Welcome from our Vice-Chancellor
On 10 December 2024, Deakin University officially marked its 50th anniversary and began a year of celebration.
Deakin is thriving today because of community leaders who believed in Geelong and made the case for Victoria’s fourth university to be established in a regional centre.
Fittingly, this edition of The dKin Difference reflects this important work alongside more recent projects that amplify the impact Deakin is making here at home and overseas.
The Deakin University Art Gallery is a case in point. It holds one of the nation’s finest collections of contemporary Australian art, with a focus on sculpture. The collection pre-dates the formal establishment of the University and has grown steadily in the years since. We endeavour to display as much of the artwork in our holdings as we can – a departure from the tradition of many other art galleries. Leading sculptor Andrew Rogers has trusted us with more than 100 of his works, and through these pieces we can reflect on a lifetime of diligent practice, reflection and growth (much like the evolution of Deakin itself).
Art speaks a universal language and sometimes its message is urgent. In 2024, respected Australian artist and anti-war activist George Gittoes created a powerful mural on campus as part of his Ukraine Guernica exhibition.
This work, gifted to the University, was a collaboration between George and his Ukrainian colleague Ave. I encourage you to visit the Deakin University Art Gallery in 2025 for one of our commemorative exhibitions, including the Contemporary Small Sculpture Award showcase.
The Geelong community has always believed in Deakin and it is heartening to read the story of the late Allison Murphy, a Deakin graduate who advocated for Geelong as a journalist and public relations professional. A scholarship in her honour was established by the Geelong Community Foundation. In 2024 that award celebrated a decade of supporting the next generation of Deakin women graduates in the fields where Allison excelled.
Another moving story is that of the late Michelle Goy. Michelle was a talented equestrian and medical student at Deakin with a promising career ahead of her. Inspired by the establishment of the Damion Drapac Centre for Equity in Health Professions Education, the Goy family has honoured Michelle with a scholarship in her name to support future rural doctors who play such an important role in communities across Australia.
As we celebrate Deakin’s first 50 years, I invite you to share your own reflections and experiences of Deakin with me at an upcoming event or on our online memory wall. Thank you for your belief in Deakin, and your invaluable contributions to shaping the University and the communities we serve.
Professor Iain Martin
Vice-Chancellor