Bulletin

Issue: October 2004

Colleges

College Life Great for filling boots and growing brains!

'We ran rampant through the halls and along the walkways of this college - in boots too big for our feet, our heads bursting with ideas too big for our brains.'

With that reflection on her time at La Trobe's Chisholm College during the early nineties, well-known comedian and media personality, Corinne Grant, last month returned to the University to officially open the College's new Common Room.

Chisholm Head, Mr Terry Collits, said the evening celebrated the completion of a ten-year, $5 million renovation program. Apart from Ms Grant, it brought back more than 40 alumni, including the first College Head, La Trobe Foundation Professor of Chemistry, Jim Morrison.

Ms Grant said she was initially a nursing student on the Albury-Wodonga campus. While good at theory, she decided her practical skills meant she would probably save more lives by dropping out of nursing than sticking to it. So she transferred to an Arts degree, majoring in drama on the La Trobe main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.

Addressing 150 college residents and visitors, Ms Grant highlighted two of the main advantages of university college life: for a young student from the country it eased the transition to city social life and supplied an energetic community of wide interests.

'Student theatre grew to be a big part of my life and there were many other student theatre members living in Chisholm. We became a sort of half-way house for various writers, actors, musicians directors and sundry other shifty types. It was a wonderful and exciting time.

'Chisholm College was a real home to me, and I was part of a real community. Chisholm taught me resilience and resourcefulness. Nothing was handed to you on a platter. You had to get involved and make things happen yourself.

'It is the best life-skill I have ever learnt, and I'm sure it is the main reason that I am able to make my living as a performer now. I will always be proud and thankful to say I lived here.'

back to top

back contents next