Sixty years after completing their final year at The University of Queensland, members of the Civil and Mining Engineering Classes of 1966 returned to campus to mark their Diamond Reunion and reflect on how both the University and the profession have evolved.
Twenty‑seven alumni attended the reunion, travelling from around Brisbane and from across the country including Sydney, Melbourne and Mackay. One classmate, now based in the Bahamas, sent warm apologies, highlighting the diverse paths taken since graduating.
Returning to St Lucia prompted reflection on how civil engineering education, and the campus itself, has changed over six decades. Civil engineer John Davey, who spent 40 years with Queensland Rail, said the transformation was striking.
“Where there are now high‑tech learning spaces, there used to be undulating open grounds,” he said. “That’s where we would do our surveying practice.”
Rod Williams, now back in Brisbane after working in the water industry in senior management roles in California and Australia, including setting up the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, recalled the intensity of the course.
“It was an intense program, five days a week, seven hours a day, with very little free time,” he said. “We also took evening courses like first aid. It was challenging, but UQ gave us great opportunities and a strong grounding for the future.”
Welcoming the group back to campus, Professor Tom Baldock, Head of the School of Civil Engineering at UQ, acknowledged the contribution of the cohort.
“The Class of 1966 graduated during a period of major growth for infrastructure and engineering in Australia,” Professor Baldock said. “Their careers reflect the strength of the education they received here and the impact that generation of engineers has had on the profession.”
Reunion organiser, Don MacLeod said he was surprised and encouraged by the response to the invitation.
“We managed to find so many alumni,” he said. “I was quite overwhelmed that so many agreed to come, even from interstate.”
Don also acknowledged the influence of academic staff such as Emeritus Professor Colin Apelt, whose work in hydraulics, sediment transport and coastal processes, along with his genuine care and good humour, left a lasting impression on the cohort.
As the Class of 1966 marked 60 years since graduation, the reunion provided an opportunity to reflect on the education and experiences that shaped long and varied engineering careers across Australia and overseas, and the connections continues to shape the built environment today.
