About 130 alumni reunited at the university yesterday to celebrate 75 years of physical education at the university.
Some of the earliest graduates there were Rosalie Mitchell and Rex Billington, of Auckland, who graduated in 1958, and Win Parkes, of Timaru, who graduated in 1959. They had fond memories of their university days.
The type of study had changed since the trio were at university — Mrs Mitchell remembered plenty of "practicals", including swimming, athletics and dance.
"When we were there, the focus was on being physically competent and we worked hard.
"But as well as that, the science that we had was very medically orientated, so it wasn't about research."
She remembered the school as a co-operative place and, with only 29 people in her graduating class, they were encouraged to help one another and "grandmother" younger students.
"It wasn't a dog-eat-dog competitive place at all."
Mr Billington said in the 1950s the school was "very much teachers teaching us to be teachers" and he was impressed with today’s calibre of research.
The alumni toured the school buildings and spoke to current students and staff, including vice-chancellor, and former minister for sport and recreation, Grant Robertson.
A plaque dedicated to the school’s first director, Philip Smithells, and his wife, Olive, was also unveiled.
School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences dean Associate Prof Elaine Hargreaves said the school turned 75 years old last year and the anniversary was a good excuse to bring people together.
"Back when it first opened, it was ... very much focused on teaching physical education teachers," she said.
Plenty had changed since then and last year. The school had been ranked 11th worldwide in sports-related subjects.
"Our alumni are spread out all around the world and making inroads in so many different fields and I guess that all testament to the education that they're getting with us," she said.
