of my MBA. The tour was by far one of the most exciting and challenging learning experiences I have had in my life. If you are thinking about continuing study at Massey University, stop thinking and “just do it”!
Gen Brown

Jill Worrall
Master of Social Work 1996
I gained an MSW in 1996. When I first began my study I had to attend Palmerston North Campus for week long tutorials. Before I had completed my degree I was appointed as a lecturer in Social Work at Albany in January 1994. In that year we had 150 1st year BSW students and I had to teach that paper 4 times a week as the lecture theatre on the lower campus could not accommodate all the students at once. I taught until 2004, becoming a senior lecturer. I left to continue working in Tajikistan on a de-institutionalisation project funded by the Asian Development bank. My task was teaching doctors and teachers to do child and family assessments with a view to placing children back within their extended families. Since that time I have continued to research and write and particularly, I have undertaken two large pieces of research on Grandparents Raising their grandchildren because of a care and protection issue. I am still working as a consultant, training foster parents and social workers, and often meet my past students in the process! I have served on several Boards and undertaken interim management and CEO positions. I am on an International Foster Care Organisation Board and I am currently studying for my PhD looking at the role of women in upholding the Care and Protection legislation in New Zealand.

 

Athalae Elliott
Bachelor of Education 1997
I started Massey in 1991 doing a Dip Hort (nursery) - a fantastic way to start university! I was in the oldie, but goodie, C Hostel. The first night my next door hostel neighbour (who had yet to arrive, but who had an obliging room-mate) had his bed, drawers and other furniture removed with great hilarity by his former school mates. "What a hoodlum!" I thought. I wasn't surprised to find out he was doing an Ag' degree! As we were both fully immersed in the hostel lifestyle it took a while to actually meet each other. After a month or so we both arrived back at our rooms at the same time and, to cut a long story short, 5 years later we were married, on the 12th of November 1995, at Wharerata, the Massey University Staff Club. I graduated with a Diploma of Teaching (primary) and a Bachelor of Education. John graduated with Bachelor of Agriculture. Nearly 19 years of marriage, and three children later, I have returned to teaching and John is the Marketing Manager of Ballance Agrinutrients.

 

Scott McQuade
Graduate Diploma in Business Studies 1998
Scott McQuade was a newly-hired business journalist with the Dominion newspaper when he took a Diploma in Business Studies (Finance) with Massey University by distance learning. It helped him go on to work for the Financial Times group in the UK and later become a speechwriter for OPEC in Austria. It also inspired him to take an MBA by distance learning and these days he is a publisher in the United Nations, having lived and worked in Australia, Germany, Japan and now Switzerland. He is still studying online and promoting the message of safe sex and zero discrimination, in his role with the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

 

Rachel Mackay
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) 1999
I'm a BSW graduate from 1999. I'm currently one of the 2013 Vodafone World of Difference Recipients. (see foundation.vodafone.co.nz for more info) I am spending my 12 months researching how we can achieve better outcomes for high needs young people in foster care and for those who care for them.

 

John Coxon
Diploma in Business Studies 1999
Memories Diploma Business Studies (Agribusiness) 1998 and regrettably not completed Graduate Dip QA 1999. Loved my time at Massey, miss it every day. My studies provided me with the knowledge and confidence to return to the business sector. Since 2002 have been providing management consulting services to healthcare and nfp sector in Australia and NZ from a base in Victoria. Recently returned to live in Hokitika on West Coast within sight of the Southern Alps and the sound of surf along the Coast and surrounded by a rural outlook. Life is for living.

 

Joanna Giorgi
Bachelor of Technology 1999
Making Sugared Crunchy Cereal Clusters in the Food Technology labs - I caramelised the sugar a bit too much and burnt it on the bottom of the kettle - it went all brown and it turned out so hard you could almost break your teeth on it - our lecturer said he wouldn't feed it to his dog!

 

Fay Freeman
Bachelor of Business Studies 1999, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration 2001, Master of Management 2008
I entered Massey University as an adult and completed a Bachelor of Business Studies graduating in 1999 while in full-time employment and with a young family. I truly got the bug and went on to do a Postgraduate Diploma and then a Master of Management degree. My study was largely done extramurally which really fitted around all the other things going on in my life. Study opened up a whole new world of wonder and learning. The block courses in Palmerston North are particularly memorable. Being invited back to present my Masters research into Dispute Resolution was particularly rewarding. Thank you Massey University for contributing to my growth as a person and setting me off on a very rewarding career path.

 

Sheryl Meijer
Certificate in Early Childhood Education 1992, Bachelor of Education 1996, Diploma in Business Administration 2000.

Massey University at Albany. Mention of it in the early 1990's brought bemused looks back then. The motorway ended at Sunset Road; Constellation Drive remained severed; Albany was a country village primarily suitable for weekend visitors, and the concept that a new University could succeed in such a situation was almost incomprehensible.

Such developments take Vision. Dr Neil Waters and his team had just that. Their singular focus saw the building of a 'residential-like' campus along Oteha Valley Road, followed by The Study Centre off the Albany Highway, and a modern campus that continues to grow.
There are a multitude of memories:

• The mountains of paper in the Takapuna Centre as a small staff ploughed away to prepare for an onslaught of staff and students. Fifty for that first intake was upgraded to five hundred when the campus opened.
• The beevy of blowflies that pervaded the campus site simultaneously with staff moving in: compost and seed were being laid at the same time!
• The Dawn Ceremony at the Oteha Valley Library to declare the campus 'Open'. A cool, clear, crisp morning born full of anticipation and promise.
• The people: a plethora and students implementing the Vision. And being able to know every staff member by name.

It was the dawn of a different era in tertiary education; one which other insttutions have aspired to. Massey raised the bar with Albany. It continues to do so in an array of fields. I was proud to be part of it, both as a student and a staff member.

 

Jason Stapp
Bachelor of Science 2000, Diploma in Teaching SecforGrads 2001, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration 2005, Master of Management 2010.

I completed a BSc in 1999, and a MMngt (OHS) in 2009. I am now working for Downer as the National a Operational UFB Zero Harm Advisor after starting out as a regional advisor several years ago. Since graduating I have worked in petrochemical, heavy construction and deep well drills in geothermal energy production, developing HSNO controls, and sustainable waste minimisation projects helping my company to achieve Green Ribbon Award recognition within NZ and ISO 14001 accreditation for two different companies. I use the skills I learnt at Massey Palmerston North every day.

 

Florence Trout  RGON, RM 
Bachelor of Arts (Nursing) 1990,  Master of Philosophy (Nursing) 2000.
I was a “second chance” learner who, in 1978, joined many other adult university students without secondary school qualifications for university entry.  Short courses without prior learning recognition were the usual.  I needed to enrol and pass three preliminary level one extramural papers in the BA degree before I could proceed and be considered a true university student.  With encouragement from many people, I persevered to complete the 21-paper degree in 1990 by extramural study whilst working full-time in various health professional roles in different parts of New Zealand.  Each course had a compulsory on-campus “vacation” course - notably this was my vacation time - held in university breaks.  Not all courses provided by the University were available each year by extramural study. The University campus at Palmerston North was a quiet and reflective place, with few students around, so we felt like visitors were it not for the enthusiastic lecturers who accepted us into their courses and knew us all by name. 
By 1996 I had completed a Masters of Philosophy, partly extramural, partly with on-campus courses, some of which were designed by me.  Nursing courses were first introduced at Massey in 1974 by Dr Nancy Kinross and Dr Norma Chick.  I studied courses in eight different departments.  Courses taken were instrumental in to shaping my skills in developing quality initiatives for community health nursing.   One example of my subsequent endeavours was starting the distance learning Plunket Nurse course in 1993.  This course became the PG Certificate for the whole Well Child/Tamariki Ora healthcare sector, with about 100 students per year.
The experience of studying alone after a day at work, using a conventional typewriter for assignments, and making requests for library books by mail, is now replaced by emails, on-line learning, and study groups.  And as for recognition of prior learning – well that is now an option. 

Brian Wilson
Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) 2001, Master of Arts 2007
Hi, my name is Brian Wilson and I live in Christchurch, New Zealand. 'Bumpy Roads'(2013), is my second book of short stories. My Massey University connection comprises completed Bachelor, and Honours Master's Degrees in Psychology. I studied extramurally through Massey University, Palmerston North.

During this period of study I already had accounting and management qualifications and was working at the IRD, Christchurch as a tax investigator. After completing my qualifications I continued in this public service role until 2013, when I chose to have a life and take early retirement. My psychology studies have been useful in my Government job, in part-time counselling and now as a writer. While I have always enjoyed writing, I started writing short stories following the Christchurch earthquake.

The earthquake struck on the 22nd February 2011 at 12.51pm. At the time I was sitting in a seven-storey building in central Christchurch. Immediately, following the first shakes, the six- storey CTV building across the road fell entombing the 113 occupants. That day people died, businesses collapsed and over 10,000 homes were destroyed. Tragic as this event may be, it marked the beginning of my first book of short stories 'Moments in Time -a collection of short stories' (published 2012). This records not only some of these earthquake experiences, but is also based around my experiences in other countries. These include: Australia, Zambia, Thailand, England, Scotland and Switzerland.

This year I returned from a trip to Japan and China and have included stories based in Japan and China in my latest book 'Bumpy roads-a collection of short stories'. China was the first communist country I had visited and was not what I expected.

In addition to writing I am now involved in voluntary work where I can utilise my accounting and counselling skills.

Joseph Bradford
Bachelor of Business Studies 2002, Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies 2003
I left Massey in 2002, spent some time in the print and advertising industry, a couple of years in Korea, worked in a church and had some fun putting on entertainment events. My family and I have just come back in June 2013 from South Carolina USA, where I did some more study and got a MA in Global Studies from Columbia International University. Now I am meshing all my experiences of the last ten years into running www.fiascoltd.co.nz which imports event equipment from China into NZ, talking to people about faith and work and we are expecting our second child in Jan 2014. I would love to connect with old friends from Massey.

Lynda McDonald
Bachelor of Science 2002, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration 2003, Master of Business Administration 2012
I'm working in Milk Quality in China, developing knowledge and capability in the industry, delivering training within the industry and my company to improve milk quality (and also animal welfare and biosecurity indirectly). I've been here for 3 months now, I transferred with my company after working in NZ in the dairy industry for 10years.

So far I've done some pretty cool stuff - I've presented on live TV to 5000 farmers for 4hrs with a live Q&A session, and delivered a 5 day Milk Quality Conference (photos attached, the last one is like Where's Wally?!).

 

Hong Robert Hu
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration 2004, Master of Management 2005
I enrolled at the Albany branch of Massey University for a Master Degree of Business Management. I took one and a half years to complete this MBS degree, which was my first degree obtained in New Zealand. I do recall taking a HR Management paper at the Palmerston North Campus. I have very fond memories of both campuses. I later got my LLB degree from other universities in New Zealand. I used all my management knowledge learned from Massey and set up three branches of Hong Hu Lawyers in Auckland. I am the first and only notary public lawyer from China practising in New Zealand and I am a guest law professor at one of the law schools in China. I attended and witnessed the FTA agreement being duly signed between China and the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. I am holding several directorships both in New Zealand and in China. All of these achievements should be credited to the education I obtained from Massey. The most important concept I learned from the MBS degree at Massey is to continually keep up my own core competence, that is to study and learn continuously.

 

Ian Lu (Qian)
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration 2004, Master of Management 2005
I studied in Palmerston North campus from 2003 to 2004 and got a Master Degree in Human Resources Management in the end. Now, I worked for Bombardier Transportation in China as the Head of HR. It's great to reconnect previous contacts in Massey. Long White Cloud Land left me very deep and positive impression. It's great memory to cherish. thanks.

 

Paul Easaw
Bachelor of Aviation 2005
I had beautiful and lasting memories of my time at Massey Albany campus. Those moments I would nurture and cherish for the rest of my life.
I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Aviation management with a good result.
I grew up in Malaysia and my childhood aspiration and dream was to be a commercial pilot. When we migrated to New Zealand the closest thing for me to do to fullfill my dream is to do the Aviation management degree as I was 44 years old and not really practical to do the flight training. After graduation I worked with Menzies aviation at Auckland airport as a flight despatcher and offered a job as airside operations officer at Wellington airport. I moved back to Auckland for family reasons. I have been looking for a job in aviation for a few years now which has been very frustrating and demoralising. I have been driving a commercial bus since to support my family. My passion and dream will always be Aviation. I thank you for letting me share my story. Thank you.

Allen Goldenthal
Modular Master of Business Administration 2004
I have been able to combine my MBA from Massey University in 2004 into the scientific world of research in which I have been involved for 3 decades. Life has truly become an adventure with my work in China in cancer immunotherapy as Quality Manager at Shenzhen Hornetcorn Biotechnology and my consulting work with organizations such as PATH which has involved the many projects here in China sponsored by the WHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations. This has recently culminated in the establishment of Chiwi Bio Limted (www.chiwibio.org) a combination of agency, research and marketing, linking Eastern and Western interests. Through my efforts a major contract was signed on November 1st between Chimera Gentec of India and Shenzhen Hornetcorn, that will see potentially thousands of cancer sufferers from India receiving immunotherapy in China. And the highlight of the contract is the humanitarian efforts to see that indigent people also are given the same opportunity to receive this treatment. My efforts have been rewarded with my appointment to the Anhui Province council of Foreign experts In Cancer Therapy. Full story on the website. My MBA from Massey definitely provided the skills to make much of this possible.

Slavica Seric
Bachelor of Social Work 1998, Certificate in Social and Community 1996.
When I first began my study in 1995 at Massey University Albany I could not speak English at the level that the university requires, although I had a qualification and work experience in economics, accountancy and sports fields.

As a newly immigrant and mother of two wonderful and successful children I wanted to make sure that I am able to do the required tasks at the University level and contributing to the society that I now call home.

I chose to do the Certificate in Social and Community Work first, which I successfully completed. When I got on the stage and the professor Spoonly congratulate me and presented me with the certificate in achieving my first goal I became hungry for leaning more.

I enrolled myself in the Bachelor of Social work degree. I have struggled with the assignments and my daughter Camelia at that time only 10 years old read and corrected all my spelling and grammars mistakes. I am not surprised that she was granted Lion Citizenship awards from her Baradine College when she was only 12yrs old. Due to reading all the theory in my assignments it prepared her to be a better life and I thank her for being so serene during my time of study. My son Julio seven years old at the time was a good speller too, however the rugby was his priority and he did not have a time to check my assignments.

During the school holidays the university was full of young children due to majority of the student at the time we adults who brought their children at the lectures and tutorial classes as we did not have the child care facilities. The school holidays was buzzing and very busy time at the campus. In the last year of study the student’s lobbied for the child care facility to be established and it was a success.
I was in my first year of the BSW and to make the matter worse the war in the former Yugoslavia broke out and all my dreams of study vanished. I needed all my energy to put in trying to find my parents and my sister and her family who were missing. And at the same time attend lectures/tutorials and produce the assignments on time. It took 3 years before Red Cross found my parents in the forest, disorientated and displaced. It took another 2 years to bring them into the country that I called my home.

All that time I was attending regular lectures, writing assignments on my broken English and with the help of my children and fellow students. When someone asked me how resilient I am, boy do I have a story to tell them.

My first employments after graduation were working as a locum social worker at Auckland hospital for 11 months. In 2001 I obtained full time Care and protection Social Worker position with Ministry of Social Development, Chid Youth and Family at Otara Site in Auckland.

Currently I am in a role of the Caregiver Social worker who provides support to the caregivers. I am also a member of The Rotary Club of St Johns, Auckland.

I provide interpreting services to the Immigration office for refugees and asylums seekers. I also provide interpreting service to Airport Immigration and Police. I am currently doing application to became Justice of the peace.

I am proud to say that current boss Honorary Minister of Social development Paula Bennett was one of as at the Albany campus at the time of my study.

I love what I do and as one of my friend said: “Slavica, you are born to do what you chose as a profession and you are one lucky lady”.

With that I just want to conclude by saying thank you for supporting me during my time as a student and good luck to all the old and new Massey students, god bless you all.
Slavica Seric

Steve Budd
Bachelor of Business Studies 1996
Wow! What have I done now? Those were the words swirling in my head as I was sitting on the bus in the middle of Kyoto on my way to the hostel…… After graduating from the Albany campus in 1995 I spent 1996 saving my pennies for my OE with no idea where it would end up. A couple of months in Japan, then off to Europe, then back through the States? Sounded like a good idea to me! Little did I realize that 17 years later I would still be on this adventure with a Japanese wife, kids and mortgage in the middle of writing my first book!

My three years at Massey were some of the most memorable of my life. Me, Russ and Skewsy made the regular trek from Henderson over the Greenhithe bridge to fill our melons full of knowledge that would allow us to take over the world. Plenty of long drunken nights followed by even longer ones trying to get our assignments in kept us busy and when we finally got to throw our hats in to the air the inaugural graduation ceremony at the Kirstin School we were ready to be let loose.

My journey initially took me to Osaka where I spent the first eight years in HR at Berlitz, the largest Education Company in the world. From there I joined a Shinsei Bank in Tokyo to help set up their L&D team and was lucky enough to work with the Asian L&D guru who taught me so much. After five years in Tokyo and a new baby on board we decided to try our luck at life in New Zealand but no sooner had we landed than I was offered an amazing opportunity to head to China to rebuild the Berlitz team there so we shot off once again.

Since leaving China I have set up my own consultancy firm where we have worked with some of the largest financial and insurance companies in Asia on a number of exciting projects. Most recently I have been in Singapore and Hong Kong helping innovation teams with Human Centric Design and Lean Startup initiatives and we have just arrived back in New Zealand to see if we can finally make it work back home.

After traveling around so much since I left Auckland that cold May morning in 1997 I’ve come to realize there is no place like home and with two trouble makers in the mix we cannot think of a better place to raise a family. My time at Massey gave me the opportunity to explore the world and for that I am forever grateful but it is now time to rest my wings and enjoy that kiwi lifestyle so many of us take for granted. We have a special piece of paradise here and I can’t wait to show my kids what being a New Zealander is all about.

Amy Burrell
Bachelor of Visual Communication Design majoring in illustration - 2006
After working hard through the four year design degree at Massey I was dying to head overseas. To Melbourne I went on a one way ticket! I picked up work as a graphic designer for an environmental testing company, not quite the glamorous design job I had envisaged. A year later I was offered a design job with an events company, much more what I had in mind. I was branding large international corporate events and creating their marketing collateral. I illustrated children’s books on the side until I decided I would rather be doing this than graphic design.

Just after I made the decision to move back to New Zealand and become a full time illustrator I was offered a spot in one of the most prestigious art ateliers in the world, The Florence Academy of Art. I spent a year drawing nudes 40-50 hours a week. I learnt the techniques used by many of the renaissance artists in the height of realism. This experience was out of this world, the culture, the food and the people were just breath taking.

On my return to New Zealand I wrote, illustrated and published my own children’s book ‘Catch that Fly!’ After illustrating 10 stories for publishers and authors throughout the world I felt I was up for the challenge of creating one of my own. The book has been a great success and I am itching to create another.

I am currently working on a food education program for 3-7 year olds called ‘What’s for Lunch?’ My idea was the winner of the 2012 Palmerston North start-up weekend and I have been developing the concept since and will be launching the program early 2014.

Thank you
Amy Burrell

 

Anne Cao
Master of Management in International Business 2006
Study at Massey University was the destination of my dream, as study overseas was always my dream since I was a very young age.  I came a long way from China to New Zealand and the only reason I had was to study.

I started my study life in Invercargill, and I followed my study dream all the way from the South Island to the North. In 2005 I studied at Massey University’s Palmerston North campus, then after 15 months I graduated with my Masters degree in International Business at Massey University’s Albany campus. Life as a student at Massey was a great experience in my life. My study opened both my eyes and mind, so now I am able to think of business internationally, and the knowledge I have gained enables me to do business throughout the world.

For me, my passion is building business bridges between New Zealand and China, I continue to follow my heart, and started my own business Red Bridge Consultancy in 2011, a consulting agency specialising in the Chinese market. I provide an advisory service to assist New Zealand companies and organizations to develop new business relationships with China. After New Zealand and China signed the Free Trade Agreement, which benefits both New Zealand and Chinese businesses, I have assisted and supported a number of New Zealand companies to export and import products between both countries.

 

My undergraduate degree at Massey led to an Honours in Psychology at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst NSW. Since then I have commenced a 4+2 pathway towards registration as a registered psychologist. I am also 3/4 through a Masters in Social Health & Counselling at Macquarie University in Sydney. I am currently working as a School Psychologist at a private boys High School in Chatswood, Sydney.

Peter Brown
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) 2007
I studied at Massey in Palmerston North from 2003-2006. I completed a degree in Environmental Engineering. I've been working as an engineer at Beca designing wastewater treatment plants and water pipes amongst other things. I'm now volunteering with Volunteer Services Abroad to work in Vanuatu for 2 years to do water, sanitation and hygiene work with World Vision.

We're heading off later this month and looking to raise the profile of our work with VSA and World Vision. I'm wondering if you would be interested in running an article on the project in the Alumni News.

James Lu
Bachelor of Business Studies 2007
Arriving at New York JFK Airport in March 2007 as a new immigrant following the footsteps of countless forefathers who were about to start the journey pursuing the “American Dream”. The excitement however was short-lived as that anxious feeling quickly sunk in, when I come to realisation that I have left my parents, sisters and their families behind, without a job offer, combined with limited funds reserved for the longer term in case things not come to fruition.

It was truly a blessed that I was offered the opportunity to work as a Financial Analyst with a commercial real estate developer in Charlotte, NC within 60 days arriving in the U.S. The Global Financial Crisis in 2008 handed me the taste of job loss for the first time in my career. Around mid-2008, I was fortunate enough to secure a Financial Analyst position in the Corporate Finance environment with a large global corporation. Since then I have been given plenty of opportunities to continually developing my skill set, and with the routine practice of self-evaluation, I am able to identify where my career and research interests lie and subsequently providing me career advancement opportunities and achieving those established career goals.


Jay Waters
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration 2007, Master of Management 2008
Jay is a graduate of Massey’s School of Business with a Master of Management in International Business.  He is currently Executive Assistant to the Ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Wellington where he manages and coordinates the functions of the office of the Ambassador.  Korea is one of New Zealand’s largest trading partners, and as the only New Zealander at the Embassy, he fills an important role in helping grow the broad and dynamic Korea-New Zealand relationship.  In addition to supporting the Ambassador, he has broad responsibilities in fields such as diplomacy, defence, education, business, and film.  Jay is actively involved in bringing together special events, including VIP visits and exchanges and 2013 events commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. 

As a keen cyclist and Ironman triathlete with a strong personal interest in sports science and coaching, Jay continued his studies extramurally at Massey and graduated with a further Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Coaching.  Building on his research and the practicum in this programme, he founded Optimal Flow Triathlon and Endurance Sports Coaching.  Through using innovative approaches to training and athlete development discovered through Massey, in just a short time, he has led a number of athletes of all abilities to success.  His athletes have included those extreme endurance events such as the 3000 mile cycle Race Across America, and Ironman triathlon to winners of NZ National Secondary Schools Championship races as well as those just new to sport and exercise.

In 2012 he was selected as a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation's Young Leaders' Network and he is also Chairman of the Hutt Valley Harriers, the club where New Zealand Olympian Nick Willis was a member and ran as a teenager. He hopes to one day also coach a New Zealander to Olympic Gold

Jillian H Mitchinson
Master of Midwifery 2008
Tasks completed; Masters degree, Graduation. Conference booked. what to do next? Flick through magazine and see advertisement for Alice Springs. Is there anywhere more remote so close to home?
Applied for a position as a midwife and was appointed. Good on yer Mate!

Arrived in Alice and the skies were overcast. What was going on? This is the land of hot and hot and sunny.

Walking from the hospital it started to rain. Help, this was not in the instructions. I was offered a lift from a complete stranger who thought that I must be a new member of staff; Welcome to Alice Springs.

I decided to find a supermarket and asked for advice. "Here is an umbrella if you must walk but we suggest that you taxi home". What good advice that was. A storm broke while I was in the supermarket and the power went out. No Eftpos. Eventually bought supplies and went home. Still no power but loaded food into refrigerator anyway. Next morning still no power but went to work. Completed all pre-employment checks and received uniform. At least I look as if I am part of the team.

The shift progressed and the day darkened. Suddenly everyone is rushing to the windows. What are they staring at? It is only rain! What an eye opener that was.

The news spreads like wild fire; another storm is coming get home if/while you can! I was bundled into a car and dropped at my door.

The storm raged all night. Even the radio crew in Darwin was discussing us. And they get really big storms.

I walked to work next morning past uprooted trees and flooded roads and fallen power lines. What a mess. Welcome to Alice Springs.

 

Hi, Iam an alumni from Zambia. I came to massey in 2005 and graduated in 2007 with am MSc in Animal Science. I came with my four children who where also put in schools. We rented a small flat along Linton Street. Our experiences of Palmerstone North are still very fresh. Our achievements in these years are greatest. The only regret is that when we came to Palmy there was a cross in the square in town but this was removed I think late 2006. I remember good rides we took in my car (Nissan Serena) around palmy, Taupo, wellington, the beaches, and Auckland. I would have love to fall from the sky tower on those slings like a bird! My wife could not have sanctioned that. What I miss Is a visit to Napier were I hear there is a dolphinarium. I would have loved if my family could see how the dolphin are trained to do certan activities. (I remember visiting a dolphinariun in Harderwyk in Holland in 2001). I liked the parttime work we used to do with students job search – earning extra money). In fact I came on NZAID scholarship, I could not have managed to come to NZ from my USD 700 monthly pay that I get in Zambia. I like the free furniture provided by the pastoral group that was located on the massey poultry and feed mill. I liked the teaching from staff. Biometrics was a very hard course for me but I passed with the help of staff , other students, the students learning center, SLC. The learning center also helped me with the study techniques and writing skills. Although I witnessed some students not completing their studies, I managed to successfully complete and obtained an MSc from one the top 200 universities in the world-MASSEY UNIVERSITY. The most striking feature is the best weather for animals, plants and people- when in looks dry the rain will come- so crops are growing throughout the year-no wonder almost all farming activities are thoroughout the year. The country is usually green. I liked the transport system and safe movements. Actually my daughter was doing her grade 3 at college street normal and sometimes she used to move alone from this school and crossing busy College street and Herbert road into Linton street alone! She still remembers sleep outs with friends - she used to be the only black or African girl. The children would like to visit NZ again-but the pockets are not there. The money we saved we manage to buy a small house. We could not have managed to do so from our pension! By the way I am still working as Lecturer in Animal Science. I could have love to meet class members but the funds cannot allow. My brothers from PNG, Solomon Islands , Fiji, Tonga, East Timou and NZ (and every where else), lets meet again!

Cassie Rowe
Bachelor of Communication 2010,  Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration 2012
I studied a BC at Massey Palmerston North, followed by a Post Grad Dip in Business and Administration extramurally. I'm now a marketing coordinator for an organisation called ALGIM that works with Councils both here in NZ and around the world to improve their technology and collaborate together to save on costs. I get to work with companies such as Vodafone, Fuji Xerox, Gen-I and Microsoft presenting new technologies and systems. I never thought in a million years this is what I'd be doing, but it's been amazing!

Nats Shanmuga Subramanian
Master of Business Administration 2010
My wife Uma and I have always been very passionate about the cultures of different countries. We also believe that travelling on a tour bus with 30 strangers to crowded toursity places is not the way one could experience the real world. Hence we have started an ambitious tourism venture called Takeme2theWorld with the tagline "Well away from the beaten tracks". Through our services Takeme2India and Takeme2NZ, we design and conduct tailor-made escorted tours with focus on creating unique travel experiences. We are working on launching Takeme2Japan and Takeme2SouthAmerica next year with a few of our likeminded friends. We are doing our first tour to India for a Kiwi family of 5 in December this year.

We are very serious about inbound tours to New Zealand (Takeme2NZ). We don't want to sell NZ as the Auckland-Rotorua-Queenstown circuit. The regional Manawatu has so much to offer for the market segment, which is looking out for a relaxing holiday with family and friends. We are working with Destination Manawatu and Palmerston North i-Site in developing itineraries in line with our mutual beliefs.

We also believe that food is a vehicle through which one can learn a lot about a country's cultural heritage. My Uma is conducting Indian vegetarian cooking classes for small groups, teaching not only how to cook food, but also how they are integrated into our culture.

It is exciting times for us! I am very passionate about this whole enterprise and I am confident of its success, since my Massey Executive MBA has instilled me with the necessary skill sets required to run the business. I have taken the leap of faith and resigned from my day job as the IT Manager, finishing in March next year. I would fondly look back to this day after a couple years, rewinding how it all started!

Bushan Hari Rao
Postgraduate Certificate in Business 2010
I Joined massey Auckland to do my PGDBA in 2009 I finished 2 papers and then I flew back home to Bangalore, India to help set up a subsidiary for a gaming company called Playdom Inc which is based out of Palo Alto, California. I was planning to come back after 2 months and finish my course however I got so involved in my job as a Business Operations Manager setting up the company in terms of hiring talent, getting involved with the bankers, taking care of corporate governance, implementing processes and polices to help run the company smoothly. We started off in a business centre till we found a office space so for about 2 months we operated from a business centre and then eventually we moved to a office space of about 40 people capacity. In 2010 Playdom Inc. got acquired by The Walt Disney Company. So my dream of getting a PGDBA from Massey remained a dream in itself although the entire experience of starting a company from scratch to where its reached today has been a wonderful experience !

Elise Hepworth
Graduate Diploma in Music NZSM 2012
Elise Hepworth (nee Gutshall), 2007 alumni of Massey's New Zealand School of Music, was promoted to associate professor of voice and music education at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, USA in April 2013. She has been invited to present her research in vocal pedagogy at conferences in Durham, England (2010), Nebraska, USA (2009, 2011, 2013), Iowa, USA (2010, 2011, 2013), South Dakota, USA (2012), Minnesota, USA (2012), and Hawaii, USA (2012). In May 2013, Elise spent five weeks in the northeastern states of Sergipe, Alagoas, and Bahia, Brasil, as a part of Rotary International's Group Study Exchange. Her focus centered on music education in private and public schools of Brasil. She will return in December of 2013 to Maceio, Brasil to further her study. In July, 2013, Elise finished international certification in the music pedagogy of Orff Schulwerk in Chicago, Illinois, USA as a part of her work toward her specialty. Elise is a sought-after choral clinician and recitalist in the midwest states of the US, and is active in five national/international music organizations.

Tuyana Dowler
Bachelor of Business Studies 2013
I graduated in April 2012 with a Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) and in April 2013 with a Bachelor of Business Studies (Hons) majoring in Accounting. I joined Ernst & Young as a graduate in Assurance in February 2013. Now I work for a small accounting practice providing BAS/Accounting services. I'm also half way through towards CA qualification, due to sit the PCE in October 2014.

Massey University’s Bachelor of Accountancy and Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting) degrees gave me a solid foundation on which to build my career. I readily recommend Massey as the place to study as I know that the qualifications gained at this university are of high quality. Also at the time I enrolled at Massey, it was the only university that offered a programme that is specifically tailored towards NZICA academic requirements (BAcc). This was one of the key reasons I enrolled at Massey as I had a goal of eventually qualifying as a CA. I also enjoyed the facilities offered (free parking!) and campus life.

If I ever decide to have a career change and need a new qualification, Massey University will be the first place where I’ll look.

Peta Larsen
Bachelor of Science 2013
I am a BSc graduate from May 2013. I'm currently back at Massey, working in the Physiology division as a technician. I am working on a project looking at the causes of infant colic, focusing on the stomach activity.

 

 

Global design organisation Red Dot has presented Massey University industrial design graduate Stacey Kenny with its top prize, the Luminary Award, for her design of an urban hen house to rehome spent laying hens.

The awards are recognised by designers as an international seal of quality for the prize winner and their centre of learning - in this case the School of Design at Massey’s College of Creative Arts on the Wellington campus.

Along with Ms Kenny, three other Massey graduates were placed in the industrial design categories, putting them in the top 6 per cent of nearly 4400 entries from 56 countries. A further five Massey graduates were placed in the communication design categories (judged in Berlin), which received 6800 entries from 43 countries.

Since completing the design last November, the Auckland-based designer has been employed as an industrial engineer at door manufacturer CS For Doors.

Massey University social work graduate Emeline Afeaki-Mafie’o has won the Women of Influence award for community service and social enterprise.

She was recognised for “innovative and extraordinary leadership” of her communities in South Auckland and Tonga. The inaugural awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of women in different areas of society.
Mrs Afeaki-Mafie’o was surprised when named winner and gracious in acknowledging others. “I think there are amazing people doing amazing things in our community, that often don’t have the chance to be recognised, and this is for all of them,” she said as she accepted the award.

Mrs Afeaki-Mafile’o has a Bachelor of Social Work with honours, a Diploma of Social Sciences and a Master of Philosophy majoring in social policy from Massey, and says she is a “proud alumna”.
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A modern design by an American distance student has won Massey’s Get Designing competition.

The competition asked students and alumni from around the world to submit their own apparel and memorabilia designs.

AJ Stonehouse, who lives in Florida, is completing a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in media studies. “Being raised by Kiwi-parents, the idea of studying in New Zealand has always interested me,” she says.

Massey’s distance learning programme stood out and she was drawn to the design competition.

“When I first heard of the competition on Massey’s Facebook page, I immediately had ideas inspired by the 100% Pure New Zealand ad campaign,” she says.