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Politics put aside to celebrate university ties

Friday, 23 May 2008

A federal political alumni network, believed to be the first established by an ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n university, will be launched at in Canberra on Monday 26 May when some of the country's most senior politicians will put aside party differences to celebrate their alma mater, the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide.

Deputy Prime Minister the and her Liberal Opposition counterpart the will be among a group of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s most influential people to become founding members of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's Federal Parliamentary Alumni Network.

Instigated by arts graduate , the network will provide an opportunity for federal Members of Parliament and key parliamentary staff to re-engage with fellow ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide graduates on a semi-regular basis.

Senator Stott Despoja is a Visiting Research Fellow at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide in the . She is a former president of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Students' Association and was Leader of the in 2001-2002.

Her fellow alumni include , Minister for Climate Change and Water; ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Ambassador to the United Nations, the ; ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Ambassador to Italy, Ms ; Senator-elect, the ; and more than 20 current parliamentarians representing all political parties.

The Vice-Chancellor and President of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, , will officially launch the network at Parliament House at 6.30pm.

Earlier in the day, the Vice-Chancellor will host a lunch for more than 100 alumni at the National Museum of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥. Distinguished alumni to attend the lunch will include the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, and celebrated scientist and smallpox pioneer, .

"We hope this alumni network will allow Members of Parliament and associated staff who are graduates of this ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to build closer links, regardless of their political affiliations," says Professor McWha.

"At present, many of them are unaware they share a common alma mater and their only contact with each other is a brief acknowledgement in the great corridors of Parliament House."

The network will aim to meet twice a year in Canberra, with the Vice-Chancellor and senior ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide staff in attendance.

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