125 stories for 125 years

Student life

In 1922 the college commenced introductory classes in the place of correspondence courses. When the first student group entered the college, it was noted that they had a ‘very fine spirit of unity and comradeship’ despite being a diverse group including ex-servicemen. A Social Committee organised several successful social events and a student magazine was produced. The first editor was H. Dean. Issue number one of the Pharmacy Students Magazine was typewritten and cost two shillings. The second was printed. Kay Schilling became editor in 1923 and the magazine was named The Excipient, given a new cover design and the cost reduced to one shilling.

From the beginning, the staff enthusiastically supported the enterprise. Demonstrator Herbert Clayton contributed humorous pieces, à la C.J. Dennis, under the pseudonym of ‘The Jackaroo’ while Ted Turner’s ‘kindly and restraining criticism guided the tone and growth of the magazine’. The council supported the initiative and provided financial help. Given that there was a new group of intermediate students each year, the magazine’s survival was noteworthy, although at various times only one issue was produced in a year.

The students conducted an annual ball, which attracted past and present students and friends of pharmacy, regularly filling the St Kilda Town Hall with 700 to 800 people. The social committee (which was renamed the student council) for the students started a tradition in 1928 when it presented a gift to the college. The first was an epidiascope valued at £40. It projected microscopic and lantern slides as well as illustrations and solid objects onto a screen.

The council members appreciated this support for its efforts in providing first-class facilities at the college. In 1930 the students donated two microscopes to the college and a third was presented, which had been purchased with the remaining money raised for Turner’s memorial. In 1932 finances were tight because of the economic depression and the society could not afford to buy books that were required for the library. The students raised £6. The students also presented £5/10/0 that had been raised with the assistance of A.T.S. Sissons’ wife, Jessie.

In 1937 the students presented a seven-valve combination radio and gramophone and two museum display cases to the college. The society president, in accepting the gifts, said he was unaware of any other group of students who made such generous gifts to their college during their studies. The 1938 students made a profit of £180 from the social activities they had organised and presented four leather lounges and eight chairs, curtains and blinds for the museum and a bookcase for the library as well as a silk banner bearing the college crest, library books to form a nucleus of a lending library for students and £10 for the society’s benevolent fund.

The Victorian Pharmacy Students’ Association (VPSA) was formed at the college in 1947 and B. Lumley was the first president. The Students’ Representative Council was the committee of the association. It organised social activities and considered matters affecting student welfare. Students’ suggestions were presented to the council. Simple requests were acceded to, such as printing exercise books with the college logo similar to the university practice, while others, such as wanting a ‘swot vac’ week before examinations, were complex issues and required negotiation with individual employers. The profits from the annual balls were donated to the building fund and students were keen for student facilities and, if possible, a canteen to be included in the rebuilt college. The tradition of a student magazine continued with Scruple.

The VPSA continues to be an active body within the college and nationally. In 2005 it won the right to hold the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association Congress in 2007. It was the first time any student organisation has ever won the NAPSA Les Cashen trophy for the ‘most spirited pharmacy student organisation’ and also won the right to host Congress. The VPSA produces a magazine called The Dispensary.

The Monash Parkville Students’ Association (MPSA) was formed in 2004 to represent all pharmacy, formulation science and medicinal chemistry students. Michael Nunan was the first President of the MPSA. Alana Meaklim was the President of the VPSA in 2004 and helped establish the MPSA. She was recognised for her work with a Community Spirit Award in 2005.

MPSA is the student Union on campus looking after student social activities, clubs, societies and representing the students’ interests. They focus on value-adding to each student’s campus life and aim to create a fun, culturally diverse atmosphere.

MPSA currently supports around ten clubs. They provide financial support, facilities and guidance. These clubs have been formed for social, academic, cultural and sporting proposes and include VPSA, the Medicinal Chemistry Society, the Formulation Science Society, BWC (Big Wednesday Club), Parkville Multicultural Society, the Parkville International Students Association (PISA), Remedy, WILDFIRE (Working In Leading Development For Indigenous and Rural Education), Universe, the Baha’i Society and Pharmaski, which organises an annual skiing trip to Hotham.

MPSA are also responsible for student facilities including the undergraduate common room, which has undergone major development throughout 2005 and 2006. It is heavily involved in supporting important University events including orientation week in which they host the annual river cruise and sell lab coats and safety glasses.

Social events organized by the MPSA clubs range from the Remedy Sound Waves Soirée, the MPSA paintball trip, the VPSA information evenings and the PISA Ping-Pong tournament. The biggest annual event is the Victorian College of Pharmacy Ball, which attracted 800 students in 2006.

Like the VPSA, the MPSA has its own student magazine, called The Generic, which is produced quarterly and covers student news, issues and entertainment.