Uni of Adelaide farewells Christchurch students

Canterbury students celebrating at the Rugby Sevens in Adelaide earlier this year with former All Black and current current coach of the Wallabies, Robbie Deans. Photo courtesy of SA Rugby.
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Saturday, 2 July 2011

The University of Adelaide today farewells the 170 students from the University of Canterbury who have been studying here following the earthquake that badly damaged Christchurch on 22 February.

The New Zealand students will fly back to Christchurch this evening on a specially chartered Qantas jet following a farewell lunch at the University of Adelaide with their homestay families, University staff and members of the community.

University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha is accompanying the students back to Christchurch.

The students first arrived in Adelaide on Sunday 6 March to start their semester-long study in Arts, Commerce, Marketing or Sciences as part of the University of Adelaide's study abroad program. Their studies are being credited towards their degree at Canterbury.

While here, the students have stayed with homestay families or other student accommodation, including Adelaide's new Urbanest facility.

They were generously welcomed by the community of Adelaide and have had a wide range of experiences including visits to Parliament, the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, the Clipsal 500 and the International Rugby Sevens.

On 18 March the students took part in a memorial event at the University to coincide with the National Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in Christchurch and then a public service at St Peter's Cathedral.

Tertiary Education Minister Senator Chris Evans and Finance Minister Senator Penny Wong joined the students for a barbecue lunch at the University on 19 May.

On 20 June, three Canterbury students accompanied Professor McWha on a special visit to Canberra's Parliament House to meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key following Mr Key's historic address to the Australian Parliament.

"It's been tremendous having the Canterbury students here at Adelaide and I'm immensely proud of our staff and students, our alumni and the many South Australians who have gone out of their way to support and help them," said Professor McWha.

"It's shown the great community spirit that underpins our University.

"The students are returning now to Christchurch with our best wishes for the future there, but it won't be the end of the relationship. We have strengthened our ties with the University of Canterbury and will be continuing our collaborations with them."

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