Students from the residential colleges at the University of New England will entertain members of the University and Armidale communities when they compete in the inaugural Intercollegiate Quiz Challenge (IQ Challenge) on Monday 10 October.

The IQ Challenge, in UNE’s Lazenby Hall at 6.30 pm, will be adjudicated by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jim Barber, and marked by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Annabelle Duncan, and Dr Jack Hobbs from the University Council. All community members are invited to join the audience for the Challenge, which is expected to end at about 8.30 pm.

“The friendly contests of the IQ Challenge will develop relationships between the residential and academic communities at UNE, with the questions being supplied by each of the University’s academic Schools,” said the organiser of the event, Myee Gregory, a Senior Academic Mentor at Earle Page College.

“The Challenge will also contribute to students’ ‘UNE experience’ by extending the interaction between the residential colleges themselves,” she said. “The colleges already participate in intercollegiate cultural and sporting competitions.”

Each of the colleges – eight in all, including Wright Village – will submit a team of six students who will compete in the academic rounds, and a team of six who will compete in activity-based rounds. Also competing in the academic rounds will be a team comprising a Senior Common Room representative from each college.

“The support I’ve received in getting this event started has been fantastic,” Ms Gregory said. “It’s great to see so many people at the University excited by the initiative.”

“The residential system is a major asset of UNE, and I hope the IQ Challenge can contribute to the residents’ experience of university life,’ she said. “As UNE is an academic institution, it just made sense to have an intercollegiate academic competition here to go along with our intercollegiate cultural and sporting competitions.”

The Hon. Joe Hockey MP, Shadow Treasurer in the Australian Parliament and Federal Member for North Sydney, will give a public lecture at the University of New England’s Earle Page College on Wednesday 27 July.

The public lecture, at 8.30 pm in the Earle Page College Dining Hall, will be the 28^th in the College’s Annual Politics Lecture series. Titled “In Defence of Youth”, it will follow a formal dinner for College members and invited guests at which Mr Hockey will be guest of honour.

Each year, the College invites a prominent political figure to speak at its Annual Politics Lecture. Previous speakers have included Philip Ruddock, Julia Gillard, Bob Brown and Tony Abbott. “The Annual Politics Lecture is a very special event for Earle Page College, UNE, and the city of Armidale,” said Andrea Gledhill, Head of Earle Page College. “Over the past 28 years the lectures have provided an opportunity for thousands of people to hear and meet the nation’s leaders.”

Joe Hockey (pictured here) was first elected to the Australian Parliament in 1996 and, after his re-election in 1998, was made Minister for Financial Services and Regulation – one of the youngest Ministers in the history of the Commonwealth.  He has since held a number of Ministerial portfolios, including Small Business and Tourism, Human Services, and Employment and Workplace Relations.

Since the 2007 Federal Election, he has held a number of shadow portfolios.

Mr Hockey attended the University of Sydney, where he completed degrees in Arts and Law. Before entering politics he was a banking and finance lawyer with a major Australian law firm, and was also Director of Policy to the Premier of NSW.

Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, after whom the College and lecture series are named, was chairman of the advisory council for The University of New England College from 1938 until 1954, and then the University’s first Chancellor from 1954 to 1960. He was also Prime Minister for a brief period in 1939.

People seeking more information about the event, or wishing to register their intention to attend, may contact the Earle Page College office on 6773 5300, or e-mail epc@une.edu.au.

One hundred residents of Earle Page College at the University of New England are preparing energetic dance routines for the College’s annual Charity Fashion Parade on Saturday 14 May.

The Fashion Parade, at the Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club, is a traditional part of the College’s annual “Coast Run” campaign – now in its 32^nd year – to raise funds for the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI). The Parade is a showcase of Armidale fashion, and is one of the biggest events on the College calendar.

“As well as the serious side of raising money for the Children’s Medical Research Institute, the night is about having a great time and watching students, children and even some important University staff members strutting their stuff on the catwalk,” said the 2011 Fashion Parade Coordinator, Laura Crompvoets. “Everyone is welcome to attend this worthwhile and enjoyable event.”

This year’s Fashion Parade will feature a special routine with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jim Barber, the Head of UNE’s Residential System, Barb Shaw, and Senior Common Room and staff members of Earle Page College taking part.

The theme this year is “masquerade”, so members of the audience are being invited to match their outfits (semi-formal) with a mask.

The Fashion Parade, sponsored by Roberts and Morrow, is just one of many fund-raising events organised by the Coast Run Committee through the year; other events include the Discount Card, Auction and inter-floor College events, and the run to Coffs Harbour itself.

“Being one of the first events of the Coast Run campaign this year, it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to a great year,” said the Coast Run Convener, Michael Fraser.

A cheque for the $45,000 raised by last year’s Coast Run Committee, convened by Lauren Nay, will be presented to CMRI at the Parade. The 2010 Fashion Parade contributed $10,000 to that total.

Entry will begin at 7 pm for the event to start at 7.30 pm. Tickets – $25 for adults, $20 for students and $15 for children under 15 – can be bought from the Earle Page College Office (phone 6773 5300). Tickets will also be available at the door for $25. Tables for 10 are available: please book in advance.