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Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Western Australia's new Governor Malcolm McCusker and his wife Tonya are among the first graduates to celebrate The University of Western Australia's first 100 years, while also helping future students, through a new project around the University's historic Oak Lawn.

The Oak Lawn holds special memories of student days for thousands of UWA graduates and the Graduates' Walk , a paved area around the perimeter of the lawn, will feature granite pavers engraved with the graduate's name, qualifications and year of graduation.

UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, will open the Graduates' Walk next Friday, July 15.  Organised by the Centenary Trust for Women , the project aims to lay up to 7,000 plaques around the lawn by the end of UWA's centenary year in 2013.

Dr Erica Smyth, Chair of the Centenary Trust for Women said:  "The Graduates' Walk will provide past graduates with the opportunity to celebrate their time at UWA by purchasing an engraved paver that will mark a place in time with other UWA graduates.  Now new generations of students will take the same route with the names of former graduates beneath their feet to inspire and guide them."

The pavers will raise funds through the Centenary Trust for Women to benefit female students through scholarships and emergency or hardship funds.  The first 150 pavers have already been laid during the University's semester break.

Some of UWA's earliest graduates will be recognised, including Margaret Fairweather, who graduated in 1916 and Thomas Cullity, who graduated in 1919.  Other prominent graduates who have purchased pavers include Governor McCusker and Mrs McCusker, former governor Dr Ken Michael, former premier Geoff Gallop, Professor Robson, Dr Patricia Kailis, from MG Kailis Group, leading lawyer Patti Chong and Dr Smyth.

PIC OPPORTUNITY/MEDIA BRIEFING

WHAT: Official Opening of Graduates' Walk

WHEN: 10am, Friday, July 15, 2011

WHERE: Oak Lawn, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (nearest entrance Hackett Entrance 1 or 2).

Media references

Marita Gardener (UWA Office of Development)  (+61 8)  6488 4207
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716

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