The Blue Mountains Hotel School Spring graduation ceremony on 6 December had the theme of partnerships in honour of its two graduate guest speakers Mr and Mrs Amy and Nicholas Parkinson-Bates who met at the School as students and have since become both life and business partners .
Following an excellent buffet lunch in the formal dining room and the café, parents and graduands, staff, students and other guests assembled at the Grand Ballroom, Peppers Fairmont Resort for the formal ceremony at 2.30pm.
BMHS Director Mr Fritz Gubler’s address reflected on the colourful history of hotels as the public stages for great human dramas - political defeats and victories, the rise and fall of historic figures, romances, weddings and feuds – as well as taking on many roles including wartime seats of government, quarantine stations and refuges for the homeless. He also talked about the continuing evolution of hotels and the changing nature of tourism in the future that would call on the skills of a flexible and well-trained new generation of managers.
Principal Mr Guy Bentley reviewed the significant partnerships that BMHS has developed over 2007:
- the evolving relationship with is prestigious strategic partner The University of Queensland (UQ);
- the development of the ORION Research Centre, UQ’s membership of the ORION Global Hotel Schools Alliance and BMHS participation in the 2007 ORION Congress in Suzhou (see NEWS October 2007);
- BMHS and AIHS’ membership of THE-ICE (International Centre for Excellence for Tourism and Hospitality Education) – see NEWS August 2007;
- and the launch of the Graduate Privileged Partners Program, connecting high-achieving graduates with six select industry partners – see NEWS October 2007.
Official guest speakers, Mr and Mrs Amy and Nicholas Parkinson-Bates, both BMHS graduates and joint-general managers of the award-winning Islington Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania’s first luxury boutique hotel, gave an amusing and insightful speech about their experiences at the School and their interesting careers overseas and in Australia.
Over 130 graduands were presented by the International Dean Ms Helen Batey for their Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas. The Special ORION Awards for individual achievement were awarded as follows: (BMHS) Charlie Tickler, (AIHS) Ms Joyce Chan, (PIHMS) Mr Logan Miller, (AEB) Laura Blackburn, (CTMI) Ms Mandy Posetti, (STS) Jian Zhong, and Dux of the School was warded jointly to Ivana Wongsosaputro and Lauren Hayes The SRC Presidents Award was presented by Mia Hallengren and Tim Ford to Ketan Hazareesingh in absentia.
The official party on stage included the International Dean Ms Helen Batey, the Assistant Dean BMHS Mr Jim Hopwood and VIP guests, Mr Juerg Casserini, Consul-General of Switzerland, Mr Gordon McDonald, Principal (AIHS), Associate Professor Stephen Craig-Smith, University of Queensland, and Ms Robyn Marshall, University of New England. Industry guests included Mr Richard Todd, Talent and HR Manager, and Ms Cara George, Training and Development Manager, Toga Hospitality.
A special appearance by Santa Claus, heaps of great chocolate and sublime views were highlights of the second block of student events in Spring 2007. The event was the latest in a series where the School partners with local businesses to stage events for the local community.
Santa Claus dropped in at a pre-Christmas High Tea in the Megalong Room of the Hydro Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath on Sunday 2 December. While adults enjoyed high tea and the special displays of chocolate and gourmet delights from throughout the Blue Mountains, children were entertained by decorating gingerbreadmen, colouring and by Santa’s arrival.
The event was produced by Level 2 students in the School’s Hospitality and Tourism Events and Project Management elective, in partnership with the Grand Mercure Hydro Majestic. The student event producers were Yan Lui, Daphne Cheung, Chrestella Nursalim, Hilda Kang, Connie Chan and Tim Li.
The students thanked Hotel Manager Samantha Wood and her staff for supporting the event, along with the Blue Mountains Chocolate Company, Great Tastes of Australia, Leura Whisk and Leura Deli.
On 4 December, Mr Jon Shevket, Account Manager, HOST PLUS made a return visit to the campus to talk to students about the services offered by this industry superannuation fund for hospitality, tourism, sport and recreation industry workers.
During his visit Mr Shevket made a generous donation of a book The Barefoot Investor, signed by author Scott Pape, on behalf of HOST PLUS to the BMHS library which was gratefully accepted by library manager Ms Donna Faulder.
On Wednesday 5 November, on the day preceding the formal graduation ceremony, Mr Val Cook, Vice Principal Alumni hosted the now traditional farewell drinks and informal finger-food lunch in Cookie’s Café for the latest generation of graduates about to enter industry and the School’s global family of alumni.
A new policy adopted this year saw the current third year students registered and given access to the BMHS alumni website www.bmhsalumni.org during their time at the school to encourage familiarity and interest with using the site.
The lunch was a valuable opportunity for graduates to say farewell to their lecturers and reflect on an extremely busy final semester. Special guests included Principal Mr Guy Bentley, Deputy Principal, Mr Steven Tucker, Head of Research, Mr Mark Woodbridge, Vice Principal Operations, Ms Jane Adams and International Dean, Ms Helen Batey and was well-attended by other members of staff.
Mr Cook then made three special encouragement presentations, the Three Pillar Encouragement awards, to Ms Wai Man (Vivian) Chu (Level 1), Ms Amy Pettitt (Level 2) and Ms Catherina Zierenberg (Level 3.1) in recognition of individual achievement and contribution to campus life this semester.
