I don’t know about you, but part of me still thinks I’m a uni student — stretched out on the Burgmann lawn with mates, convinced the only real responsibility for the year was to start studying sometime before the September Poplar fluff began drifting across campus.
Over the years I’ve happily ignored my greying hair, continued to believe that 80s albums are still “new music”, and barely questioned the moment a young bloke offered me his seat on the bus (I still maintain he was getting off at the next stop). But when we recently drove to Canberra to drop my son off for his first year at Burgmann and the ANU… I had to concede that College life is for the kids.
Pleasingly, this realisation didn’t lead to any great existential crisis (indeed it was great to catch up with other alumni dropping their kids off!). The important things haven’t changed — I still have my Burgmann mates (my harshest critics); the Burgmann community is as strong as ever; and 1991 remains one of the great years for rock music (thank you Midnight Oil and our very own Peter Garret for Blue Sky Mining).
Most importantly, it is clear Burgmann continues to be the place to be on campus. Under the leadership of Principal Brenda Holt and her outstanding team, the College is thriving — from an exceptional, slightly exhausting O-Week experience to the ever-reliable exuberance of the BRA social calendar. The BRA and RA teams do an amazing job bringing O‑Week to life, with an impressive line-up that shines through the variety of events available. Even the convo areas are still doing their job as surprisingly effective social hubs. It gives me great confidence (and a fair bit of pride) to pass the Burgmann experience on to the next generation.
Speaking of Burgmann mates, it was terrific to see so many alumni at our recent Sydney event. These gatherings have a special quality — conversations pick up where they left off, and the years in between seem to collapse pretty quickly. We were also fortunate to hear from Burgmann Residents’ Association President, Euan Maclean, and Vice-President, Gretel O’Brien, who shared a glimpse of life at Burgmann today. Their energy and enthusiasm were a great reminder that while the faces change, the essence of Burgmann remains very much the same.
If you missed Sydney, there’s another great opportunity to reconnect soon. I encourage everyone to register for the Melbourne alumni event on 28 April — including what promises to be a fantastic (and yes, quite flash) dinner. For those further afield, we’ll also be gathering in Singapore on 12 September and London later in the year, and of course there’s the ever-popular Back to Burgmann weekend on 19–20 September.
The best thing about these reunions is catching up on life journeys. Everyone has a story — of pursuing passions, navigating challenges and finding their own version of success. Each year, the BCAA recognises these stories through our Alumni Awards, and nominations are now open. We have two awards: the Distinguished Alumni Award (for alumni aged 35+) and the Outstanding Alumni Award (for alumni under 35). Our community includes people doing remarkable things across many fields, and I encourage you to nominate someone whose contribution deserves recognition.
You may also notice some fresh energy across our social channels. We’ve recently welcomed three Communications Interns — current residents who have already brought great enthusiasm and creativity to the role. They’ll be helping share stories from across the alumni community, including more reporting on Burgmann residential life today.
Finally, a word on the College itself. Over the past five months, Brenda’s leadership has brought a real sense of momentum and positivity to Burgmann. Alumni who have visited recently will have felt it — a strong focus on community and resident experience, alongside a clear commitment to preserving what makes Burgmann special while continuing to evolve for the future.
As always, the BCAA’s role is simple: helping Burgmann people stay connected — with each other and with the College. I look forward to seeing many of you over the year.
