Alison never dreamed of winning the University Medal

Alison Moss, Southern Cross University medallist and Bachelor of Education (Primary) First Class Honours graduate, shared a secret when she graduated today.

“I finished high school with a TER (or UAI for all you young ones) of 57.5 per cent – not because that was the best I could do, but because I really just didn’t care about school and had yet to find my passion for learning,” she said when she gave the graduate address at one of two graduation ceremonies held at the Lismore campus.

“I clearly remember telling my parents ‘don’t expect me to go to university because there is no way that is ever going to happen’.”

And yes, Alison’s parents Lucy and Gary Kennedy, who travelled from their home in Wollongong to be at their daughter’s graduation, clearly remember their daughter’s aversion to any kind of academic study.

“She was adamant that she would never go back to study after leaving high school. Art and music were her interests and very little else,” Lucy said.

“After leaving school she worked in the hospitality industry and was a great barista but one day she came to me and said that the working hours in the industry were not conducive to having a family and that she wanted to find a different career path.

“I remember her saying ‘mum, do you think I could be a teacher?’ and I knew she could be a wonderful teacher.

“It takes a lot of courage at age 30 to give up a well paid job and take on full-time study, but that is what she did and her dad and I are so very, very proud of what she has achieved today – not only graduating with a degree, but also winning the University Medal.”

Alison, who lives in Ballina with her husband Matthew, said she had experienced ‘great teachers who inspire their students’ during her studies at Southern Cross University.

“The accessibility, dedication and support of the staff, along with such a unique learning environment (because let’s face it, where else can you sit and watch a live band or play life-size chess at lunch time?) have helped all the graduates here today achieve their goals.”

Earlier this year Alison also received a student teacher’s award from the Mathematics Association of NSW, attending an awards ceremony at Government House in Sydney.

Alison was one of 1,342 students who graduated today and yesterday in five separate ceremonies. Their awards were conferred by Southern Cross University Chancellor The Hon John Dowd AO QC.

Of these, six received their Doctor of Business Administration and 21 their PhD. A total of 10 University Medals were awarded.

The Chancellor’s Medal was awarded to Dr Jayln Rose, for a PhD which looked at the relationship between emotional wellbeing and professional practice among community health nurses who provide palliative care in the home environment.

Fr Dr Paul Glynn, SM, OAM, Order of the Rising Sun, received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters.

The only surviving son of a pioneer Lismore family, Fr Glynn, a Marist brother priest, has devoted much of his life to the reconciliation and healing of hate between two former enemy nations – Japan and Australia – in the aftermath of war, and to the education and welfare of the disadvantaged in many foreign countries.

He is widely known for his reconciliation endeavours, which started with the promotion of the sister city relationship between Lismore and Yamata Takada. He has been rewarded with international honours such as the Japanese Government’s rare award of the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays, and an OAM from the Australian Government.

Fr Dr Glynn has organised many pilgrimages in both directions between Australia and Japan. He went to Israel to speak with members of the Japanese Red Army and convinced one to express remorse and ask the families of his victims for forgiveness.

In recent times he has held an annual reconciliation church service in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on the eve of Anzac Day. In the ceremony, Japanese swords are ceremonially returned to their Japanese owners.

The Occasional Addresses at the graduation ceremonies were given by Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Lee; Professor John Jenkins, head of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management; Lismore paediatrician Dr Chris Ingall; Ms Alison Page, Merrima Design, regional Aboriginal cultural development officer, Arts Mid North Coast; and Fr Dr Paul Glynn.

Photo: University Medal winner Alison Moss, with her proud husband, Matthew and parents, Lucy and Gary Kennedy.