Students welcomed to the north-west
Magical: Amazing Nigel entertained guests with magic tricks during the evening
Staff and community members officially welcomed medical students to the north-west over dinner at Silks Restaurant, Bendigo Jockey Club, on Thursday 13 February.
The Dja Dja Wurrung opened the evening with a warm Welcome to Country delivered by Harley Dunolly-Lee and smoking ceremony conducted by Trent Nelson as guests mingled on the lawns. Bendigo’s Director, Professor Geoff Solarsh, introduced students to the NVRMEN program and together with the year academic leads (Associate Professor Chris Holmes and Dr Leslie Fisher) welcomed the students to the new year ahead.
As is now traditional, Dr Damien Cleeve and Dr John Gault combined to introduce and present the John Gault Award for 2013 which went to Christopher Pring. Professor Solarsh presented the Shaker Issa Award for 2013 to Jarrel Seah. University of Melbourne Director Professor Julian Wright presented an Excellence in Teaching Awards to Dr Manny Cao and Dr John Edington on behalf of the Melbourne students. Congratulations go to all the recipients of these awards.
During the evening, guests were entertained by Amazing Nigel, a showcase magician, who wandered around the tables doing some remarkable tricks. He was well received by guests, but it must be said though that some guests were slightly unnerved by the magic of it all.