Adelaide University – Tirkangkaku will hold its inaugural graduation ceremonies today with a milestone event to celebrate its first graduates and confer the University’s first honorary doctorate upon Senior Kaurna Elder Aunty Lynette Crocker.
The University’s inaugural ceremonies will be held from 29 September to 7 October at its City Campus, with more than 3,000 students attending, accompanied by 17,000 family members, friends and supporters. Overall, there are around 4,720 students graduating as part of Adelaide University’s first graduation cycle.
The ceremonies will feature new academic regalia, which includes splashes of the University’s signature colours in the hoods of traditional black gowns – South East Limestone, North Terrace Purple or Bright Blue – except for PhD dress, which retains the traditional red and gold trim.
Adelaide University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Nicola Phillips, said the ceremonies are a wonderful occasion for the institution and its first graduates.
“It’s a source of huge pride to be able to celebrate Adelaide University’s first graduates and their achievements at our inaugural graduation ceremonies,” Professor Phillips said.
“These ceremonies represent a landmark moment for our new University, but they are above all a milestone for our graduating students – a celebration of all of their achievements so far and excitement about what they will go on to do.
“Our graduates are the leaders, thinkers and innovators of tomorrow, and graduation ceremonies are the expression of our very essence as a university and how we contribute to society.”
Graduating students include Tyran Hill (Master of Teaching, Secondary) and Saina Drall (Bachelor of IT).
A proud Wiilman Noongar man who also has a lifelong connection with Kaurna land, Tyran is already putting the learnings from his Bachelor of Human Movement and master’s degree to use at the GO! Foundation as the Scholarships Program Manager for Adelaide, where he coordinates culturally grounded educational scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
“I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities that education can create, not just for my career, but for culture, sport, everything,” Tyran said.
“I hope that by completing my teaching studies, I can not only be seen as a positive role model for our young mob, but more importantly can provide them educational opportunities much greater and fairer than those our Elders had before us.”
Saina is also applying her university education in the workplace, currently working at the South Australian Department of Treasury and Finance following an internship at the office during her final semester.
After a challenging start to her program – joining late after semester commencement and having little knowledge in her chosen study area – Saina worked hard to bring her grades up.
“The biggest lesson was realising that a setback at the beginning doesn’t stop you from building a solid finish, as long as you keep on trying,” she said.
“When I started my degree, I obviously didn’t know I’d end up being part of the first graduating class of a brand-new university. It’s a cool feeling knowing that years from now, we’ll be able to say, ‘Yep, we were the first ones.’”
Senior Kaurna Elder Aunty Lynette Crocker will be awarded Adelaide University’s first honorary doctorate at the 29 September ceremony, the only honorary award to be bestowed in this graduation cycle.
An active member of the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation and founding member of the Kaurna Elders Assembly, Aunty Lynette has played key roles over more than three decades to advance reconciliation, truth telling and two-way knowledge sharing.
The award recognises her significant and sustained voluntary work spanning education, Native Title, reconciliation, cultural heritage and environmental advocacy and conservation.
“Today is the first time Adelaide University will award an honorary doctorate. Given her distinguished service and exceptional contributions to both the University and to the community, Aunty Lynette is a most worthy recipient,” Professor Phillips said.
“Aunty Lynette empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their communities through cultural leadership, knowledge sharing and advocacy, to ensure that First Nations voices and stories are visible, present and heard.
“Together with her broad community contributions, Aunty Lynette has played a pivotal role at our University and its foundation institutions, including as an inaugural and current member of our Purkarninthi Elders Group. This group was of fundamental importance in the formation of Adelaide University’s Act, and specifically in the provision for an Aboriginal name and the inclusion of commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and education.
“Through outstanding work sustained over decades, Aunty Lynette truly embodies Tirkangkaku’s core values, including our commitment to excellence through equity.”