Town and Gown Dinner

The broad general purpose of the annual Town and Gown Dinner is to foster strong and productive relations between the communities ("town") that support the University ("gown").

The Town and Gown tradition dates from the establishment of the first universities in Europe in the 11th century, when the relationship between town and gown was at times difficult. However, over the centuries, people began to see the presence of a university in their community as a desirable and significant development, and by the end of the Middle Ages, states were assisting such development. Within this context, the world of scholarship grew.

The University of Ballarat is committed to regional engagement and building relationships and partnerships to make a real contribution to the region.

Photographs from the 2007 Town and Gown Dinner can be found in the University of Ballarat's Photo Gallery

Rowena Coutts, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Governance External) and Robert Hook Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Finance and Development) at the 2005 Town and Gown Dinner

Guest Speakers

2007	Professor Nicholas Klomp, Head of the School of Environmental & Information Sciences, Charles Sturt University (to be held June 2007)
2005	Dr Don Edgar, Foundation Director, Australian Institute of Family Studies
2003	Ms Christine Nixon APM, Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police
2002	Mr David Norris, Director, IBM Global Services
2001	Mr Simon Molesworth QC, Chairman, National Trust of Australia (Victoria) - "Do we have it right - the environment, the law?"
2000	Professor Weston Bate OAM (also launched "By Degrees - an Illustrated History of the University of Ballarat" by Paul Haynes)
1999	The Hon. Robert Maclellan, State Minister for Planning and Local Government "Camp Street: the Vision"
1998	Ms Lisa Curry Kenny OAM
1997	Dr Richard A Slaughter, Director, Futures Study Centre "Regional Development - Paths for the Future"
1996	Professor Geoffrey Blainey AO (also launched "Wired Nation Continent" by Associate Professor Kevin Livingston)
1995	Ms Marina Cavill, Director, ConsulPlan "Building the Intellectual Infrastructure of a Region - the Role of Integrated Community Networks"
1994	Emeritus Professor David James AO, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ballarat
1993	Mr Bill McGregor, Baird and McGregor, Ballarat
1992	Professor John Sharpham, Director, Ballarat University College
1991	Inaugural dinner

2007 Sponsors

The University of Ballarat gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsorship of:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsor:

Bronze Sponsors: