Parliament in session for Gippsland campus anniversary

The 80th anniversary of the Gippsland campus was marked with a historic sitting of the Parliament of Victoria, only the third outside Melbourne in the history of the Parliament.

Monash has made its own contribution to the current Parliament. Twenty members are Monash alumni, including three ministers and two shadow ministers.

The sitting, on 15 October, coincided with the 80th anniversary of the Gippsland campus, originally named Yallourn Technical School and founded by Sir John Monash.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said Sir John, the original Chairman of the State Electricity Commission, established the Yallourn Technical School to train tradesmen for the power generation industry established in the 1920s.

Monash amalgamated with the successor of the Yallourn Technical School -- the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education -- in 1990.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett said the sitting was an opportunity for the University to showcase its contribution to Gippsland and the broader community.

"The first intake of graduate-entry medical students occurred earlier this year. This was a significant development for the region in our 80th anniversary year and will improve regional health care throughout Victoria," Professor Bartlett said.

Gippsland will also celebrate its 80th anniversary with a retrospective exhibition at the Latrobe Regional Gallery from 25 October to 14 December.

2008 also marks the 50th anniversary of the Act of State Parliament that created Monash University and the 50th anniversary of the Peninsula Campus, originally the Frankston Teachers' College.