From all-over they came – Australia to Dunedin, and even Henderson! 

The evening of Friday., 31 October and all-day Saturday, 1 November saw students at St John’s College in the years ’82-’84 gather to remember those turbulent years of college life. 

Over good food and wine, memories of protests, nuclear-powered warships in Auckland Harbour, the Glendowie project, speech classes with JNT, the genesis of the crèche, Maori haka practices, chapel on our knees, a trendy men’s group, volleyball, the ‘greats’ of the time, bishops of the day and some things best left unpublished... all made for meaningful reminiscing. 

Jim Stuart, Dave and Bev Mullan, George and Jocelyn Armstrong gave a faculty-of-the-day perspective. 

After a welcome from the Principal, Tony Gerritsen, the day was taken up with hearing what had been happening for each participant, lunch in the Patterson Centre, the obligatory photo, a tour of the college, a talk on what’s happening in theological education from the Principal, and evensong presided over by the College Chaplain, Rev Dr Eseta Mateiaviti-Tulavu.

A formal dinner in the Dining Hall finished off a great day.

Next year it is hoped to have a ’75-’80 reunion in Semester 1 (Saturday June 20) and an ’85-'90 option in Semester 2 (Saturday October 31). 

Hopefully, Jill Gerritsen will cater again.

• Pictured: 

Back row (from left) Bev and Dave Mullan, Glynn Cardy, Richard Oram, Craig Dixon, Graeme Warburton and Tim Meadowcroft.

Front (from left): Rob Ritchie, Jim Stuart, Helen Greenwood, Lois Warburton, Jacky Sewell, Jill Gerritsen, Sue Meadowcroft, Anne Irwin, Don Parker and Tony Gerritsen