Decades of dedication recognised at VC long service awards
Charles Darwin University (CDU) has recognised the dedication of 87 staff members who have achieved milestones in the length of their continuous service, at a ceremony earlier this month.
These awards acknowledge 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service to the university, in all forms of employment.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said it was an honour to highlight decades of valued service to CDU.
“Congratulations to all recipients, our staff who have devoted a significant part of their working lives to CDU,” Professor Bowman said.
“Our vision is to be Australia’s most connected University. Our Strategic Plan identifies our ‘values’ and our ‘enablers’. Our most important enabler is our people.
“Whatever your role in the University is, you can be proud of your individual achievements, of the accomplishments of our exceptional organisation and of the future we are building together.”
Awards were presented to academic, professional, research and general staff for their commitment.
CDU Northern Institute lecturer Greg Williams’ 30 years of service to CDU were commended in one of the standout awards this year.
“What some might call ‘decades of service’ are really for me ‘decades of learning’. Over that time, I’m deeply grateful for the university in general and First Nations academics and students in particular, have been so generous,” Mr Williams said.
“I hope that the support I have provided to students over the years in some way balances the invaluable, life-changing learning I’ve experienced.”
As the longest serving staff member recognised in the ceremony, Zoology lecturer Keith Christian (pictured with Professor Bowman) said he has seen many changes in his 35 years of work at the university, including when the institution was known as the University College of the Northern Territory from 1987 to 1989.
“During my years at CDU and its predecessors, I have seen a lot of changes - many for the better and on an upwards trajectory,” Professor Christian said.
“With the support of various supervisors and systems over the years, I have managed to maintain a balanced academic profile with a mix of research, teaching and administration.
“I like to think that my role in each of these academic components has contributed to the development of a full-fledged university.”
The University College of the Northern Territory was then known as the Northern Territory University from 1989 until it merged with the Alice Springs' Centralian College in 2004 to form CDU.