Mechanical engineering alumni celebrate fifty years since graduation

• The 1975 mechanical engineering graduates caught up in 2025 for their fifty-year anniversary

• Out of the twenty who graduated in 1975, ten of the students attended the evening at Balgownie Estate

• The cohort enjoyed reminiscing about their time at Swinburne, their careers and their friendships

Swinburne's mechanical engineering alumni recently reunited for their fifty-year anniversary of their graduation in 1975. The cohort of graduates have had four other reunions over the years, keeping up regular contact since their first reunion in 1991.

For the fifty-year anniversary, the reunion was held at the Balgownie Estate in Yarra Glen, where ten out of the twenty classmates were able to attend the celebration.

Those who attended the celebration commemorated the anniversary with a picture of them sitting exactly as they had been on their last day of classes in 1975, a continuing tradition.

The 1975 graduates on their last day of classes.

They reflected on the fifty years since their graduation and spent the function reminiscing about their time at Swinburne as well as on their careers. Nine of the graduates who attended had lifelong careers in engineering.

Alumni and co-organiser of the semi-regular reunions Phillip Warren said there is always something new to talk about at their reunions.

"We still update each other about our careers and our lives as these both evolved over the last fifty years," Phillip said.

"None of us had started our own families when we attended Swinburne so there have been major changes for all of us. There have been successes, challenges, opportunities and decisions as well as hobbies and travel - there has been a fair bit of that!"

Alumni Phil Webb reflected on the evening, looking to the future for himself and his fellow graduates.

"Whilst I have also reflected on what Swinburne gave to all of us in various ways, it also made me think more about the future and what more challenges and opportunities life can offer each of us," he said. 

Looking back on the evening, Phillip and his fellow organisers hope to increase the number of times they meet in year and to continue their longstanding connections and traditions with one another.

"We were a close group at Swinburne and developed strong friendships. Reacquainting with each other was at the centre of the evening for all of us," Phillip said.