REGAN Lilley may have come to tertiary education later in life than most, but it hasn’t affected his passion for learning and determination to encourage others to learn.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Originally from Port Stephens, Lilley, a Worimi man, moved to Melbourne when he was boy and completed school there.
‘‘I looked at studying at Melbourne (university) back in 1988, but it was overwhelming,’’ he said.
‘‘Back in those days they didn’t have the support for Aboriginal students; there was only one lady in an office off campus.’’
The first in his bloodline to go to school, Lilley will graduate from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of environmental sciences on Thursday.
He will be one of 4600 students who will graduate between Thursday and the end of next week.
Lilley began his tertiary studies at age 40 and hopes to be on his way to a PhD at 50.
‘‘I was going to go to another uni, but local people said to study in the local area so that’s how I chose the University of Newcastle,’’ he said.
‘‘I went to Wollotuka, and four years later got my degree in environmental science and management.’’
He is presently studying a Bachelor of science at the Ourimbah campus.
The father of five says he is conscious of setting a good example for his kids. ‘‘I was always saying that they should complete Year 12 and go to uni but when I hadn’t done it myself the words were hollow,’’ he said.
The university’s April 16 ceremony will be held at the Newcastle Civic Theatre accompanied by graduation parade to commemorate the university’s 50th anniversary.
‘‘Our students and community are the heart of the University of Newcastle story,’’ Vice-chancellor Caroline McMillen said.
‘‘This year’s graduations celebrate 50 years of achievement by our students past and present, and 50 years of community support that has shaped our university’s history as well as the remarkable impact our staff, researchers and alumni have made on the region and the world.’’
