The College's Formal Dinner on Sunday, 6 August had an international theme and many of our Members wore their cultural attire.
Twenty four different countries (by birth country) are represented at the College this year and so it is only fitting that we celebrate this international diversity with a themed dinner.
We were joined by four members of the University staff all of whom have strong international backgrounds:
- Professor Tony Binns (UK) is the Ron Lister Chair in Geography. He is also an Honorary Chief of the village of Kayima in northeast Sierra Leone with which he has had close research links for 40 years.
- Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai is a High Chief from the Village of Iva in the big island of Savaii in Samoa. She is the enthusiastic Manager of the University's Pacific Islands Centre.
- Professor Leigh Hale originates from Zimbabwe and is the Dean of the School of Physiotherapy at Otago. She is also the Editor of the New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy.
- Mr Alan Hale also grew up in Zimbabwe and is a Network Engineer with Information Technology Services at the University.
Before entering the Norris Dining Hall, one already had a sense of the international theme as the corridor was decorated by the Executive Committee (thanks Exec!) with the flags of many countries. The Dining Hall was also very colourful with large and small flags, and the tables were beautifully adorned with white tablecloths, flowers, cutlery, and red napkins (see photo).
Our Food Services staff prepared the most marvellous meal, with each dish having an international flavour (excuse the pun). We had a Moroccan beef and prune tagine, Portuguese piri piri chicken, Indian goan fish curry, Greek moussaka, Chinese tofu in black bean sauce, a Middle Eastern tomato, walnut and pomegranate salad, Japanese miso green beans, and a Thai cucumber and peanut salad. Dessert was also amazing: alfajores (caramel sandwich cookies from Latin America) and brigaderios (fudge balls from Brazil). All food was homemade by our talented staff.
Of course, no St Margaret's Formal Dinner is complete without musical items and this evening was no exception. We were treated to wonderful singing by two groups: firstly, an all female group comprising Mee Hwa Atimalala, Katie Cooper and Eunique Ikiua, accompanied by Mihi McMahon on the piano; and Joseph Gannon and James Olliver. It is not easy task performing in front of a large audience (over 220) and all six sang beautifully. We did not want the music to end!
The evening ended in the usual way in the Valentine Common Room with our guests sharing their career stories from four different countries. A truly international evening down in the south of New Zealand.
