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Flash Back...... Welcome back to 08!

Each edition of The Smaggie we will reflect on a year from our history. This time we reflect on 2008.

Then and now

We are proud of our heritage at St Margaret's College. While some things stay the same, others change. This issue we have a look at the Clyde Wing.

Semester 2 2024: What’s been happening?

Highlights of Semester 2 include:

Friend-link Concert

Expert Breakfast Report for Oct. 2nd 2024: Constantin Grigorut, Senior Lecturer, French Programme, Languages and Culture.

A somewhat bitter-sweet but fascinating story of a Romanian National who has lived in Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand. Now about to retire, Constantin told us of the huge importance of empathy, and how very much he owes to our students.

Expert Breakfast Report for Sept.18th 2024: Dr. Latika Samalia, Dept of Human Anatomy.

Dr Samalia, Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the Department of Human Anatomy, winner of several prestigious awards including the Prime Minister’s Supreme award for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, 2021, was our most recent Expert Breakfast guest - and why she won that was abundantly clear in her highly informative, witty and engaging talk.

Expert Breakfast Report for August 21st 2024: Prof. Joel Tyndall, School of Pharmacy.

Among the notable things about this presentation by a Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science teacher with an impressive research history was his evident sense of humour and ready approachability.

Expert Breakfast Report for July 24th 2024: Dr. Carla Dillon, School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Dillon explained to us the wide ranging opportunities for Pharmacy graduates, in addition to describing the somewhat convoluted path that lead to her current post, all peppered with a series of anecdotes and witticisms that made for an excellent breakfast talk.

Semester 1 2024: What’s been happening?

Highlights of Semester 1 include:

Miniature trowel gifted back to the College

In April we received a lovely gift of the miniature trowel which was presented to Prime Minister Massey at the laying of the foundation stone for St Margaret's in 1914.

Introducing the St Margaret's College 2024 Student Leader Teams

Two of the most important roles at St Margaret’s College are those of the College Leaders (formerly known as Welfare Staff) and the Members’ Executive Council. Each year many Members apply or campaign for one of these roles, which provide excellent leadership opportunity, but also the chance to give something back to the College.

Expert Breakfast Report for May 1st 2024: Prof. John Reynolds, Dept. of Anatomy

This is the second part, featuring Question Time, Part 1 having been published a short time ago.

Expert Breakfast Report for May 15th 2024: Dr. Jason Wister, Dept of Women’s and Children’s Health.

Neonatologist Dr. Wister told us what that word means by talking about his work and gave some extremely useful tips on getting through Medical School and practising Medicine as a career.

Expert Breakfast Report for May 1st 2024: Prof. John Reynolds, Dept. of Anatomy Part 1

Introduction: After a varied start to his career Prof. Reynolds qualified in medicine, practised for two years then began a distinguished research career (which includes award of a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, as well as a National teaching award), and here offers some valuable advice to first years.

Part 2 of Expert Breakfast Report for April 17th 2024: Prof. Lisa Houghton, Dept of Human Nutrition.

Summary of Part 1: Professor Houghton shared her journey from a single-parent family to becoming a nutrition expert through a wide variety of experiences. She emphasised the significance of learning from mistakes and highlighted her transition from high school to university, discussing challenges and decisions faced. Lisa's university years saw her exploring different courses, leading to her passion for nutrition and navigating through diverse job opportunities and volunteer work to shape her career path. She stressed the value of volunteer work and gaining diverse experiences in career development, advising caution in managing student debt and pursuing higher degrees judiciously. Lisa reflected on transitioning through different job roles, underscoring the importance of trying various paths before settling on a career - and not being too fixed in that.. Her research work in low and middle-income countries highlighted the importance of community impact and collaborative research efforts, discussing the influence of cultural factors on nutrition strategies.

Expert Breakfast Report for April 17th 2024: Prof. Lisa Houghton, Dept of Human Nutrition.

Another absorbing story, notably packed with insightful advice based on the speakers own extensive experience, together with her many discussions with recent graduates and her three children, all of whom are graduates or undergraduates of New Zealand Universities. [Please note that all comments, etc., in square brackets are the responsibility of the Editor.]

Expert Breakfast Report for March 20th 2024: Dr Carrie Falling, School of Physiotherapy. PART TWO

This continues Dr. Fallings story, the first part having been published roughly 7 days ago.

Expert Breakfast Report for March 20th 2024: Dr Carrie Falling, School of Physiotherapy.

Dr Falling described her extraordinarily varied work background, of undertaking First Year Health Sciences as a foreign student, of her deep interest in people and what it means to be human, all with a contagious enthusiasm sprinkled with flashes of self-deprecating humour.

Expert Breakfast Report for March 6th 2024: Assoc. Prof. Rajesh Katare, Dept of Physiology

Assoc. Prof. Katare outlined his early years in India, Japan, the UK and now New Zealand, then gave inciteful insight into the process of research with great tips on a wide variety of associated issues.

Expert Breakfast Report for Sept. 27th 2023: Assoc. Prof. Tina Summerfield, Dept. of Botany.

With touches of humour from time to time, Assoc. Prof Summerfield brought to the meeting a contagious enthusiasm for the research work in which she is clearly immersed, with little hints that the offshoots might be of value in carbon sequestration, fuel production and more intensive crop farming.

Expert Breakfast Report for Sept. 13th 2023: Anna Grimaldi, Double Gold Medal Paralympics Winner.

In a very open account, Anna described her feelings as a child with only one hand, her initial achievements in international sport and inability to accept that as real, to gaining a much more complete understanding of herself, and what she has to offer. Lessons in this for all of us, I feel.